There is no substantial general history of Normandy. For a review of the materials, the literature, and the problems, see the excellent résumé of H. Prentout, _La Normandie_ (Paris, 1910, reprinted from the _Revue de synthèse historique_). For bibliographical purposes this should be supplemented by the _Catalogue des ouvrages normands de la Bibliothèque municipale de Caen_ (Caen, 1910–12). For the general features of Norman geography, see the brief account by Vidal de la Blache, in the _Histoire de France_ of Lavisse, republished with illustrations under the title of _La France_ (Paris, 1908). The subject can best be followed out in J. Sion, _Les paysans de la Normandie orientale_ (Paris, 1908), and R. de Félice, _La Basse-Normandie_ (Paris, 1907). Various aspects of Norman genius and character are delightfully treated by Albert Sorel, _Pages normandes_ (Paris, 1907). The proceedings of the historical congress held in conjunction with the millénaire of 1911 were to have been printed in full, but so far only various reprints of individual communications have appeared. J. Touflet, _Le millénaire de Normandie_ (Rouen, 1913), is not an account of the commemoration, but an illustrated collection of popular papers. One of the more notable pamphlets published on this occasion is that of Gabriel Monod, _Le rôle de la Normandie dans l’histoire de France_ (Paris, 1911). II THE COMING OF THE NORTHMEN The central fact of Norman history and the starting-point for its study is the event so brilliantly commemorated by the millenary of 1911, the grant of Normandy to Rollo and his northern followers in the year 911. The history of Normandy, of course, began long before that year. The land was there, and likewise in large measure the people, that is to say, probably the greater part of the elements which went to make the population of the country at a later day; and the history of the region can be traced back several centuries. But after all, neither the Celtic _civitates_ nor the Roman province of _Lugdunensis Secunda_ nor the ecclesiastical province of Rouen which took its place nor the northwestern _pagi_ of the Frankish empire were Normandy. They lacked the name--that is obvious; they lacked also individuality of character, which is more. They were a part, and not a distinctive part, of something else, whereas later Normandy was a separate entity with a life and a history of its own. And the dividing line must be drawn when the Northmen first established themselves permanently in the land and gave it a new name and a new history.