When was ragnar lothbrok born

However it was his father Sweyn Svein who was the first Viking king of England…. Towards the end of their careers, each man sailed his longships upriver to Jorvik, or York. Not one of them survived to make the journey home Ragnar and Aslaug Thus, Ragnar was said to have set sail for England with only two ships in tow in order to conquer the land and prove himself better than his sons. Ragnar in the pit of snakes It would seem therefore that his death at the hands of Aella in a pit of snakes has its roots in myth rather than history, for it seems probable that Ragnar perished sometime between AD and AD during his travels across the Irish Sea.

Death of Edmund the Martyr In reality, it is likely that the fearsome Ragnar Lothbrok legend was indeed built upon the reputation of the Ragnar who successfully raided Britain, France and Ireland in the ninth century for extravagant quantities of treasure.

Related articles. Sweyn Forkbeard. The records are unclear as to whether Halfdan was also known as Hvitserk or whether Hvitserk was another son of Ragnar. Ragnar was given land in Frisia a province of north-west Netherlands by Charles the Bald. The Vikings withdrew after being paid kg of silver and gold. Despite being warned against sailing to England Ragnar Lothbrok made the voyage. He was shipwrecked off the Northumbrian coast. On hearing the news, King Aelle of Northumbria immediately marched, defeated the Viking army and took Ragnar prisoner.

Ragnar was a pagan who claimed to be a direct descendant of the god Odin. One of his favorite strategies was to attack Christian cities on holy feast days, knowing that many soldiers would be in church. After he was done with France, he turned his attention to England. In , he landed in Northumbria on the northeast coast of England.

Here, it is claimed that he was defeated in battle for the only time, by King Ella of Northumbria. As he was slowly being bitten to death, he was alleged to have exclaimed "How the little pigs would grunt if they knew the situation of the old boar! Hvitserk, who was playing chess, gripped the piece so hard that he bled from his fingernails.

Bjorn grabbed a spear so tightly that he left an impression in it, and Sigurd, who was trimming his nails, cut straight through to the bone. Although this story, like virtually all tales concerning Ragnar Lodbrok, may or may not be accurate, his death had serious consequences. Ivor was the mastermind behind the attacks on the English mainland in the final quarter of the ninth century. He invaded East Anglia, and the following year attacked York. The Vikings then travel to Northumbria and are met by Saxon soldiers, Ragnar is able to communicate with them and seems interested in the prospect of peaceful trade with the Saxons.

However, mutual distrust leads to violence between the parties and the Saxons are massacred. With no recourse but to continue on, the Vikings find a large Saxon town and assault it during their Sunday Mass and plunder it with little bloodshed. While returning to their longship, they are faced with a large force of Saxons who had been notified of their presence by a survivor from the previous altercation on the shore.

Ragnar's uncanny leadership and the Viking's fighting skill carries them to victory again. Ragnar returns to Kattegat, where yet another complication arouses.

While raiding the village, Knut, after attempting to rape her, was killed by Lagertha. In order to protect his wife, Ragnar falsely confessed to killing Knut. Haraldson promptly has him arrested and put on trial, but testimony from Rollo sees Ragnar exonerated. A celebration is then made at the house of his ally, Erik. However, they are attacked by assassins sent by the vengeful Haraldson, the warband overcomes the assailants but Erik is killed.

The death of his longtime ally fills Ragnar with rage and grief, and he resolves finally to defeat Haraldson to avenge his death. At the same time, Haraldson visits the Seer to learn about their mutual fates. Haraldson asks the Seer whether Ragnar desires to be Earl, to which the Seer enigmatically replies, "If he kills you, would it not be so?

Resolving finally to end this threat before it can become unstoppable, Haraldson launches an attack on Ragnar's Farm. Ragnar catches wind of this and fights his way through multitudes of the Earl's men to reach his family. Despite defeating every foe handily, he is heavily wounded. Eventually, he reaches the house and leads his family to safety, diverting Haraldson's attention by apparently surrendering himself.

Trapped, Ragnar calls upon the aid of his father, Odin, to help him escape his captors. Seemingly, the god of war answers and Ragnar manages to fight his way through Haraldson's housecarls and escape. Afterward, he is taken to the house of Floki, where the shipwright slowly nurses him back to health.

While recovering, Ragnar learns from his friend Torstein that Haraldson has captured Rollo and is torturing him to learn Ragnar's whereabouts. Though still gravely wounded, Ragnar is outraged by this and calls upon Floki to go Kattegat and challenge Haraldson to personal combat with him, making it clear that if Haraldson refuses then shame will stalk him forever and Odin will never allow him into his halls. Floki arrives at Kattegat and relays Ragnar's challenge to the Earl.

Though initially reluctant to accept, Haraldson realizes their fates have brought them together and that the only way to end Ragnar's threat is to face him in battle. Thus, he agrees to the duel. The next day, Ragnar and Haraldson meet each other on the field and after a short but vicious fight, Ragnar defeats the Earl.

Ragnar calms the earl, telling him that Odin is with them, waiting to see who he shall bring to the Great Hall with him, thus Haraldson goes to his death proudly, believing he will finally rejoin his dead sons in Valhalla. Though shattered by his passing, the Earl's wife Siggy is nonetheless the first to recognize Ragnar as the new Earl. Ragnar then retires to the Great Hall and takes the throne at the urging of the people of Kattegat, and receives the oaths of his subjects. He also meets the great elder warrior known as Tostig , who asks for the chance to die in battle.

Ragnar grants him thus, resolving to bring him on his next raid. Just as the man he had just slain had admitted to his wife that he respected Ragnar, Ragnar admits to Athelstan that he also respects the previous Earl, saying that he was a great man and warrior, so he grants Haraldson a big funeral.

During the festivities, Lagertha tells Ragnar she is pregnant with their second son, much to his elation. Several months later, Ragnar and his warriors take to the seas on their longships and arrive again on Northumbrian soil. Aella agrees, but only on the conditions that Ragnar and his warriors remain in their camp and cease their attacks on the Northumbrian people and their property, to which Ragnar agrees.

Aella also makes the stipulation that one of the Vikings agrees to be baptized into Christianity, which Ragnar and the other Vikings, all being staunch pagans, laugh at. However, Rollo agrees to do so in order to seal the deal, much to Ragnar's annoyance. After Rollo's baptism and a charged reprimand from Floki, Ragnar's sentries spy a wagon carrying large chests.

At first, they take this to be their payment, but after examining them it becomes apparent that Aella has double-crossed the Northmen and sent a massive army to destroy them. Ragnar has planned for this, however, and has laid a trap for the Saxons. A spiked barricade is launched upwards at the Saxon horse charge, killing many men and robbing them of their momentum. With this, the Saxon force is thrown into momentary disarray and the Vikings swiftly move in to annihilate them. After a pitched battle in which few of them are lost, the Vikings crush the Saxon warriors.

With Rollo slaughtering more than anyone else in order to prove his commitment to the Norse faith, which Ragnar and Floki watch with approval. Ragnar, rich with plunder and victory, returns to his earldom only to find that his wife has miscarried and his unborn son has died. Ragnar is filled with grief at this and wonders why the gods give with one hand and take with the other.

The important festival at the Temple at Uppsala is now approaching. Originally he had not planned to go on account of all the new duties he had to do as Earl, but now he feels that he must go to understand why it is that the gods are angry with him. Athelstan also agrees to come, to which Ragnar expresses relief, as he would have taken him even if he was unwilling. Ragnar, his family, and his hird arrive at Uppsala. Ragnar enters the great Temple and goes to a statue of his patron god Odin.

Ragnar asks his divine father to help him understand his will and begs him to be pleased with the offering he is going to give him. He also asks the All-Father who it is that will bear his sons, if it is not Lagertha. Rumors soon circulate that King Horik of Denmark will also attend the festival. Ragnar knows that this is not a mere rumor, but that Horik is indeed coming. Ragnar remarks on the many stories he has heard of King Horik's might and expresses his admiration of him.

Sure enough, the next day, Horik arrives at Uppsala and tricks the priests of the temple by throwing a rooster at them while they sleep. Amused, Horik later retires to his tent in the evening where Ragnar meets with him. The king receives him warmly and expresses his great admiration for his strength and skill, telling him how he has heard the stories of his great victories in the Western lands.

Ragnar, in turn, expresses his respect for the king, and due to that, offers Horik his fealty in the living presence of the gods. Horik is silent for a moment, but accepts Ragnar's pledge "with a glad heart" and asks him what he can do for him in return. Ragnar explains his ambition to send larger raiding parties west to plunder and fight, but also to explore other lands that lie to the west aside from the Saxon kingdoms which he has learned from his monk Athelstan.

After Athelstan explains his background as a Christian missionary, Horik remarks on how he has heard of Christians and asks if he still is one. Athelstan says he is not, to which Horik replies, "Of course not, how could you be Christian and walk amongst our gods? Over a game of Hnefatafl, Ragnar and Horik discuss their future plans. He wishes him to speak to Jarl Borg , who claims rights over some of Horik's lands and get him to abandon his illegal claims. Horik tells Ragnar that if he can do this, he will be eternally in his debt.

The next day, Ragnar's intent in bringing Athelstan is finally revealed. One of the priests at Uppsala reveals to Athelstan that he has been brought in as a sacrifice. However, it is later learned that Athelstan has not fully abandoned Christianity as was thought, and is therefore unacceptable as a sacrifice to the gods, because they need to be both willing and a worshiper of the Aesir gods.

Later on, the question is posed of who shall take Athelstan's place at the sacrifice lest the gods punish all of Midgard. After some deliberation, it is Leif , one of Ragnar's top warriors and a loyal friend who agrees to be sacrificed, seeing it as a great honor.

The next day, Ragnar and Athelstan attend the great sacrifice and watch sadly as their mutual friend is killed. Leif gives his friends one last smile before Horik brings his sword down on his throat. After many days of perilous travel, they reach Jarl Borg's hall, though he is at first inconsiderate to them, the Jarl quickly becomes more courteous when he realizes that it is the great hero Ragnar Lodbrok who Horik has sent to him.

Borg has the hero and his warriors seen to and tells him that they will speak again in the morning. Ragnar, Rollo, and Borg discuss the matter of the disputed land. Borg tells his fellow earl that the lands in question possess a vast wealth of valuable minerals, and thus he is reluctant to withdraw his claim.

Ragnar states that Horik demands he withdraw and tells him that the Danish king will pay him whatever price to do so. Borg suggests that perhaps he could instead lease the land to Horik, but Ragnar asserts that he has not been given the authority to make such detailed negotiations. The Jarl does ask however that one of Ragnar's men remain as security, and he leaves Rollo with him. He then calls on Floki to travel to Denmark and speak with Horik. On his way to the ash tree, Ragnar's men see a woman known as Aslaug , and are enamored of her beauty.

They later tell their Earl of their encounter and how she wishes for an apology from him for his men's lust. Ragnar is intrigued more by her wit than her form and tells his men to give her a riddle, "To come neither dressed nor undressed, neither hungry nor full, not alone and nor in company. They later reach the ash tree and marvel at it, for Borg has claimed that it is Yggdrasil, the World-Tree Odin hung himself upon for nine days and nights to find runes of knowledge for man.

Filled with reverence, Ragnar recites a short poem which tells of Odin's great sacrifice. Ragnar and Aslaug later become close, much to Bjorn's distaste and eventually Ragnar beds her.

Bjorn is angered by this and makes Ragnar swears this will never happen again. Seeking to appease his son, Ragnar swears it will be so and reminds his young boy that he loves him. Aslaug visits Ragnar in the night and tries to bed him once more, Ragnar firmly tells her no and she departs disappointed.

After some time, she reveals to Ragnar that she is carrying his child which Ragnar is shocked by. Floki tells the Jarl that Horik remains obstinate, either Borg will abandon his claims to Horik's territory, or there will be war.

Borg is angered, and asks Ragnar if he will side with the Danish king or with him. Ragnar's silence speaks loud and clear, and Borg leaves the feasting hall in disappointment at his hero's decision.

Ragnar is torn by a torrent of conflicting emotions as he realizes the full gravity of what his actions might mean. On one hand, it seems the gods have shown him to his new wife. But at the same time, he wonders about the family he already has, and of how this turn of events will affect his son.

Ragnar cuts his hand to offer the blood to his patron, Odin and prays for guidance. Ragnar steels himself and goes to Aslaug's chambers with a dagger in hand. He barges into the quarters of the daughter of Brynhildr with murder in his eyes and Aslaug is terrified of the Earl's wrath. Though the knowledge that this woman might be carrying his prophesied sons gives the Viking pause.

Ragnar places his ear to Aslaug's womb and realizes that what she has said is true, and that this mysterious woman well and truly bears his son. The revelation brings forth a torrent of conflicting emotion even greater than what was felt before in Ragnar, and on his face is writ a look shock and horror.

Meanwhile, Jarl Borg has sunk his talons into Rollo. Preying upon his jealousy of Ragnar's great success and fame in order to turn the fearsome warrior to his cause.

Season 2 begins with Ragnar and his men discovering Rollo has betrayed them for Jarl Borg. Ragnar sends Arne to Borg's camp to attempt to talk Rollo out of his betrayal, but Rollo stubbornly refuses, and Arne leaves angry and disappointed.

The two armies face off against each other in a small field. Ragnar stares at the enemy army with pure hatred while Rollo taps into his jealousy and rage to work himself up into a frenzy before the battle. The two Viking armies fight but are evenly matched as they use the same tactics and battle styles.

During the fighting Rollo leaps over Ragnar's line and begins killing numerous warriors, prompting Floki to attempt to stop him. Unfortunately Floki, even with the aid of two others, is unable to stop Rollo and is defeated even quicker when Jarl Borg joins the fight.

Rollo easily defeats Arne and kills him, lifting him on a spear for all to see. Ragnar and Torstein see this and cut their way through the battle to confront Rollo. Rollo, realizing he cannot fight his own brother, surrenders, and this ends the battle. After the battle, Borg meets with Horik and Ragnar to discuss terms. Though Horik offers some concessions Borg insists the land is his, prompting a frustrated Ragnar to berate them both, saying that they should unite to raid west instead of fighting amongst themselves.

This convinces Borg and Horik, who agree to raid west together. Ragnar, Torstein, a wounded Floki, and a restrained Rollo sail back to Kattegat, where the townspeople jeer Rollo and mourn Floki. Rollo's fate is to be decided by a Lawgiver rather than the Earl, as Ragnar is Rollo's brother.

The Lawgiver proclaims Rollo should live, that if the gods wanted him dead they would have killed him in battle.