Royal Kissing

Charles the Simple

I like history, because many of the best stories are actually true ones.  Back in the year 911, the Vikings were charging through France.  The French king, Charles the Simple was in no position to challenge them.  Charles had few options left and decided to offer land for peace.  He offered the land of Normandy to Rollo, the leader of the Vikings.  In exchange, Rollo agreed to become a vassal of the French king.  This required Rollo to perform two ceremonies.  Rollo had to be baptized and he had to pay homage to Charles.  The ritual of homage required Rollo to kiss the foot of the French king.  Rollo refused to do it.  Instead, he ordered one of his warriors to kiss Charles's foot.  The warrior obeyed Rollo, but instead of bending down to kiss the king's foot, he grabbed the foot and lifted it up to his mouth.  In doing this, he threw the French king onto his back.  With Charles flailing on his back, the warrior kissed his foot!  And that is how the Vikings came to rule Normandy.

This story still offers powerful lesson for us today.  Next time, your boss tells you to kiss his feet, do what Rollo did.