The Viking siege of Paris (885–886) was one of the largest and most infamous raids of the era. A huge Norse force sailed up the Seine and surrounded the city, turning Paris into a cage for nearly a year. This wasn’t a quick smash-and-grab. It was sustained pressure: repeated assaults, fire attacks, and relentless attempts to break the bridges that controlled access across the river. What makes the episode so striking is who defended Paris—and who didn’t. The defense fell largely to local leaders