on 13 december 899 they attacked vercelli, where the bishop of vercelli and archchancellor of the carolingian empire, liutward, trying to escape them, taking with him his treasures, accidentally stumbled upon them, so he was killed and his treasures taken away. on 26 january 900 they conquered modena, and two days later the abbey of nonantola, where they burned the monastery and the church, and killed monks.