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Rorik as conceived by H. W. Koekkoek.

Rorik or Hrörek (810/820-880) was a Jutish Viking, who ruled over most of Friesland between 850 and 880. He had a brother Harald. Harald Klak was probably their uncle, and Godfrid Haraldsson their cousin.

Rorik and his brother Harald conquered Friesland, using islands as a main base of operations. The seat of Rorik was the island of Wieringen, while Harald operated from the island of Walcheren from 841 onwards. They made an end to feudalism and monasteries. Emperor Lothair I had to acknowledge him as ruler of most of Friesland in 850. Bishop Hunger of Utrecht had to move to Deventer (in Eastern Friesland) after the conquest of Dorestad and Utrecht by Rorik in 850. He tried to become king of Denmark during the Danish civil war of 854, which wasn't a success.

With Lothair's encouragement, Rorik captured Hedeby and the area north of the Ejder in 857, but other Viking took advantage of his absence and looted Dorestad, and Rorik relinquished his Danish gains.

In 863 once again a Viking fleet sailed up the Rhine, and it was rumoured that Rorik had encouraged them to sail on to Xanten, beyond his own territory. This induced Hincmar, Archbishop of Reims, to write two letters, one to Hunger and one to Rorik. Bishop Hunger was instructed to impose a suitable penance on Rorik if the rumour was found to be true. Hincmar told Rorik also not to shelter Baldwin I of Flanders, who had eloped with the king's daughter Judith. From these letters it becomes clear that Rorik had recently converted to Christianity and been baptized.

In 867 there was a local revolt by the Hocingi.

In 870 Rorik was involved in talks concerning the Treaty of Meerssen. Roriks area was divided between king Charles the Bald of West Francia and king Louis the German of East Francia and he became a vassal of both of them. In 873 he swore allegiance to Louis, and that is the last that is heard of him. He died before 882 when his lands were given to Sea-King Godfried.

• Encyclopedia: Grote Winkler Prins
• Website about the Vikings in the Netherlands
• Simon Coupland (1998), "From poachers to gamekeepers: Scandinavian warlords and Carolingian kings", Early Medieval Europe 7: 85-114, DOI 10.1111/1468-0254.00019