An ancient French province, from which five "departments" were
formed in 1790: Seine-Inférieure (Archdiocese of Rouen), Eure
(Diocese of Evreux), Calvados (Diocese of Bayeux), Orne (Diocese
of Séez), Manche (Diocese of Coutances). The Normans, originally
Danish or Norwegian pirates, who from the ninth to the tenth
century made numerous incursions into France, gave their name to
this province. In the Gallo-Roman period Normandy formed the so-
called second Lyonnaise province (Secunda Lugdunensis). At
Thorigny within the territory of this province was found an
inscription very important for the history of the worship of the
emperors in Gaul and of the provincial assemblies; the latter,
thus meeting for this worship, kept up a certain autonomy
throughout the conquered territory of Gaul. Under the
Merovingians the Kingdom of Neustria annexed Normandy. About 843
Sydroc and his bands of pillagers opened the period of Northman
invasions. The policy of Charles the Bald in giving money or
lands to some of the Northmen