Is there any proof of Ragnar Lothbrok?
The only legitimate source for information on Ragnar Lothbrok is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of documents detailing Anglo-Saxon history originally published around the time Ragnar was said to exist. His name does appear, but there is a debate within the historical community if that's the same man.
How old was the real Ragnar Lothbrok when he died?
And that he died after being cast into a pit of snakes sometime before 865. This puts his age at 45.
Is Vikings based on a true story?
Yes and no. Like Vikings creator Michael Hirst, Vikings: Valhalla creator Jeb Stuart has taken a creative license to the true story of some of the most famous Vikings. Many parts of the series take inspiration from real people and historical events, but much of the drama is fictional for dramatic purposes.
Who is the most famous Viking?
Ragnar Lothbrok Arguably the most famous Viking warrior of them all, not least for his role as the leading protagonist in Vikings, the History Channel's popular drama.
Is Kattegat real?
In Vikings, Kattegat is a city located in Norway. In reality, Kattegat is not a city at all, though it's still located in the Scandinavian area. Kattegat is actually a sea area located between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Do Vikings still exist?
So do Vikings still exist today? Yes and no. No, to the extent that there are no longer routine groups of people who set sail to explore, trade, pillage, and plunder. However, the people who did those things long ago have descendants today who live all over Scandinavia and Europe.
Was Lagertha a real person?
Legend says the real Lagertha was in fact a Viking shieldmaiden and was the ruler of Norway. The legends do confirm she was once the wife of the famous Viking King, Ragnar Lodbrok.
Is Valhalla real?
Yes, it's based on history, but loosely so! Almost every character in Vikings: Valhalla is based on a real person. Leif Eriksson really did have an ambitious, murderous, hella cool sister named Freydis and Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin) was a true medieval power player.
Did Vikings: Valhalla really happen?
Is Vikings: Valhalla based on actual events? Yes, Vikings: Vallhalla is somewhat inspired by actual events that happened in history. Many of the characters and occurrences that take place in the well-written narrative are real.
Who wiped the Vikings?
King Alfred and the Danes King Alfred ruled from 871-899 and after many trials and tribulations (including the famous story of the burning of the cakes!) he defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Edington in 878. After the battle the Viking leader Guthrum converted to Christianity.
Who were the scariest Vikings?
10 Toughest Vikings in HistoryThorkell the Tall. ... Cnut the Great. ... Ivar the Boneless. ... 7 & 6. ... Olaf Trygvasson. ... Egil Skallagrimsson. ... Ragnar Lothbrok. ... Harald Hardrada.More items...•
How much of Vikings is true?
Although many of the characters in Vikings are based on historical figures, and a number of events actually happened, there are significant departures throughout. In order to create a seamless narrative and engaging story arc, historical events are often telescoped, combined, compressed, or otherwise altered.
Who was Ragnar Lothbrok?
According to medieval sources, Ragnar Lothbrok was a Danish king and Viking warrior who flourished in the 9th century. There is much ambiguity in w...
How did Ragnar Lothbrok die?
According to the Gesta Danorum of Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, Ragnar Lothbrok was captured by the Anglo-Saxon king Aella of Northumbria and...
What is Ragnar Lothbrok remembered for?
According to medieval sources, Ragnar Lothbrok was a 9th-century Danish Viking king and warrior known for his exploits, for his death in a snake pi...
What is Ragnar Lothbrok known for?
According to the traditional literature, Ragnar Lothbrok distinguished himself by conducting many raids against the British Isles and the Holy Roman Empire during the 9th century.
What is the story of Ragnar Lodbrok?
The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, Tale of Ragnar's Sons, and Heimskringla all tell of the Great Heathen Army that invaded England at around 866, led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok to wreak revenge against King Ælla of Northumbria who is told to have captured and executed Ragnar.
What was Ragnar's nickname?
The unusual protective clothes that Ragnar wore, when attacking the serpent, earned him the nickname Lodbrok ("shaggy breeches"). His sons with Thora were Erik and Agnar. After Thora died, he discovered Kráka, a woman of outstanding beauty and wisdom living with a poor peasant couple in Norway, and married her.
What was the name of the battle that the Vikings fought?
According to the contemporary Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Asser 's Life of Alfred, in 878 the "brother of Hingwar and Healfden", with a naval fleet, a contingent of the Great Heathen Army invaded Devon in England and fought the Battle of Cynwit. There the Vikings lost, their king slain and many dead, with few escaping to their ships. After the battle the Saxons took great plunder, and among other things the banner called "Raven". The early 12th century Annals of St Neots further state that "they say that the three sisters of Hingwar and Hubba, daughters of Lodebroch (Lodbrok), wove that flag and got it ready in one day. They say, moreover, that in every battle, wherever the flag went before them, if they were to gain the victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag; but if they were doomed to be defeated it would hang down motionless, and this was often proved to be so." This is among the earlier references to the legendary hero Ragnar Lodbrok.
What does the Sagas of Scandinavian Prehistory tell us about Ragnar?
In their accounts of his reign, the Sagas of Scandinavian Prehistory, known as fornaldarsaga tell more about Ragnar's marriages than about feats of warfare. According to the Sögubrot, "he was the biggest and fairest of men that human eyes have seen, and he was like his mother in appearance and took after her kin".
Who was the king of Sweden and Denmark?
Legendary king of Sweden and Denmark. Lothbrocus and sons Ivar and Ubba, 15th-century miniature in Harley MS 2278 folio 39r. Ragnar Lothbrok or Lodbrok ( Old Norse: Ragnarr Loðbrók, "Ragnar shaggy breeches", Modern Icelandic: Ragnar Loðbrók) is a legendary Viking hero, as well as a legendary Danish and Swedish king.
Who is the father of Ywar?
The Chronicon Roskildense (c. 1138) mentions Lodbrok (Lothpardus) as father to the utterly cruel Norse King Ywar (rex crudelissimus Normannorum Ywar) and his brothers, Inguar (a double of Ywar), Ubbi, Byorn and Ulf, who rule the northern peoples. They call on the various Danish petty kings to help them ruin the realm of the Franks. Ywar successfully attacks the kingdoms of Britain, though not as an act of revenge as in the Icelandic sagas. The chronicle of Sven Aggesen (c. 1190) is the first Danish text that mentions the full name, Regnerus Lothbrogh. His son Sigurd invades Denmark and kills its king, whose daughter he marries as he takes over the throne. Their son in turn is Knut, ancestor of the later Danish kings.
Who was Ragnar Lothbrok?
According to medieval sources, Ragnar Lothbrok was a Danish king and Viking warrior who flourished in the 9th century. There is much ambiguity in what is thought to be known about him, and it has its roots in the European literature created after his death.
Who captured Ragnar?
According to Saxo’s legendary history, Ragnar was eventually captured by the Anglo-Saxon king Aella of Northumbria and thrown into a snake pit to die. This story is also recounted in the later Icelandic works Ragnars saga loðbrókar and Þáttr af Ragnarssonum.
What was Ragnar's motivation?
…brothers’ motivation was to avenge their father, who had died after being captured while raiding the kingdom of Northumbria. Ragnar supposedly had been cast into a pit full of venomous snakes by order of the Northumbrian king Aella. Ivar’s forces landed in the kingdom of East Anglia, where they met…
Who was the Viking king who was killed by a snake pit?
According to medieval sources, Ragnar Lothbrok was a 9th-century Danish Viking king and warrior known for his exploits, for his death in a snake pit at the hands of Aella of Northumbria, and for being the father of Halfdan, Ivar the Boneless, and Hubba, who led an invasion of East Anglia in 865.
Who played Ragnar in Vikings?
In the early 21st century he was a central figure in the popular television series Vikings. Vikings: Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok. Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok in the TV series Vikings, 2016.
Where did Ivar's forces land?
Ivar’s forces landed in the kingdom of East Anglia, where they met…. Viking. Viking, member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history.
What is a legend?
Formerly the term legend meant a tale about a saint. Legends resemble folktales in content; they may include supernatural beings, elements of mythology, or explanations of natural phenomena, but they are associated with a particular locality….
Who is the real Ragnar Lothbrok?
THE REAL RAGNAR LOTHBROK. Dusted off and brought into the limelight in History Channel’s TV-series Vikings, Ragnar Lothbrok has risen to fame anew more than a millennia after his death.
What does Ragnar do in the saga?
The sagas describe Ragnar as a badass fantasy hero who begins his career with killing a Lindworm and freeing a virgin. He did this while wearing “hairy armour” during the fight that protected him from the Lindworm’s poison.
Who plays Ragnar in Vikings?
What matters is that a man’s legend lives on more than a thousand years after his death. That is absolutely amazing. Ragnar Lothbrok portrayed by Travis Fimmel in the TV-series Vikings. Page one of the Gesta Danorum.
Is Ragnar a Viking?
Summary: There is no doubt that there must’ve been a legendary Viking by the name of Ragnar.
Who fathered the sons of Englad?
It is, however, impossible to say what’s true and what deeds can be ascribed to Ragnar Lothbrok, since most sources have ulterior motives. He probably fathered the sons who later invaded Englad, since it is mentioned in all of the sources.
Who exiled Bjorn and Hasting?
According to Willliam the king “Lothbroc” exiled his son Bjorn and his friend Hasting. The tale then continues to account for the adventures of Bjorn (who is invincible thanks to a magic potion given to him by his mother) and his friend Hasting as they ravage France for three decades.
Who was the leader of the Vikings who sailed the Seine, plundered the surroundings and besie
That simple sentence links the name “Ragnar” with the Viking leader who sailed the River Seine, plundered the surroundings and besieged Paris in 845. The city was protected by Charles the Bald’s men, but they fled when the Vikings killed prisoners right before their eyes and hung 111 of them.
What is the greatest story of the Vikings?
Telling tales has always been an important part of life for the Germanic peoples of Northern Europe, but the tale of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons is one of the greatest stories of the Viking Age. For more than a millennium, it has captivated audiences, from medieval mead halls to a 21st-century TV series. Even centuries later, it seemed to gain a new life by being told and retold again. However, this tale, just like many others, has never been proved to be historically accurate.
Who is Bjorn Ironside?
We have all heard the name of Bjorn Ironside from the popular TV show "Vikings ," according to which he was the first son of Ragnar Lothbrok and his first wife, Lagertha.
What is the epithet of Ivar the Boneless?
Ragnar's saga tells us that Ivar was unable to walk and had to be carried everywhere. But this piece of writing is a later source, and it isn't the only place we find information on Ivar the Boneless.
Who was the king of Denmark?
Frankish sources at the time mention Horik, the king of Denmark, who was being undermined by the West Frankish king Louis the Pious. But after Charlemagne, standards slipped, and the Frankish army was now only a shadow of its former self. After Horik successfully fought off attacks from his rivals, the full ferocity of the Norse men was about to come crashing down catastrophically.
Who killed the dragon Fafnir?
Most of us have even read of the Old Norse king Sigurd, a legendary Viking warrior who killed the dragon Fafnir, stabbing him directly in the heart.
Do people like heroes from the past?
It often seems that people don't like heroes from the present as much as they respect the ones from the past . Once a warrior is slain, he's no longer a subject of envy, and his abilities are no longer a threat to society. In fact, he is no longer human but part of an ever-lasting legend that will continue to enthrall generations ahead.
Who was Ragnar Lothbrok?
Biography of Ragnar Lothbrok. In popular Viking tales, Ragnar was a man who loved wars and raiding villages. His father was the Swedish King Sigurd Ring who ruled from 770 to 804. Ragnar ascended the throne when his father died in 804. In 845, the Vikings invaded the West Frank’s kingdom.
Why did Ragnar sail to England?
With only 2 ships, his intention was all about going to conquer the territory so that he could prove to his sons that he was far better than them.
How many wives did Ragnar have?
Ragnar had numerous Wives and Children. Legends have it that he married 3 women . They were: Thora Borgarhjotr (a noblewoman), Aslaug (a Norse queen) and Lagertha. His wives brought forth great children such as Ivar the Boneless, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Bjorn Ironside.
How many prisoners did Ragnar kill?
He captured 111 men as prisoners. The captives were never spared – Ragnar allegedly killed them on a Seine island, sacrificing the prisoners of war to Odin, the supreme god and ruler of Asgard in Norse mythology. The sacrifice was also meant to serve as a deterrent to his remaining enemies.
What weapon did Ragnar use to fight the dragon?
According to legends, Ragnar squarely faced a dragon. But he was very careful in his fight with the dragon. Clad in his protective garments, Ragnar used a spear to strike down the dragon.
What was the sacrifice of Charles the Bald?
The sacrifice was also meant to serve as a deterrent to his remaining enemies. After defeating Charles, Ragnar and his men entered Paris around Eastertime. They occupied the city until Charles the Bald paid a ransom of 5,665 pounds (2560 kg) of gold and silver.
What books have Ragnar's name?
His name has been a central theme in novels such as “Sea Kings” by Edwin Atherstone and “Sword of Ganelon” by Richard Parker.
Who was the first person to name Ragnar Lothbrok?
The first reference to record the names Ragnar and ‘Lothbrok’ together was Icelandic scholar Ari Þorgilsson, writing between 1120-1133, claiming that ‘Ivar, son of Ragnar Lothbrok’ had been the one to kill Edmund of East Anglia.
Who is Ragnar Lodbrok's wife?
Danish history includes mention of a possible fourth wife, Swanloga. Ragnar Lodbrok meets Aslaug, a secret daughter of the renowned hero Sigurd Fafnesbane.
What is the main source of Lodbrok's life and heroic deeds?
The main source telling of Lodbrok’s life and heroic deeds in the Icelandic sagas is the 13th-century Icelandic ‘The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok’. (Other sagas mentioning him include Heimskringla, Sögubrot, Tale of Ragnar’s Sons, and Hervarar Saga).
How did Lodbrok die?
Although this story is also recounted in the later Icelandic works (Ragnars saga loðbrókar and Þáttr af Ragnarssonum), other historians believe Lodbrok died sometime between 852-856 during a storm on one of his voyages along the Irish Sea whilst pillaging the coasts of Ireland.
What is the Viking age?
The word Viking means “pirate raid” in Old Norse, and the age of the Vikings (between 700-1100 AD) is indeed famed for its warriors’ bloodthirsty aggression. Arguably the most famous Viking warrior was the semi-legendary sea king, Ragnar Lodbrok ( Ragnarr Loðbrók in Old Norse), who supposedly led raids along England’s coast.
What tactics did Lodbrok use?
Like other Vikings, several sources note how Lodbrok used blitzkrieg-like tactics. These terrorised, demoralised and overwhelmed his opponents before they could gather a strong-enough force to oppose him. He also only fought when the odds were in his favour.
What did Lodbrok do to protect Thora?
This derives from Lodbrok allegedly boiling his cow-hide trousers in tar which he claimed protected him from the snake (or dragon, according to some sources) whilst winning his second wife Thora’s hand in marriage.
Who is Ragnar Lothbrok based on?
The figure of Ragnar Lothbrok is believed to have been based on three different men: Viking leader Reginherus , King Horik I of Denmark (who appears in the series), and King Reginfrid. With that in mind, the “real” Ragnar died in different ways.
Who threw Ragnar Lothbrok into the pit of snakes?
The legend of Ragnar Lothbrok says that he died just like in the series: thrown into a pit of snakes by King Aelle, but the trick here is that Ragnar’s existence is unclear, and the Viking warrior everyone knows might actually be a combination of different real-life people, with a dose of fiction to add to the legend.
What episode did Ragnar get thrown into a pit of snakes?
Ragnar Lothbrok, for example, is a big mystery, but Vikings took many details from the legends of the great Ragnar. In season 4’s episode “All His Angels”, after torturing him and cutting a cross into his head, King Aelle threw Ragnar into a pit of snakes, from which he couldn’t (nor tried to) escape. The legend of Ragnar Lothbrok says that he died ...
Is Vikings a historical drama?
Although Vikings is a historical drama and Hirst made a lot of research when developing the series, thus taking many elements from history, it also had to make some up so it could tell the desired stories, more so as there are not many records on the characters depicted in the show. Ragnar Lothbrok, for example, is a big mystery, ...
Overview
Ragnar Lodbrok was a legendary Viking hero, as well as a legendary Danish and Swedish king. He is known from Old Norse poetry of the Viking Age, Icelandic sagas, and near-contemporary chronicles. According to the traditional literature, Ragnar distinguished himself by conducting many raids against the British Isles and the Holy Roman Empire during the 9th century. He also appears in Norse le…
Accounts
According to the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, Tale of Ragnar's Sons, Heimskringla, Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks, Sögubrot af nokkrum fornkonungum, and many other Icelandic sources, Ragnar was the son of the king of Sweden Sigurd Ring. Nearly all of the sagas agree that the Danish king Randver was Sigurd's father, with the Hervarar saga citing his wife as Åsa, the daughter of King Harald of the Red Mo…
Ragnar's sons
The Great Heathen Army is said to have been led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, to wreak revenge against King Ælla of Northumbria who had previously executed Ragnar by casting him into a pit full of venomous snakes. Among the organizers were at least some of the brothers: Ivar the Boneless, Ubba, Halfdan, Björn Ironside, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, all of whom are known as …
Sources and historical accuracy
Whereas Ragnar's sons Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Björn Ironside, Ubba and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye are historical figures, opinion regarding their father is divided. Contemporary academia regards most of the stories about him to be fiction. According to Hilda Ellis Davidson, writing in 1979,
Certain scholars in recent years have come to accept at least part of Ragnar's …
In literature and media
Ragnar Lodbrok features prominently in the following works:
• Edwin Atherstone's 1830 novel Sea-Kings in England.
• Edison Marshall's 1951 novel The Viking.
• "Ragnar le Viking", a 1955 comic book feature written by Jean Ollivier with art by Eduardo Teixeira Coelho, that ran in the French Vaillant magazine up to 1969.
See also
• List of legendary kings of Denmark
• List of legendary kings of Sweden
Further reading
• Forte, Angelo, Richard Oram, and Frederik Pedersen (2005). Viking Empires. Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-82992-5.
• "Krákumál", Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde, Vol. 17 (2001), p. 299-302.
• McTurk, Rory (1991). Studies in Ragnars saga loðbrókar and Its Major Scandinavian Analogues. Medium Aevum Monographs. Vol. 15. Oxford. ISBN 0-907570-08-9.