Were Medieval Kings able to grant huge titles to outsiders? (war, England)

[peequi]

I am watching a TV show called Vikings, which has real characters and I think the general story lines are based on truth. One episode, a Frankish Emperor(grandson of Charlemagne), granted a viking a dukedom. This viking was part of an invasion force, so an enemy of the Frankish Emperor. I know this particular story is not true, but was this something that was done perhaps with vikings, or just outsiders in general?

[MTSilvertip]

Don't take that show as historical truth, it isn't. It's a drama based on historical characters and events. They rely heavily on blood and gore to shock and mesmerize the audience at the expense of historical accuracy.
If you've ever studied the Vikings, they were basically pirates, but they did settle lands all over Europe and the North Atlantic.
They had very strict rules about fighting each other and had a very good justice system and the Althing for settling disputes.
Our system of Jurisprudence pulls a lot from the Norse including being judged by a jury of 12 of our peers. They weren't the mindless barbarians portrayed in that TV show.

There were many instances of kings giving titles to warlords that served them well, that's how most of the nobles came to be.
When William the Bastard won the battle of Hastings in 1066 AD, his retinue, (and William himself) were either younger sons or "love children" that would never inherit titles or lands, so they took over England whereupon William took the crown and named his soldiers as lords, dukes, knights, whatever and gave them gifts of lands and estates.
The guys that had the titles and lands prior to the invasion were SOL, and had to go elsewhere to try and rebuild their fortunes.

Oh, Just an FYI, the Normans under William were originally Northmen or Vikings that settled that region of France and set up their own hierarchy there.

To the victor go the spoils, and that includes titles and land for services rendered.

[Snowball7]

Originally Posted by peequi

I am watching a TV show called Vikings, which has real characters and I think the general story lines are based on truth. One episode, a Frankish Emperor(grandson of Charlemagne), granted a viking a dukedom. This viking was part of an invasion force, so an enemy of the Frankish Emperor. I know this particular story is not true, but was this something that was done perhaps with vikings, or just outsiders in general?

This is 100% true story.

The character is directly adapted from Rollo.

"Toward the end of Charlemagne's reign, and throughout the reigns of his sons and grandsons, a string of Norse raids culminated in a gradual Scandinavian conquest and settlement of the region now known as Normandy. In 911, the French King, Charles the Simple, made an agreement with the Viking war leader Rollo, giving him the title of duke, and granting him and his descendants possession of Normandy. In return, Rollo swore fealty to Charles, converted to Christianity, and undertook responsibility for defense of the northern region of France against the incursions of other Viking groups."

Class 10 - Vikings, Alfred the Great

[Glokta]

As above its true. It was a strategy used alot to give an outsider a vested interest in the success of the country.

After all theres no point invading and burning stuff when its your own stuff.

[peequi]

Wow, very interesting. So the Normans who took over England were descendants of Vikings who landed in Northern France. These same people eventually took over Sicily. These vikings get around.

[Cryptic]

Originally Posted by peequi

Wow, very interesting. So the Normans who took over England were descendants of Vikings who landed in Northern France. These same people eventually took over Sicily. These vikings get around.

The Vikings also used to have a large trading, and occasional raiding presence in what are now the Baltic states, Russia and Ukraine. These Viking groups have been referred to as Volga Vikings.

[karstic]

Vikings were granted lands and privileges by Christian and Muslim countries because:

They were bought on the spot as mercenaries in rich countries as soon as they arrived.

They were good and hard working agricultural peasants, they knew a lot about cattlestock and cheese and were appreciated.

Of course, they assaulted poor lands that did not buy their services.

Sometimes they were grossly defeated and survivors granted land for agriculture and cattle (cheese production in Seville in the 9th centuy). Mercenaries or boyardos in Byzantium, etc.

They were just a wandering work force, but they preferred to work for rich people.

[PA2UK]

Originally Posted by peequi

Wow, very interesting. So the Normans who took over England were descendants of Vikings who landed in Northern France. These same people eventually took over Sicily. These vikings get around.

Why do you think they are called Normans? The word Norman comes from the word Norsemen, ie, Northmen, better known as Vikings.

But yes, kings were able to grant foreigners land/titles, so long as that person was willing to acknowledge the king as their king and superior. There have been kings of one country who own land in another country, under another king (though the issue of whether a king should pay homage to the king of another country because he owes land in that other country was a political mess sometimes). Just as one example, Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was also Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Poitiers, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany. Of course he inherited these titles (or most of them, not entirely sure), rather than being granted them, but yes, a king could grant a free title to anyone. As mentioned, Rollo in the Vikings is based on a real historical figure, a viking who want granted French land and titles: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo