I.] THE MER WINGS AND KARLINGS. 7 causes began to give importance to Paris, the city on the Seine. This had been greater in Roman times, but now it had again shrunk up into the island in the river. During all this time the Northmen, the people of Scandi- navia, were horribly ravaging the country, especially where there was a river that they could sail up. They besieged Paris three times during the time of Charles the Bald, and the only man with skill and bravery enough to make a stand was a warrior named Robert the Strong, who was placed in charge of the country between the Seine and the Loire and called Marquess, or Commander of the Mark (or border) of Atijote. Perceiving how Paris might check the course of the northern keels, he did his best to strengthen and protect it, so that Count of Paris became one of his titles and the beginning of the greatness of his line. But he could not hinder the city from being pillaged in 865, nor the great abbey of St. Denys from serving as free quarters for the Northmen, and in 866 he , was killed in battle with them. This was the beginning of the strictly French power. Robert was the patriarch of the dukes and kings of the French who reigned at Paris. Paris was shown to be one of the now most important . military posts in Gaul, and the house which was to be- come the royal house of France had begun to distin- guish itself. And, though Robert himself was actually of German descent, yet the power which began with him had its seat in the Romance-speaking duchy of Western France, and so came into natural opposition with the German kings of the Karling house. 9. The First King of Paris. — During the reign of Charles the Fat the importance of Paris and her princes became greater than ever. In 885 there was a yet more famous siege of Paris by the Northmen, when there was a brave resistance under Abbot Hugh, Gozlin, Bishop of Paris, and Odo, son of Robert the Strong. The two first died during the siege, but Odo made his way through the enemy to Metz, to lay the case of the city before the emperor, and then forced a passage through the midst of the Northmen, who had assembled to bar his return. Charles gathered an army and came at last, but only, after the custom of weak princes, to pay the Northmen to retreat to the Yonne. And now, when Charles was deposed, and his empire again divided, the king whom the West-Franks chose was Count Odo, the hero of Paris. Being already Dtike of the Franks, that
