Evidence for Viking disruption from early Norman histories and commemorations of saints

Historians have few sources for the early history of Normandy. This study consults several saints' lives from the period before and after the Viking invasions, and for purposes of comparison it also addresses two historiographical works. The result contributes to the debate over the degree of continuity of Prankish society as the region that became Normandy went from Carolingian to Viking control.

The main approach is to analyze the connection among works written at different times in order to illustrate changes over the period of the Viking invasions. The study concludes with a review of the evidence, its significance for the continuity question, and suggestions for further study of the problem.