478 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



Normandy about the beginning of the tenth century, from the 

 Northmen, who then got possession of it. 



The Norman Name. The first duke of Normandy and 

 direct ancestor in the sixth generation, of William the Con- 

 queror, " was so mighty of stature," says Snorro Sturleson, 

 " that there was no horse of strength and size to bear him. He 

 was therefore always on foot, and was called ' Hollo the 

 Marcher.' ' This was in the tenth century. He distributed 

 among his followers the lands of Neustria, and laid the founda- 

 tion of the feudal system, which later was transplanted to Eng- 

 land. With this vigorous race of people came marked and 

 rapid changes in the low country, where, even during the feudal 

 ages, agriculture flourished, and the abundant crops produced 

 along the fertile valleys in a genial climate soon gave size to 

 the cattle and horses of that noted country. Because of the 

 enterprise of these Northmen, now called Normans, we find the 

 name became a synomym of power. 



From euphony or association must come the precedence given 

 the name Norman, to the horses of that country, rather than 

 that of Flanders. The Flanders horse was the product of high 

 agriculture. The climate, liberal feed, and diligent care, com- 

 bined with the infusion of the blood of the best horses 

 which a line of conquerors could gather from the nations they 

 ravaged, laid the foundation for the noted breeds of powerful 

 horses that have become most valuable in this age, when the 

 sword is less trusted than the plowshare. 



The Norman Conquests Mingle Bloods. We may 

 find a clue to the large infusion of good blood into the powerful 

 horses of this noted country, in the conquests of the Nor- 

 mans. Rollo devastated Holland, and appeared as far south as the 

 Seine. A band sacked Bordeaux, Lisbon, and Seville. They 

 defeated the Moorish conquerors of Spain, crossed the straits 

 into Morocco and back, overran Tuscany, and returned to 

 France. They made safe winter-quarters in Spain, and from 

 there ravaged Naples, Sicily, and the coasts of the Greek Empire. 

 These very countries will be recognized as those especially 

 rich at that time in horses of Oriental blood. The Moors had 



