Aella murdering Ragnar Lodbrok.

Ragnar Lodbrok (Ragnar "Hairy-Breeks", Old Norse: Ragnarr Loðbrók) was a Norse legendary hero from the Viking Age who was thoroughly reshaped in Old Norse poetry and legendary sagas.^[1][2] Image File history File links Aella_murdering_Ragnar_Lodbrok. ... Image File history File links Aella_murdering_Ragnar_Lodbrok. ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... Norseman redirects here; for the town of the same name see Norseman, Western Australia. ... Viking Age is the term denoting the years from about 800 to 1066 in Scandinavian History[1][2][3]. // The Vikings have been much maligned in European history, due in large part to their violent attacks on Christians in the first centuries of their excursions out of Scandinavia. ... Old Norse poetry encompasses a range of verse forms written in a number of Nordic languages, embraced by the term Old Norse, during the period from the 8th century to as late as the far end of the 13th century. ... A Fornaldarsaga deals with matter that took place in Scandinavia (and a few distant places) before the colonization of Iceland. ...

Although he is something of a hero in his native Scandinavia, reliable accounts of his life are very sketchy and heavily based on ancient Viking sagas. Even the dating of his reign is not certain; there are sources that date it from 750–794, and others from 860–865.^{[citation needed]} Neither really matches with what is known of him, though he may perhaps have held power as a warlord from approximately 835 to his death in 865, perhaps only being recognized as king in the last five years of his life.^{[citation needed]} For other uses, see Scandinavia (disambiguation). ... Events Last Umayyad caliph Marwan II (744-750) overthrown by first Abbasid caliph, Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah Bold textItalic textLink title GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM GARY CANT SWIM... Events Kyoto becomes the Japanese capital. ... Events First attack on Constantinople by Swedish Vikings (the Rus, see Varangians). ... Events Ethelred succeeds as king of Wessex (or 866). ... Events Ragnar Lodbrok rises to power (approximate date) The celebration of All Saints is made an obligation throughout the Frankish Empire and fixed on November 1. ... Events Ethelred succeeds as king of Wessex (or 866). ...

A historic Ragnar Lodbrok is held to have been an earl at the court of the Danish king Horik I (814-854), and this Ragnar participated in the Viking plunderings of Paris^[2] in 845.^{[citation needed]} For people, see Earl (given name) and Earl (surname). ... The Daner were an ancient North germanic tribe residing in modern day southern Sweden and on the Danish islands. ... Horik I (d. ... For other uses, see Viking (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of France. ... Events March 28 - Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving. ...

A certain Reginheri attacked Paris with a fleet of 120 ships. The warriors belonging to the army of Charles the Bald, were placed to guard the monastery in St. Denis, but fled when the Danish Vikings executed their prisoners ferociously in front of their eyes.^{[citation needed]} Charles the Bald[1] (numbered Charles II of France and the Holy Roman Emperor) (French: , German: ) (13 June 823 – 6 October 877), Holy Roman Emperor (875–877) and king of West Francia (840–877), was the youngest son of Emperor Louis the Pious, by his second wife Judith. ... The Basilica of Saint Denis (in French, la Basilique de Saint-Denis), a famous burial site for French monarchs, is located in Saint Denis (near Paris). ...

After receiving a tribute of 7000 pounds of silver from Charles the Bald, Ragnar went back.^[2] By mysterious circumstances, many men in Ragnar's army died during the journey and Ragnar died soon after his return.^[1] The Danegeld was an English tribute raised to pay off Viking raiders (usually led by the Danish king) to save the land from being ravaged by the raiders. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... Charles the Bald[1] (numbered Charles II of France and the Holy Roman Emperor) (French: , German: ) (13 June 823 – 6 October 877), Holy Roman Emperor (875–877) and king of West Francia (840–877), was the youngest son of Emperor Louis the Pious, by his second wife Judith. ...

Contemporary sources

Paris at the time of Ragnar's attack.

Ragnar apparently spent most of his life as a pirate and raider, invading one country after another. One of his favorite tactics was to attack Christian cities on church feast days, knowing that many soldiers would be in church. He would generally accept a huge payment to leave his victims alone, only to come back later and demand more riches in exchange for leaving. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 793 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1289 × 975 pixel, file size: 143 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 793 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1289 × 975 pixel, file size: 143 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Look up pirate and piracy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with a saint, and referring to the day as the saints day of that saint. ...

But as the extent of his supposed realm shows, he was also a gifted military leader. By 845, he was a powerful man and most likely a contemporary of the first ruler of Russia, the Viking Rurik. It is said he was always seeking new adventures because he was worried that his freebooting sons would do things that would outshine his own achievements.^{[citation needed]} Events March 28 - Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collect a huge ransom in exchange for leaving. ... Rurik or Riurik (Russian: , Old East Norse Rørik, meaning famous ruler) (ca 830 – ca 879) was a Varangian who gained control of Ladoga in 862 and built the Holmgard settlement (Ryurikovo Gorodishche) in Novgorod. ...

France

In 845 he sailed southward, looking for new worlds to conquer. With an alleged force of 120 ships and 5,000 Viking warriors, he landed in what is now France, probably at the Seine estuary, and ravaged West Francia, as the westernmost part of the Frankish Empire was then known. Rouen was ravaged and then Carolivenna, a mere 20 km from St. Denis. The raiders then attacked and captured Paris. The traditional date for this is 28 March, which is today referred to as Ragnar Lodbrok Day by certain followers of the Asatru religion. The King of West Francia, Charlemagne's grandson Charles the Bald, paid Ragnar a huge amount of money not to destroy the city. Ragnar Lodbrok, according to Viking sources, was satisfied with no less than 7,000 pounds of silver in exchange for sparing the city. However, that did not stop Ragnar from attacking other parts of France, and it took a long time for the Franks to drive him out. This article is about the river in France. ... The Frankish Empire was the territory of the Franks, from the 5th to the 10th centuries, from 481 ruled by Clovis I of the Merovingian Dynasty, the first king of all the Franks. ... , Rouen (pronounced in French) is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) région. ... This article is about the capital of France. ... satr , also known as Odinism, describes a number of attempts to reconstruct the indigenous religions of Northern Europe. ... Charlemagne (left) and Pippin the Hunchback. ... Charles the Bald[1] (numbered Charles II of France and the Holy Roman Emperor) (French: , German: ) (13 June 823 – 6 October 877), Holy Roman Emperor (875–877) and king of West Francia (840–877), was the youngest son of Emperor Louis the Pious, by his second wife Judith. ... This article is about the chemical element. ... This article is about the Frankish people and society. ...

Later, Ragnar's sons were to return for more booty. Among their feats was destroying the city of Rouen several more times. Ultimately, many of them settled there permanently, in a land that became known as Normandy (for "Northmen", as the Franks called the Scandinavians or the "Nordmenn" as the Norwegians called themselves (which is much more likely)).^{[citation needed]} , Rouen (pronounced in French) is the historical capital city of Normandy, in northwestern France on the River Seine, and currently the capital of the Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy) région. ... For other uses, see Normandy (disambiguation). ...

England

After he was done with France, and after his supposed death in 845, he turned his attention to England. In 865, he landed in Northumbria on the north-east coast of England. It is claimed that here he was defeated in battle for the only time, by King Aelle II of Northumbria. For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Events Ethelred succeeds as king of Wessex (or 866). ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and... 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. ...

Aelle's men captured Ragnar, and the King ordered him thrown into a pit filled with poisonous snakes. As he was slowly being bitten to death, he is alleged to have exclaimed "How the little pigs would grunt if they knew the situation of the old boar!", referring to the vengeance he hoped his sons would wreak when they heard of his death.

Alternative versions of the story say that he landed by accident in East Anglia and there befriended King Edmund before being killed by a jealous courtier. The murderer escaped to Denmark and blamed Edmund for Lodbrok's demise. Edmund the Martyr (841–20 November 869) was a King of East Anglia. ...

Death Song

As he was thrown into the snake pit, Ragnar was said to have uttered his famous death song: "It gladdens me to know that Balder’s father makes ready the benches for a banquet. Soon we shall be drinking ale from the curved horns. The champion who comes into Odin’s dwelling does not lament his death. I shall not enter his hall with words of fear upon my lips. The Æsir will welcome me. Death comes without lamenting… Eager am I to depart. The Dísir summon me home, those whom Odin sends for me from the halls of the Lord of Hosts. Gladly shall I drink ale in the high-seat with the Æsir. The days of my life are ended. I laugh as I die."

Legacy

One Viking saga states that when his four sons heard the manner of his death, they all reacted in great sorrow. Hvitserk, who was playing tafl, gripped the piece so hard that he bled from his fingernails. Björn Ironside grabbed a spear so tightly that he left an impression in it, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, who was trimming his nails, cut straight through to the bone. Hvitsärk (Whiteshirt) was one of the legendary sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and Kraka. ... Tafl games are a family of ancient Germanic board games played on a checkered board with two teams of uneven strength. ... Björn Járnsíða or Björn Järnsida, Swedish king (ca 785-800) was a legendary viking from the 8th century. ... Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye was one of the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok and Kraka, but what set him apart from the others was that he was born with the image of the ouroborous, a snake or dragon biting its own tail, encircling the pupil of his left eye. ...

Although these stories may not be accurate, like virtually all tales concerning Ragnar Lodbrok, his death had serious consequences. His other sons, Ivar the Boneless (alias Hingwar) and Ubbe soon learned the details of their father's death and swore that they would avenge his killing, in time-honoured Viking tradition. In 866, Ivar and Ubbe crossed the North Sea with a large army (The Great Heathen Army), sacked York, met King Aelle in battle, and captured him. He was sentenced to die according to the custom of Rista Blodörn (Blood eagle), an exceedingly painful death. Ivar the Boneless (Ivar inn beinlausi) (c. ... Ubbe, Ubba or Hubba Ragnarsson was a son of Ragnar Lodbrok. ... Events Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent of Japan, starting the Fujiwara regentship. ... The North Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean, located between the coasts of Norway and Denmark in the east, the coast of the British Isles in the west, and the German, Dutch, Belgian and French coasts in the south. ... 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. ... York shown within England Coordinates: , Sovereign state Constituent country Region Yorkshire and the Humber Ceremonial county North Yorkshire Admin HQ York City Centre Founded 71 City Status 71 Government  - Type Unitary Authority, City  - Governing body City of York Council  - Leadership: Leader & Executive  - Executive: Liberal Democrat  - MPs: Hugh Bayley (L) John... The Blood Eagle was reportedly a method of torture and execution that is sometimes mentioned in old Icelandic Viking sagas. ...

They then moved south to East Anglia, on the way attacking the monasteries of Bardney, Croyland and Medeshampstede where, according to tradition, their army slew 80 monks. Eventually they captured King Edmund and had him shot by archers and beheaded. These wars were a prelude to the long struggle of the Saxons of Alfred the Great against the Danes a generation later. Bardney is a small town 10 miles east of Lincoln, sitting on the north side of the River Witham, notable only for the huge British Sugar factory which supplies most of the local jobs. ... Crowland Abbey Croyland Abbey (occasionally spelled Crowland Abbey) is a parish church, formerly an abbey church in Crowland in the English county of Lincolnshire. ... Peterborough Cathedral Plan Peterborough Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, and is very unusual amongst mediæval cathedrals in Britain because of its triple front (dominated by the statues of the three saints) and overall asymmetrical appearance. ... For other uses, see Saxon (disambiguation). ... For the 10th century Bishop of Sherborne, see Alfred (bishop). ... The Danish nation is a concept closely connected to 19th century ethnic nationalism. ...

Mythology

Bragi Boddason is said to have composed the Ragnarsdrápa for the Swedish king Björn at Hauge. However, this does not correspond to what we know about the historical Ragnar. It is consequently said that in the Norse sagas, he was identified with a Swedish king Ragnar (770-785), the son of Sigurd Ring. According to legend, he married Aslaug and became the son-in-law of Sigurd the Völsung. Bragi is shown with a harp and accompanied by his wife Iðunn in this 19th century painting by Nils Blommér. ... Ragnarsdrápa is a skaldic poem composed to the Scandinavian hero Ragnar Lodbrok. ... King Björns barrow in HÃ¥ga (Old Norse name: Haug)near Uppsala. ... The Norse sagas or Viking sagas (Icelandic: Íslendingasögur), are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, about migration to Iceland, and of feuds between Icelandic families. ... Emperor Kōnin ascends to the throne of Japan, succeeding Empress Shōtoku. ... Events Widukind and many other Saxons are baptized. ... Sigurðr hringr, Sigurd Ring (ca 750) was a Swedish king mentioned in sources such as the Heimskringla, Gesta Danorum, Hervarar Saga and Sögubrot af Nokkrum. ... Aslaug, Asl g, Kraka or Kr ka, was a queen of Scandinavian mythology who appears in Snorris Edda, the V lsunga saga and the saga of Ragnar Lodbrok. ... Sigurd sculpture in Bremen Sigurd (Old Norse: Sigurðr, German: Siegfried) was a legendary hero of Norse mythology, as well as the central character in the Völsunga saga. ...

In Popular Culture

Harry Harrison's Hammer and Cross series includes the death of Ragnar and the subsequent responses of his sons. At the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, August 2005 Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, March 12, 1925 in Stamford, Connecticut) is an American science fiction author who has lived in many parts of the world including Mexico, England, Denmark and Italy. ...

In the 1958 film The Vikings, Ragnar is played by Ernest Borgnine. Jan. ... The Vikings was an action/adventure film directed by Richard Fleischer in 1958, produced by and starring Kirk Douglas, and based on a novel by Edison Marshall. ... Ermes Effron Borgnino or better known as Ernest Borgnine (born January 24, 1917[1][2]) is a Golden Globe-, BAFTA- and Academy Award-winning American actor. ...

Ragnar Lodbrok is a leader of the Viking Empire in both the Civilization III: Play the World and Warlords expansion pack for the game Civilization III, and Civilization IV. Sid Meiers Civilization III is a turn-based strategy computer game by Firaxis Games, the sequel to Sid Meiers Civilization II. It was followed by Civilization IV. Also called Civ 3 or Civ III for short, the game is the third generation of the original Civilization. ... Sid Meiers Civilization IV (Civilization IV or Civ4) is a turn-based strategy computer game released in 2005 and developed by lead designer Soren Johnson under the direction of Sid Meier and Meiers studio Firaxis Games. ...

Notes

Swedish Museum of National Antiquities (Historiska museet) is a museum located in Stockholm, Sweden that is responsible for Swedish cultural history and art from the Stone Age to the 16th century. ... The Owl Edition Nordisk familjebok (en. ...

See also

• Raven banner

The raven banner The raven banner (in Old Norse, Hrafnsmerki; in Old English, Hravenlandeye) was a flag, possibly totemic in nature, flown by various viking chieftains and other Scandinavian rulers during the ninth, tenth and eleventh centuries CE. The flag, as depicted in Norse artwork, was roughly triangular, with a...

References

• McTurk, Rory (1991), Studies in Ragnars saga loðbrókar and its major Scandinavian analogues, Medium Aevum Monographs 15, ISBN 0-907570-08-09
• Strerath-Bolz, Ulrike (1993), "Rezension "Studies in Ragnars saga loðbrókar..."", Alvíssmál 2, <http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~alvismal/2rory.pdf>
• Forte, Angelo, Richard Oram, and Frederik Pedersen. Viking Empires. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
• Schlauch, Margaret, trans. The Saga of the Volsungs: the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok together with the Lay of Kraka. New York: American Scandinavian Fndn., 1964.

Illustration by Alan Lee In Norse mythology, Volsung was the father of Sigmund. ...

External links

• Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda and Ragnars saga loðbrókar in Old Norse from «Kulturformidlingen norrøne tekster og kvad» Norway.

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