Vikings is a historic drama TV collection on the Historical past Channel. The story follows the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his household as they depart their mark on the world. However although the collection is historic in nature, the storyline solely loosely follows historic truth, being sprinkled with many Norse myths, legendary figures, and plot twists to fill within the gaps. The story begins within the 9th century, when the Vikings started making their presence felt round Europe and the remainder of the identified world.
What we hope to realize right here is to take 10 characters from the present and have a look at their historic or legendary counterparts, to see how truth and fiction diverge. However in doing so, we may very well find yourself revealing some spoilers, not solely within the present as it’s at this time, however in future seasons, as properly. So, proceed with warning, and take his as a blanket SPOILER ALERT notification for the remainder of this text. However, even what little we do learn about these early Norsemen from the 800s comes primarily within the from a number of closely biased chronicles of the individuals they attacked, in addition to the glorifying (however oftentimes contradicting) Viking Sagas, written by their descendants a number of centuries later.
10. Ragnar Lothbrok
Of all of the characters within the present, Ragnar Lothbrok is by far essentially the most mysterious and controversial. His identify is the primary to make it into the historical past pages, by crusing away from Scandinavia and pillaging settlements in northwestern Europe throughout the 9th century. However on a better examination of the scanty proof accessible, it could appear that Ragnar could have been nothing greater than a legendary determine, and even a lot of totally different warriors that bore the identical identify. Essentially the most credible piece of knowledge talks a few sure Ragnall who led a Viking raid of 120 ships up the River Seine to pillage Paris in 845. However the story additionally goes on to say that these Norsemen had been stricken by dysentery and their fierce chief succumbed to it.
However, Ragnar seems in different tales, pillaging settlements in Scotland or England. He additionally dies a number of extra instances, both by the hands of his Viking rivals or throughout a raid, or is captured by the King of Northumbria and thrown right into a pit of venomous snakes – relying on which story you learn. In a pair Sagas, Ragnar additionally fights a fierce dragon, so there’s that. As for the Sons of Ragnar, issues begin to grow to be considerably clearer. Now, whether or not these males had been really his sons or not remains to be a matter of debate. However given the legends surrounding this semi-mythical hero, it wouldn’t be too farfetched to assume that being a so-called “son” of his was nothing greater than a title, or a badge of honor, taken up in an effort to entice warriors searching for plunder and glory. In a way, being a son of Ragnar may very well be considerably corresponding to how the Spartans recognized themselves as descendants of Hercules.
9. Bjorn Ironside
Within the 13th century Viking Saga entitled The Story of Ragnar’s Sons, Bjorn Ironside was Ragnar’s and Aslaug’s (not Lagertha’s) second eldest son, after Ivar the Boneless. As one of many so-called Legendary kings of Sweden, Bjorn can solely be discovered described in these Sagas, making him a type of semi-mythical character, as properly. In these tales, Bjorn took half within the 865 invasion of England, alongside his brothers, and continued his father’s legacy of raiding France. Along with considered one of Ragnar’s finest associates, Hastein, Bjorn Ironside additionally raided down the Iberian coast, the south of France, Northern Africa, Sicily, and even captured the town of Pisa, in Italy. Believing it to be Rome, Bjorn additionally besieged the city of Luni, however was unable to breach its partitions.
Similar to it was portrayed within the present’s third season, when Ragnar and his Vikings attacked Paris, Bjorn pretended to be on his deathbed and wished to be Christened and buried inside the metropolis’s monastery. However as soon as inside, he sprang from the stretcher, and along with his small private guard they dashed to the town gates and opened them for the remainder of the Viking pressure ready exterior. Laden with treasure, the raiding social gathering headed again residence, solely to be met by a formidable Moorish fleet on the Straits of Gibraltar. A fierce naval battle commenced and 40 of the 60-odd Viking ships had been misplaced. The remaining managed to succeed in Scandinavia the place Bjorn grew to become the King of Sweden and the supposed founding father of the Munsö dynasty.
8. Harald Finehair
Within the present, Harald Finehair is obsessive about the thought of turning into the King of all Norway. Properly, in response to the Sagas he really made it. Harald I was the primary to say full sovereignty over Norway. Born someday round 860, he succeeded his father on the age of 10, turning into the ruler of southeastern Norway. Someday between 872 and 900 AD, he started a marketing campaign of conquest in opposition to the western components of the nation, culminating with the Battle of Hafrsfjord, and the unification of all the area beneath his management. Trendy students contest the thought of a single battle ensuing within the unification of Norway, saying as a substitute that it was extra of a several-centuries course of. Regardless of the case, Harald solely held efficient management over the lands he beforehand had, and possibly had a nominal authority over the others.
However, he fashioned the premise of a provincial administration, by amassing taxes from coastal commerce and by making use of lesser chieftains in control of totally different provinces. His new taxation system could have compelled many to to migrate elsewhere, such because the British Isles or Iceland. As these sources had been solely written down a number of centuries after his loss of life, there isn’t a lot element about his life or exploits. It’s, however, stated that he lived to be over 80 and had between 11 and 20 sons.
7. Lagertha the Shieldmaiden
Lagertha’s story is depicted in a number of passages of a patriotic historical past guide written by a Danish historian and theologian of the 13th century. Her story, in addition to others discovered right here, is taken into account to be largely fictional. Lagertha’s life as a shieldmaiden started when Ragnar rescued her, after a Swedish king invaded and killed Ragnar’s grandfather and despatched the ladies in his courtroom to a brothel for public humiliation. Lagertha and the opposite girls fought alongside him, being instrumental in Ragnar’s victory.
He was impressed by Lagertha’s magnificence and braveness in battle, and married her quickly after. Collectively, that they had a son, Fridleif, and two daughters whose names weren’t recorded. They later divorced so Ragnar might marry the daughter of a Swedish King. However after returning to his kingdom in Denmark, Ragnar was confronted with a civil warfare. When all appeared misplaced, Lagertha, forward of 120 ships (and nonetheless in love with Ragnar) saved the day. On her return to Norway, she quarreled together with her husband and killed him with a spearhead hidden beneath her costume – thus taking sole-rulership over these lands. Some students consider that Lagertha’s story was partially impressed by Thorgerd, an area Norwegian goddess.
6. Floki
Born someday throughout the 9th century, Floki, or Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson, to be extra precise, was a Norseman who sailed to Iceland and settled there along with his household. In all probability, he by no means met Ragnar or the others. Anyway, his exploits are introduced within the Landnámabók (E-book of Settlements) – a 12th century genealogic document describing intimately the identify of almost 400 unique settlers and their descendants, amongst different issues. The true Floki was not the primary to succeed in Iceland; actually, he was the third to take action. However, he was the primary to go there deliberately.
In 868, he set sail from Western Norway, taking three ravens with him, and like Noah, he used them to search out the island. Hrafna-Flóki really interprets to Raven-Flóki – a nickname given to him due to it. He and the opposite preliminary settlers constructed their first winter camp within the northwestern a part of Iceland – a area with many scorching springs and thermal swimming pools. In all probability due to the identify similarity, present Floki is oftentimes related to Loki, the Norse god of mischief. Plotwise, Floki’s character can also be based mostly partly on the previously-mentioned Hastein, a detailed pal of Ragnar, Bjorn’s mentor, and reportedly, a deceitful man.
5. Halfdan “Hvitserk” Ragnarsson
As a result of nowhere within the Sagas are the names Hvitserk and Halfdan Ragnarsson talked about collectively, indicating them to be totally different sons of Ragnar, some students have speculated they’re, actually, the identical individual – the place Hvitserk was solely a nickname that means “white shirt.” However, the tales supply totally different accounts for every of the 2 names. On the one hand, we’ve Halfdan who, after the preliminary invasion of England, took cost of the Viking forces, captured York, and later London. Sources additionally speak of Halfdan as being the King of Jórvík (Scandinavian York). Some say he joined a number of raiding campaigns in Northern Eire and died there in 877. Others say that he lived in York till 883.
The individual named Hvitserk, then again – the one identify utilized by Ragnar’s son within the present – is claimed to have traveled to the Kievan Rus after the invasion of England. He raided with them till they had been confronted with overwhelming odds, and was captured. When requested how he wished to die, he determined to be burned alive on the stake, made out of human our bodies. Apparently sufficient, the present has introduced that the Kievan Rus will seem within the subsequent season. So… spoiler alert?
4. Bishop Heahmund
Even when the actual model of Bishop Heahmund could not have had the identical luck with the women as his fictional counterpart within the present, the person positively existed in historical past. He was consecrated as Bishop of Sherborne (at this time’s Bishop of Salisbury) in 867 or 868, and stood beside King Aethelred and Prince Alfred of Wessex of their struggle in opposition to the Viking invaders.
However, he died on the Battle of Marton in 871, by the hands of the Norsemen led by the previously-mentioned Halfdan. Heahmund by no means really encountered Ivar or Lagertha. King Aethelred additionally died, both throughout the battle, or from his wounds, a number of days later. Sadly, although, nothing else is understood in regards to the Bishop, however he’s nonetheless honored as a saint for his valiant struggle in opposition to the heathens, by each Catholics and Jap Orthodox alike.
3. Ivar the Boneless
As we’ve talked about above, Ivar the Boneless was actually Ragnar Lothbrok’s eldest son. However, his formative years is shrouded in thriller, as is his nickname. Historians speculate that it might have referred to a skeletal situation, similar to osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone illness), or he was unable to stroll for some purpose. In any case, he was a basic in control of the Nice Heathen Military that attacked England in 865, ransacking the petty kingdoms of East Anglia and Northumbria, and capturing the city of York within the course of. Preventing with the English continued properly into the 870s, however in response to data, Ivar the Boneless now not took half in it.
As an alternative, he joined up with Olaf the White, the supposed Viking King of Dublin, and collectively they went to Scotland. Right here, they attacked the Kingdom of Strathclyde in 870, overrunning and destroying its capital metropolis of Dumbarton, “fortress of the Britons.” The 2 returned to Dublin the next 12 months, the place Ivar grew to become referred to as the King of the Norsemen of all Eire and Britain. He died in 873 from “a sudden and horrible illness,” main some to take a position that it was the underlying affliction he suffered from his total life. In one of many Sagas, Ivar demanded to be buried in a mound someplace on the English coast, the place his stays would guard in opposition to any future invasions of the British Isles. His prophecy held true till 1066, when William the Conqueror got here to his mound, unburied Ivar and burned his physique, thus lifting the curse and permitting him victory.
2. King Alfred the Nice
Alfred grew to become King of Wessex in 871 after his older brother, King Aethelred, died within the Battle of Marton, alongside Bishop Heahmund. His many deeds and victories in opposition to the invading Norsemen earned him the byname of Alfred the Nice. He was the primary English king to utilize ships in opposition to the raiders. He fortified previous strongholds and constructed others in strategic places. He outsmarted the Norsemen in quite a few battles, recapturing the city of London in 886 and paving the best way for the longer term recapture of previously-conquered lands. He fashioned sturdy alliances with Mercia and Wales, and put up a fierce and relentless resistance in opposition to the marauding Vikings.
However except for his army prowess, King Alfred can also be identified for his sensible administration and love for studying. It’s stated that he by no means really desired royal energy, preferring as a substitute a scholar’s life. However, throughout his reign, he had many books translated into English (some by his personal hand), and directed younger males of in a position means to discover ways to learn. As was the favored perception on the time, Alfred additionally considered the Viking invasion as a divine punishment for his or her sins. Nonetheless, he attributed it to the nation’s decline in studying, as solely by data and knowledge might individuals stay in accordance with God’s will. Alfred additionally revised the justice system, guaranteeing better safety for the weak and susceptible in opposition to the oftentimes oppressive nature of corrupt or ignorant judges. He additionally restricted the apply of blood feuds (vendettas) and imposed heavy penalties for these breaking pledges and oaths.
1. Rollo
Rollo was positively not Ragnar’s brother, as depicted within the TV present. Not solely is that this not talked about or hinted at wherever in historical past, however extra importantly, Rollo lived at a later date than the others. Actually, he was born someday round 860, both in Denmark or Norway, and far later than any of the so-called Sons of Ragnar. Anyway, he started making a reputation for himself when he besieged Paris in 885. This was additionally the primary time when the Vikings opted for a protracted siege of the town as a substitute of a hit-and-run raid. He additionally managed to ascertain a everlasting foothold on the decrease Seine, and Charles the Easy of West Francia ceded him the lands between the mouth of the River, all the best way to the town of Rouen, on the situation that he would defend in opposition to another Viking incursions.
He based the Duchy of Normandy in 911 and reigned over it till 927, when he gave the seat to his son, William I Longsword. Rollo was baptized in 912, however it’s stated that he nonetheless died a pagan round 932. His sons and followers grew to become referred to as the Normans and had an amazing affect over Europe and the Close to East. His descendants conquered southern Italy and Sicily on the flip of the millennium. Rollo’s great-great-great-grandson was William the Conqueror, often known as William I of England. And throughout the First Campaign, the Italian Normans additionally based the Principality of Antioch, in what are actually components of Turkey and Syria.
Apparently, Rollo’s Scandinavian identify was really Rolf, which later turned to Gaange Rolf. In previous Dano-Norwegian, gaa meant to stroll and was in reference to his imposing stature. In his maturity, he grew to become so huge that no horse might maintain his weight, and he was at all times compelled to stroll on foot, thus being referred to as Strolling Rollo.
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