Rouen

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Kot of * dArcy Salisc Rouen Armouries
Kot of * Ishtar YellowStar Vacant Lot
Kot of * Elgiva Godwinson --> The de Morlais Property

Welcome to the ancestral home of the de Morlais family - we hope you enjoy your visit!

Normandy (in French - Normandie, in Norman - Normaundie) is located in northern France along the English Channel between Picardy in the east and Brittany in the west.

Its name is derived from the settlement and conquest of the territory by Vikings ("Northmen") from the 9th century, and confirmed by treaty in the 10th century. The fiefdom of Normandy was created for the Viking leader Rollo (also known as Robert of Normandy) in exchange for his homage and fealty. His descendants and those of his followers adopted the local Gallo-Romantic language and intermarried with the area’s previous inhabitants and became the Normans – a Norman French-speaking mix of Scandinavians, Hiberno-Norse, Orcadians, Anglo-Danish, and indigenous Franks and Gauls.

When Rollo's descendant William, Duke of Normandy became king of England in 1066 following the Norman Conquest (the Battle of Hastings) Normandy and England were linked by Norman rulers for a century and a half until it to reverted to French rule during the reign of King John.



The Dukes of Normandy commissioned and inspired epic literature to record and legitimise their rule. Wace, Orderic Vitalis and Étienne of Rouen were among those who wrote in the service of the Dukes.


The historic three-leopard flag of Normandy (known in the Norman language as les treis cats, "the three cats"). The traditional provincial flag of Normandy, gules, two leopards passant or, is used in both modern regions.


Black and white picture on a red background: Shield of Matilda, The Empress - daughter of Henry I, Beauclerc King of England 1100-1135 and Duke of Normandy 1106-1135.
Why the date of 1106? Normandy was originally given to Robert (Curthose) an elder son of William the Conqueror, but Henry, eager for power, defeated his brother at the Battle of Tinchebrai in 1106. Thus he reunited England and Normandy under one ruler as it had been in his fathers' time.


Normandy street scene

Rouen: a city on the Seine River, about 115 km (70 miles) northwest of Paris. The site of Rouen was originally settled by Celts and later by the Romans as Rotumagus. Its name was changed to Rouen during the Middle Ages. The city was held by the English from 1066 to 1204 and from 1419 to 1449. It is known as the Museum City because of its historical and architectural treasures.

Caen: located on the Orne River about 14 km (9 miles) inland from the English Channel, Caen is a major port and trade center for the surrounding agricultural region. Caen served as the capital of Normandy under William the Conqueror. It was captured by the English in 1346 and was ruled by them from 1417 to 1450. Historical landmarks include the 11th-century Abbaye-Aux-Hommes founded by William the Conqueror; the Abbaye-Aux-Dames founded (1066) by William's wife Matilda; and the Church of Saint-Pierre.

Bayeux: home to the famous Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th century embroidery which details the Norman Conquest of Britain, probably commissioned by Bishop Odo - Duke William's half-brother - for his cathedral.



Detail from the tapestry showing Odo on the extreme left and Duke William on the right raising his helmet by its nasal to dispel rumours of his death.