The fiefdom of Normandy was created in 911 for the Viking leader Rollo (also kno

wn as Rolf).
After participating in many Viking incursions along the Seine, culminating in th
e siege of Paris in 886, Rollo was finally defeated by King Charles the Simple.
With the Treaty of St.-Claire-sur-Epte, Rollo swore fealty to the French King, c
onverted to Christianity and was baptized with the name Robert. Charles then gra
nted Rollo territories around Rouen, which came to be called Normandy after the
Northmen (Latinised Normanni).
Rollo and his immediate successors were styled "counts" of Normandy. Some later
medieval sources refer to them by the title dux, the Latin word from which the E
nglish word "duke" is derived; however, Rollo's great-grandson Richard II was th
e first to assuredly be styled "Duke of Normandy".
Although certain titles were used interchangeably during this period, the title
of "duke" was typically reserved for the highest rank of feudal nobility
either
those who owed homage and fealty directly to kings, or who were independent sove
reigns (primarily distinguished from kings by not having dukes as vassals).[cita
tion needed]
William the Conqueror[edit]
William I (William the Conqueror)
William the Conqueror added the Kingdom of England to his realm after the Norman
Conquest of 1066. This created a problematic situation wherein William and his
descendants were kings in England but vassals to the king in France. Much of the
contention which later arose around the title "Duke of Normandy" (as well as ot
her French ducal titles during the Angevin period) stemmed from this fundamental
ly irreconcilable situation.
After the death of William the Conqueror, his eldest son, Robert Curthose, becam
e Duke of Normandy while a younger son, William Rufus, became king William II of
England. William II was succeeded in 1100 as king of England by another brother
, William the Conqueror's youngest son, Henry I. When Henry deposed Robert in 11
06 he claimed both titles, Duke of Normandy and King of England, uniting them on
ce again.[citation needed]