Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top 10 Historic
Characters
Clovis
Merovingian King Clovis
(465-511) founded the French
state by defeating the Romans
and uniting disparate tribes.
Rollo
After signing the Treaty of
St-Clair-sur-Epte, Viking leader
Hrølf (c.854-928) became
Rollo, first duke of Normandy.
William Long Sword
Rollo's acquisitive warrior
son (c.893-943) extended the
duchy's boundaries by taking
Cotentin and southern Manche.
William the Conqueror with his army
William the Conqueror
William (1027-87), the
bastard son of Robert the
Magnificent, united Normandy
and conquered England.
1940: German Occupation
On 7 June 1940, the German
army marched into Forges-les-
Eaux and, two days later, into
Rouen - the prelude to four
years of occupation, during which
local people were imprisoned,
tortured, deported and executed.
Matilda
Whilst abroad, William left
Normandy in the hands of his
wife Matilda (c.1031-83).
1944: D-Day
In June 1944, Norman
beaches became the target for
Operation Overlord
(see p31)
.
By 20 August, the Allied forces
were advancing towards Paris
over the Perche hills.
Richard the Lionheart
Richard (1157-99) became
duke of Normandy in 1189. In
1196, he built Château Gaillard
to protect Rouen.
Joan of Arc
A country girl (1412-31),
she was encouraged by angelic
voices to save France from
English domination
(see p23)
.
2004: 60th Anniversary of
D-Day
Every 10 years, surviving D-Day
veterans gather to commemorate
the dead; the 2004 gathering
may have been one of the last.
Samuel de Champlain
Explorer de Champlain
(1567-1635) set out from
Honfleur to found Quebec.
Charlotte Corday
Educated in Caen, Girondin
sympathizer Corday (1768-93)
killed radical revolutionary
Jean-Paul Marat in his bath.
Charles de Gaulle
Leader of the Free French,
de Gaulle (1890-1970) came
ashore at Juno Beach on 14
June 1944 to reclaim France
for the French.
Allied invasion of Normandy, 6 June 1944
For more on the D-Day landings
See pp28-31
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