Statue of Rollo

That thick mustache belongs to Rollo, a Viking leader from the ninth century. This bronze statue, about 2.65 meters tall, honors one of the most remarkable figures of the Middle Ages and the founder of the Duchy of Normandy. It was given to the city of Ålesund in 1911 by the city of Rouen and is a bronze copy of the original statue in Rouen, created in 1865 by the French sculptor Arsène Letellier. The statue shows Rollo in armor, holding a sword, standing in a confident, conquering stance that reflects both his life as a Viking warrior and his role as the founder of a new state. The gift symbolized the historical connection between Norway and France and marked the thousandth anniversary of the founding of Normandy in 911. Rollo was a Viking chief born around the year 860 on the island of Giske, just outside Ålesund. He was the son of Jarl Ragnvald of Møre, one of the most powerful nobles in Norway at the time. According to tradition, Rollo was so tall and heavy that he could not ride a horse, which earned him the nickname Gangerolf, meaning “Rolf the Walker.” Around the year 876, he was banished from Norway by King Harald Fairhair after breaking a royal ban. After carrying out raids in the Baltic region, Rollo and his men plundered Viken, a territory that was under the king’s protection. This attack, carried out in the king’s presence, was seen as a direct challenge to royal authority. As a result, Rollo was declared an outlaw, a very severe punishment that meant losing all his property and allowing anyone to kill him without fear of consequences. Forced into exile, Rollo turned his attention to the coasts of the Frankish kingdom. After several campaigns, including the siege of Paris, he eventually reached an agreement with King Charles the Simple. In exchange for protecting the region from other Viking raids, Rollo received the territory that would later become Normandy. He converted to Christianity and successfully defended these lands, securing his place in European history. What began as a punishment eventually led to an extraordinary destiny, making Rollo the direct ancestor of William the Conqueror, the famous King of England, and therefore also an ancestor of today’s British royal family. You may also notice an unusual tree nearby. Just in front of the statue stands a Chilean araucaria, also known as a monkey puzzle tree, with its very distinctive, almost prehistoric appearance. It was most likely brought back by a Norwegian sailor returning from South America in the nineteenth century, which was a fairly common tradition at the time. Sailors often showed their skill as great navigators by bringing home unusual plants, objects, or souvenirs from distant parts of the world. The park where you are standing, Byparken, is also home to a statue of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, another important figure in the history of Ålesund. After the devastating fire of 1904, he contributed generously to the rebuilding of the city. These two statues, one of a Viking conqueror and the other of a European benefactor, reflect two very different influences that helped shape the history of Ålesund.