Historical Event: Occurrence on 29th March Revealed
On this morbidly fateful day in history, we delve into the chilling tales of two epic conflicts: the barbarous Norse sack of Paris and the bloodbath of Towton, England.
29 March 845: Paris, the City of Lights, Under the Shadow of Swords
In the murky, bloodstained annals of history, few events invoke a sense of dread like the Viking assault on Paris. As the long, cold days of March loomed, a fleet of 120 Viking ships, brimming with a horde of 5,000 warriors, sailed up the Seine, setting into motion a nightmare that would leave Europe reeling.
The local inhabitants had little time to prepare for the onslaught. The Frankish King, Charles the Bald, initially mustered his forces to shield the city but was taken aback when the Norse marauders, led by Reginherus instead of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, dismissed his makeshift defenses. They stormed the city, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. In a desperate bid to save his people and city, Charles offered a massive bribe of 7,000 pounds of silver. The Vikings, their lust for blood temporarily sated, departed Paris.
29 March 1461: The Battle of Towton: A Day of Carnage
As the brutal winds of war screeched across the English countryside, two rival factions faced off on a desolate field. TheBattle of Towton, fought between the armies of York and Lancaster, remains etched in history as the bloodiest clash ever to have occurred on English soil. An estimated 50,000 warriors fought in the snowy melee, the numbered dead estimated to be around 20,000.
The young King Edward IV of the House of York emerged victorious, dealing a crippling blow to his rival, King Henry VI of Lancaster. With the Lancastrian forces disintegrating in defeat and Henry fleeing into exile, Edward IV stood alone as the undisputed ruler of England.
Join us as we continue our journey through history, uncovering the forgotten tales and key events that have shaped civilization.
Amid the annals of war-and-conflicts and politics, the Viking assault on Paris in 845 is one of the most dreadful events, with a fleet of ships and 5,000 warriors unleashing terror upon the city. In contrast, the Battle of Towton in 1461, a clash between the York and Lancaster factions, holds the grim distinction of being the bloodiest conflict on English soil, with an estimated 20,000 casualties.
