Ivar the Boneless (Ivar inn beinlausi) (c. 794 – 872 in Dublin) was the nickname of Ivar Ragnarsson. He was a Viking chieftain (and by reputation also a berserker), who, in 865 AD, with his brothers Halfdan Ragnarsson (Halfdene) and Ubbe Ragnarsson (Hubba), led the Great Heathen Army in the invasion of the East Anglian region of England. An accommodation was quickly reached with the East Anglians. The following year, Ivar led his forces north on horseback and easily captured Jorvik (what the Danes called York) from the Northumbrians who were at that time engaged in a civil war. Events Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... Dublin (Irish: Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland, located near the midpoint of Irelands east coast, at the mouth of the River Liffey and at the centre of the Dublin Region. ... A nickname is a short, clever, cute, derogatory, or otherwise substitute name for a person or things real name (for example, Tom is short for Thomas). ... The name Viking is a loanword from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, the British Isles, and other parts of Europe from the late 8th century to the 11th century. ... Berserkers (or Berserks) were Norse warriors who had sworn allegiance to the sky god Odin and worked themselves into a frenzy before a battle. ... Events Ethelred succeeds as king of Wessex (or 866). ... Halfdan was one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok. ... The Great Heathen Army, also known as the Great Army, was a Viking army which pillaged and conquered much of England in the late 9th century. ... Norfolk and Suffolk, the core area of East Anglia. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... Jorvik was the Viking name for the English city of York and the kingdom centered there. ...

Ivar is also attributed with the slaying of St Edmund of East Anglia in 869 AD. Edmund the Martyr (circa 840 - November 20, 870) was a King of East Anglia. ... Events Western Emperor Louis II allies with eastern Emperor Basil I against the Saracens. ...

There is some disagreement as to the meaning of Ivar's epithet "Boneless." Some have suggested it was a euphemism for impotence or even a snake metaphor (he had a brother named Snake-Eye). However, the Scandinavian sources describe a condition very similar to a form of osteogenesis imperfecta (see below). Impotence or, more clinically, erectile dysfunction is the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse regardless of the capability of ejaculation. ... Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a group of genetic bone disorders. ...

Scandinavian sources

Ivar Boneless was according to the saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, the eldest son of Ragnar and Kraka. He had only cartilage in his legs and so he could not walk, but had to be carried on a shield. However, it is said he was fair, big, strong, and one of the wisest men who has ever lived. He was consequently the advisor of his brothers Björn Ironside, Sigurd Snake-Eye and Hvitserk. An 1857 painting by August Malmström depicting King Aellas messenger before Ragnar Lodbroks sons. ... Aslaug, Aslög, Kraka or Kráka, was a queen of Scandinavian mythology who appears in Snorris Edda, the Völsunga saga and the saga of Ragnar Lodbrok. ... Cartilage is a type of dense connective tissue. ... Björn Járnsíða or Björn Järnsida, Swedish king (ca 785-800) was a legendary viking from the 8th century. ... Sigurd Snake-eye was one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and Kraka. ... Hvitsärk (Whiteshirt) was one of the legendary sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and Kraka. ...

When king Ælla of Northumberland had murdered their father, by throwing him into a snake-pit, Ivar's brothers tried to avenge their father, but were beaten. Ivar then went to king Ælla and said that he sought reconciliation. He only asked for as much land as he could cover with an ox's hide and swore never to wage war against Ælla. Then Ivar cut the ox's hide into so fine strands that he could envelope a large fortress (in an older saga it was York and according to a younger saga it was London) which he could take as his own. As he was the most generous of men, he attracted a great many warriors whom he consequently kept from Ælla when this king was attacked by Ivar's brothers for the second time. Aelle sealing his own fate by murdering Ragnar Lodbrok Aelle II (died 867), king of the Northumbrians, became king about 862 on the deposition of Osbeorht, although he was not of royal birth. ... York is a city in northern England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ...

Ælla was captured and, when the brothers were to decide how to give Ælla his just punishment, Ivar suggested that they carve the "blood eagle" on his back. This meant that Ælla's back was cut open, the ribs pulled from his spine, and his lungs removed. After justice had been served, Ivar became the king of England. The Blood Eagle was reportedly a method of torture and execution that is sometimes mentioned in old Icelandic Viking sagas. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK...

Genetic disease

In 1949, the Dane Knud Seedorf published Osteogenesis imperfecta: A study of clinical features and heredity based on 55 Danish families, where he wrote:

Of historical personages the author knows of only one of whom we have a vague suspicion that he suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta, namely Ivar Benløs, eldest son of the Danish legendary king Regnar Lodbrog. He is reported to have had legs as soft as cartilage ('he lacked bones'), so that he was unable to walk and had to be carried about on a shield.

There are less extreme forms of this disease where the person affected can lack use of their legs, but be otherwise normal, as was probably the case for Ivar the Boneless.

In 2004 a disability rights advocate with osteogenesis imperfecta, Nabil Shaban, made a TV documentary in which he explored the possibility that Ivar the Boneless may have had the same condition as himself. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The disability rights movement aims to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities. ... Nabil Shaban (born 12 February 1953 in Amman, Jordan) is a British actor. ...

External links

• His biography
• A site on the disease itself
• Northvegr – The Tale of Ragnar's Sons
• Nabil Shaban's page about Ivar the Boneless