Who really was Ragnar Lodbrok?

The famous Viking king Ragnar Lodbrok of Denmark lived in the 9th century. Ragnar Lothbrok, who organized expeditions into France and England, became the king of both Denmark and Sweden.

WHO IS RAGNAR LOTHBROK?

He was also called Ragnar Sigurdsson, as in some records he was said to be the son of the Danish King Sigurd Ring (or Hring).

Ragnar Lodbrok ("Ragnar hairy-breeches"), according to legends, was a Viking hero and a Swedish and Danish king. He is known from Old Norse poetry of the Viking Age, Icelandic sagas, and near-contemporary chronicles. According to traditional literature, Ragnar distinguished himself by conducting many raids against the British Isles and the Holy Roman Empire during the 9th century.

Ragnar's nickname, Lothbrok, meant "shaggy trousers" in Old Norse. For some, it could have been "dirty pants". It is believed that this nickname comes from the trousers Ragnar Lothbrok wore while fighting a poison-breathing snake (or a dragon, according to some records) in one of the legends.

IN WHICH YEARS DID RAGNAR LOTHBROK LIVE?

Ragnar Lodbrok, who is estimated to have been born in the region of Sweden or Denmark, is thought to have lived between 765 or 795 and 845 or 865.

He managed to plunder a very large area, especially in France, by using rivers. Because he was very mobile, he avoided the pitched battles that the powerful Frankish cavalry wanted and embarked on unexpected campaigns. After winning many battles in the 9th century, he was captured by King Aella in England and was killed by being thrown into a pit of snakes.

According to traditional sources

Ragnar Lothbrok is thought to encompass more than one historical persona. The Viking pirate and warrior Ragnar, one of those who are compared to the real Ragnar, was especially famous for attacking France. The most important tactic he uses when attacking Christian cities is to choose Sundays, when all the warriors in the city are at church, to attack. He would release his victims, usually after a hefty bail, and plunder the riches by repeatedly attacking the same place.

France

In 845, Ragnar sets out south. With 120 ships and approximately 5 thousand Viking warriors, he plundered the western coasts of the Carolingian Empire within the Kingdom of France, starting from the Seine River. Vikings entered France and captured Paris. Charles the Bald, king of France, pays Ragnar a large Danegeld ransom fee to prevent him from damaging the city.

Interestingly, it is reported that many Viking warriors who participated in the expedition died during the journey, and Ragnar died immediately after the expedition. After Paris, the Vikings advanced towards other parts of France and were not expelled from the lands by the Franks for a long time. In the following period, the Vikings would destroy the city of Rouen. The Vikings who settled in the region were called Nordmenn, Northmen, or Norsemen, meaning northerners. The Normans in history come from here. The region where they settled was called Normandy.

England

All sources agree that Ragnar Lothbrok died in England. It is not known under what circumstances Ragnar fell into the hands of the Northumbrian king Aella. Ragnar's death date is given as 840 or 865. Later, Ragnar's sons organized an expedition to England to avenge their father.

Posthumous

After Ragnar's death, Ivar went to England to avenge his father, plundered the lands, defeated King Aella in battle, and captured him. Aella was killed by the "Blood Eagle", a very painful torture.

HE HAD 2 OR THREE WIVES

Norse sagas mention Thora and Aslaug as his wives. Another claim is that he had 3 wives: Lagertha, Thora, and then Aslaug.

RAGNAR IN EUROPEAN SOURCES

Although the stories about Ragnar Lothbrok in medieval literature vary in terms of details, the part about his raids on France and England is almost the same in every source. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles provide a comprehensive account of the activities of Ragnar Lothbrok, who had a significant impact on 9th-century Europe. Moreover, the records of the Vikings in Anglo-Saxon History do not end only with Ragnar Lothbrok. It contains some stories about their sons, and grandsons, and how they carry on Ragnar's legacy.

HOW DID RAGNAR LOTHBROK DIE?

According to the records of French historians, Ragnar reigned as a king in Denmark; he and his sons launched brutal raids on France. Another account associates Ragnar with the Viking Reginheri (Reginherus) who attacked Paris; Accordingly, when Ragnar captured the city, he hanged 111 Christians and soon died of an illness. According to another claim, Lothbrok was killed by King Aella in England by throwing him into a snake pit.

In the common story seen in all accounts, Ragnar Lodbrok gained fame as a warrior and amassed a fortune by plundering lands and kingdoms in the West. According to one claim, he was attacking people praying in churches. Apart from these, he was known as a humorous leader and sometimes used lightning tactics to surprise the well-organized and disciplined forces of his enemies, especially in his attacks on France.

Following Ragnar's death, the Great Pagan (or Viking) Army, led by his three sons, was formed in 865 and began a 14-year war against the minor Saxon Kingdoms of 9th-century England. The Viking invasion may have been organized as revenge for Ragnar's murder. An alternative and possibly better theory suggests that the invasion was to take lands previously claimed by Ragnar.

NORMANS

The grandchildren of Ragnar, who gave his name to the Normandy region, continue their historical existence under the name 'Normans'. William of England was also the great-great-grandson of this conquering king.

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Ragnar Lodbrok and His Viking Family

Making a significant impact on how we see Vikings, Ragnar Lodbrok and his family were significant characters during the Viking Era.

https://www.thecollector.com/ragnar-lodbrok-and-family/