Author: Ragnar joined with Siward-loyalists to drive out Froh. He died about 845 in Snake Pit, Northumberland, England. [31], There is one runic inscription mentioning Lodbrok, carved on the prehistorical tumulus of Maeshowe on Orkney in the early 12th century. Recent scholarship has suggested that the poem is in fact from c. 1000 and celebrates the Norse reconquest of England. [39] Ragnar's Vikings raided Rouen on their way up the Seine in 845 and in response to the invasion, determined not to let the royal Abbey of Saint-Denis (near Paris) be destroyed, Charles assembled an army which he divided into two parts, one for each side of the river. Forte, Angelo; Oram, Richard; Pedersen, Frederik (2005). [62] Sigfred-Sigurd possibly succeeded his brother Halfdan as King of entire Denmark in about 877, and may be the Viking king Sigfred who was killed in West Francia in 887.[63]. According to the Gesta Danorum of Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, Ragnar Lothbrok was captured by the Anglo-Saxon king Aella of Northumbria and thrown into a snake pit to die. [17] His first deed is the defeat of the Swedish king Frö, who has killed Ragnar's grandfather. Sigurd then ruled Sweden and Denmark (being sometimes identified with a Danish king Sigfred who ruled from about 770 until his death prior to 804). His son Sigurd invades Denmark and kills its king, whose daughter he marries as he takes over the throne. The actions of Ragnar and his sons are also recounted in the Orkney Islands poem Háttalykill. [46] The form Ragnall may refer to either Ragnvald or Ragnar, and the entry is a strong indication that the name of Ivar's and Halfdan's father was really Ragnar or a similar name. Some historians identify him with Reginherus, a Norse chieftain who was responsible for the siege of Paris in 845 AD. When Ragnar was 15, King Froh of Svealand invaded Norway and killed the Norwegian King Siward. At a time it happened that King Lodbrok succeeded his unnamed father on the Danish throne. [3][4], According to the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, Tale of Ragnar's sons, Heimskringla, Hervarar Saga, Sögubrot, and many other Icelandic sources, Ragnar was the son of the Swedish king Sigurd Ring. But the tradition of a Viking hero named Ragnar (or similar) who wreaked havoc in mid-9th-century Europe and who fathered many famous sons is remarkably persistent, and some aspects of it are strengthened by relatively reliable sources, such as Irish historical tradition and, indirectly, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.[68]. [44] The early 12th century Annals of St Neots further state that "they say that the three sisters of Hingwar and Hubba, daughters of Lodebroch (Lodbrok), wove that flag and got it ready in one day. The 12th-century CE Old Norse skaldic poem Krákumál (meaning \"words of the crow\", better known in English as The Death-Song of Ragnar Lothbrok) zooms in on a specific part of the Ragnar-legend: his death. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ragnar-Lothbrok, Arizona State University - Radioactive Decay, Ancient History Encyclopedia - Ragnar Lothbrok, Romantic Circles - The Dying Ode of Regnar Lodbrog. His father was the Swedish King Sigurd Ring who ruled from 770 to 804. The Bjarmian use of magic spells caused foul weather and the sudden death of many Danish invaders, and the Finnish archers on skis turned out to be a formidable foe. Nearly all of the sagas agree that the Danish king Randver was Sigurd's father, with the Hervarar saga citing his wife as Åsa, the daughter of King Harald of the Red Moustache from Norway. The Irish Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib from the 12th century, with information deriving from earlier annals, mentions king Halfdan (d. 877) under the name "mac Ragnaill". It is part of the manuscript of the Völsunga saga, which it immediately follows. In this marriage he sires the son Fridleif and two daughters. [32] The expression "her sons" has given rise to the theory that Lodbrok was originally thought of as a woman,[33] mother of the historically known sons. Björn thus left Denmark with a considerable fleet and started to ravage in West Francia and later the Mediterranean. According to the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, Tale of Ragnar's sons, Heimskringla, Hervarar Saga, Sögubrot, and many other Icelandic sources, Ragnar was the son of the Swedish king Sigurd Ring. Ivar’s forces landed in the kingdom of East Anglia, where they met…. According to medieval sources, Ragnar Lothbrok was a 9th-century Danish Viking king and warrior known for his exploits, for his death in a snake pit at the hands of Aella of Northumbria, and for being the father of Halfdan, Ivar the Boneless, and Hubba, who led an invasion of East Anglia in 865. In the Gesta Danorum (c. 1185) of the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, for example, Ragnar was a 9th-century Danish king whose campaigns included a battle with the Holy Roman emperor Charlemagne. Sörle and his army were massacred and Björn Ironside was installed on the throne. This Ivar is in particular seen as a cruel persecutor of Christians, and a son of Lodbrok (Inguar, filius Lodparchi).[43]. [18] He later repudiates the unreliable Ladgerda and instead wins the daughter of the Swedish king Herrauðr, Thora, after killing two venomous giant snakes that guard her residence. According to the Sögubrot, "he was the biggest and fairest of men that human eyes have seen, and he was like his mother in appearance and took after her kin". From a non-marital affair with the daughter of one Esbjørn, Ragnar begets Ubbe, while his last marriage with Svanlaug produces another three sons, Ragnvald, Eric Weatherhat and Hvitserk. For the pu… This sort of ambiguity pervades much that is thought to be known about Ragnar, and it has its roots in the European literature created after his death. – Ragnar Lothbrok “I would worry less about the gods and more about the fury of a patient man.” – Ragnar Lothbrok “You give the Gods too much credit” – Ragnar Lothbrok “We live to fight another day” – Ragnar Lothbrok “I don’t believe in the gods’ existence. Ragnar is assisted in this by the ferocious shield-maiden Ladgerda, whom he forces to marry him. The Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: the Middle Ages. But as the series goes on, we see the pressure getting to him. Továbbá neve a ruházatából ered mintsem szüleitől, lévén akkor nem voltak még vezetéknevek csak olyanok, mint „Erik, a Viking”, hogy stílusos legyek. [13] The chronicle of Sven Aggesen (c. 1190) is the first Danish text that mentions the full name, Regnerus Lothbrogh. In spite of all his praise for Ragnar Lodbrok, Saxo also considers his fate as God's rightful vengeance for the contempt he had shown the Christian religion. [47] The early 11th century Three Fragments contains a passage that gives a semi-legendary background to the capture of York by the Vikings in 866. The Chronicon Roskildense (c. 1138) mentions Lodbrok (Lothpardus) as father to the utterly cruel Norse King Ywar (rex crudelissimus Normannorum Ywar) and his brothers, Inguar (a double of Ywar), Ubbi, Byorn and Ulf, who rule the northern peoples. [21] Saxo moreover tells of repeated expeditions to the British Isles, one of which cost the lives of Dunvat and Radbard. The Lothbrok dynasty (Lothbrokings) is the current royal family of Kattegat. Forte, Angelo, Richard Oram, and Frederik Pedersen (2005). [22]) and remained a persistent enemy. [57] After Bagsecg's death Halfdan was the only remaining king of the invading host. "Ragnar Lothbrok: The Ferocious Viking Hero that Became a Myth", Sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, Mythological Norse people, items and places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ragnar_Lodbrok&oldid=994558020, Articles containing Old Norse-language text, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Created by Michael Hirst. There is another line of descent from Ragnar Lodbrok. Being able to control and lead comes with responsibility. The unusual protective clothes that Ragnar wore, when attacking the serpent, earned him the nickname Lodbrok ("shaggy breeches"). Either way, Ragnar is probably partly historical and partly legendary, like many figures in Scandinavian prehistory. Omissions? Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. In a passage referring to the Viking raids of the late 9th century, he mentions the Danish or Norse pirates Horich, Orwig, Gotafrid, Rudolf and Inguar (Ivar). Ragnar Lothbrok may still be the heart and soul of Vikings, and maybe that's why fans are so willing to ignore his deep flaws. [42] Roughly contemporary with William is Adam of Bremen whose history of the Archbishopric of Hamburg-Bremen contains many traditions about Viking Age Scandinavia. The candidates scholars like to associate with the "historical Ragnar" include: Attempts to reliably associate the legendary Ragnar with one or several of those men have failed because of the difficulty in reconciling the various accounts and their chronology. [29] Another lay, Krakumal, put in the mouth of the dying Ragnar in the snake pit, recounts the exploits of Ragnar and mentions battles over a wide geographical area, several relating to the British isles. According to medieval sources, Ragnar Lothbrok was a Danish king and Viking warrior who flourished in the 9th century. His brothers included Björn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Hvitserk, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Ubba. That is why many acts ascribed to Ragnar in the Gesta can be associated, through other sources, with various figures, some of whom are more historically tenable.[66]. They say, moreover, that in every battle, wherever the flag went before them, if they were to gain the victory a live crow would appear flying on the middle of the flag; but if they were doomed to be defeated it would hang down motionless, and this was often proved to be so. The Tale of a Ragnar Lodbrok (Old Norse: Ragnars saga loðbrókar) is an Icelandic legendary saga of the 13th century about the Viking ruler Ragnar Lodbrok. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Ragnar supposedly had been cast into a pit full of venomous snakes by order of the Northumbrian king Aella. [2] He is known from Old Norse poetry of the Viking Age, Icelandic sagas, and near-contemporary chronicles. As the sons grew up to become renowned warriors, Ragnar, not wishing to be outdone, resolved to conquer England with merely two ships. Ragnar Lothbrok, Ragnar also spelled Regner or Regnar, Lothbrok also spelled Lodbrog or Lodbrok, Old Norse Ragnarr Loðbrók, (flourished 9th century), Viking whose life passed into legend in medieval European literature. Ragnar Lodbrok. Hearing this, Ragnar led an expedition to Kievan Rus' and captured Daxon who was curiously spared and exiled. Ragnar Lothbrok. Eventually these two tribes were put to flight and the Bjarmian king was slain. King Froh was famous for carrying tame serpents around his neck in battle whom would bite his enemies while he fought them. In the end Hvitserk was treacherously captured by the Hellespontian prince Daxon and burnt alive with his own admission. The two Viking sons then returned home with a lot of dark-skinned captives. His son Erik became the next king of Sweden, and was succeeded in turn by Erik Refilsson, the son of Refil. The poem's name, "Kráka's lay", alludes to Ragnar's wife's Kráka,[30] though modern philologists commonly date it to the 12th century in its present form. VIKINGS season 6, episode 6 was one of the series most violent episodes yet. [5] After the death of king Ivar Vidfamne, Aud's eldest son by the Danish king Hrœrekr Ringslinger, Harald, conquered all of his grandfather's territory and became known as Harald Wartooth. Where does Ragnar the man end and the myth begin? [19], The sons were installed as sub-kings in various conquered territories. [27] The Knutsdrapa of Sigvat Thordarson (c. 1038) mentions the death of Ælla at the hands of Ivar in York, who "carved the eagle on Ælla's back". They call on the various Danish petty kings to help them ruin the realm of the Franks. According to William, the Danish kings of old had the custom to expel the younger sons from the kingdom to have them out of the way. [52] The Anglo-Saxon chronicler Æthelweard records Ivar's death as 870. Vikings transports us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore - and raid - the distant shores across the ocean. [49], The Great Heathen Army is said to have been led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok, to wreak revenge against King Ælla of Northumbria who had previously executed Ragnar by casting him into a pit full of venomous snakes. [48] It has been hypothesized that this is an Irish version of Ragnar Lodbrok's saga, the Mediterranean expedition being a historical event taking place in 859-61. A generation later, however, Katherine Holman wrote in 2003: Although his sons are historical figures, there is no evidence that Ragnar himself ever lived and he seems to be an amalgam of historical figures and literary invention.[65]. [24], Unlike the Icelandic sources, Saxo's account of Ragnar Lodbrok's reign is largely a catalog of successful Viking invasions over an enormous geographical area. Ragnar Lothbrok was a Danish Viking warlord and a renowned hero of Norse history who lived in the 9 th century. The most significant medieval sources that mention Ragnar include: In her commentary on Saxo's Gesta Danorum, Davidson notes that Saxo's coverage of Ragnar's legend in book IX of the Gesta appears to be an attempt to consolidate many of the confusing and contradictory events and stories known to the chronicler into the reign of one king, Ragnar. [11] Kráka was later revealed to actually be Aslaug, a secret daughter of the renowned hero Sigurd Fafnesbane. [14], Neither of these sources mentions Ragnar Lodbrok as a Danish ruler. From shop PiktografferShop. He sired a son with the Norwegian princess Alfhild of the semi-mythical Álfar people, Ragnar Lodbrok, who succeeded him. Ragnar Lodbrok or Lothbrok (Old Norse: Ragnarr Loðbrók, "Ragnar shaggy breeches", Modern Icelandic: Ragnar Loðbrók) is a legendary[1] Viking hero, as well as, according to the Gesta Danorum, a legendary Danish and Swedish king. Norway was also subjugated, and Fridleif was made ruler there and in Orkney. This work mixes Norse legend with data about Danish history derived from the chronicle of Adam of Bremen (c. He’s … Post May Contain Spoilers* It's no secret that the character of Ragnar is much of the reason that Vikings has succeeded as a TV show. Updates? Once again the bandits attacked Lagertha’s village and sadly the legendary shieldmaiden did not make it out alive. According to the traditional literature, Ragnar Lodbrok distinguished himself by many raids against the British Isles and the Holy Roman Empire during the 9th century. [53] Halfdan Ragnarsson became the leader of the Great Heathen Army in about 870 and he led it in an invasion of Wessex. Cambridge University Press. Vikings: Ragnar's death scene (Episode by laura on Scribd of 2 With the many endings in Season 4, Vikings will embark on a new chapter in Season 5, as Ragnar's … "Hálfdan (d. 877)". Sigurd Ring and his cousin and rival Ring (that is, Sigfred and Anulo of recorded history, d. 812) are both killed in battle, whereupon Ragnar is elevated to the Danish kingship (identified by Saxo with Ragnfred, d. Comment *Warning. Storm, Gustav (1877), "Ragnar Lodbrok og Lodbrokssønnerne; studie i dansk oldhistorie og nordisk sagnhistorie", This page was last edited on 16 December 2020, at 09:53. Ragnar understood it well and lived up to his responsibilities. "[45] This is among the earlier references to the legendary hero Ragnar Lodbrok. Ragnar Lothbrok was a fearless Viking hero who ransacked England and France and fathered the Great Heathen Army. There is much ambiguity in what is thought to be known about him, and it has its roots in the European literature created after his death. [28] From this the story of the atrocious revenge of Lodbrok's sons already seems to be present. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [15] Here Ragnar's father Sigurd Ring is a Norwegian prince married to a Danish princess, and different from the victor of Brávellir (who had flourished about thirteen generations earlier). His sons with Thora were Erik and Agnar. [20] Some time later Björn was put in charge of Norway, while Ragnar appointed another son, Eric Weatherhat, as ruler in Sweden; he was subsequently killed by a certain Eysteinn. The accounts further tell that Randver was a grandson of the legendary Scandinavian king Ivar Vidfamne by his daughter Aud (whom the Hervarar saga calls Alfhild). 814[16]). Hooper, Nicholas Hooper; Bennett, Matthew (1996). [41], Among the oldest texts to mention the name Lodbrok is the Norman history of William of Jumièges from c. 1070. [12] The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, Tale of Ragnar's Sons, and Heimskringla all tell of the Great Heathen Army that invaded England at around 866, led by the sons of Ragnar Lodbrok to wreak revenge against King Ælla of Northumbria who is told to have captured and executed Ragnar. The Viking forces were led by a Norse chieftain named "Reginherus", or Ragnar. [26], While the narrative Norse sources date from the 12th and 13th centuries, there are also many older poems that mention him and his kin. The first to do so is Saxo Grammaticus in his work Gesta Danorum (c. 1200). One of the most popular Norse heroes among the Vikings and a larger than life character, Ragnar Lodbrok was a legendary Viking commander who became a scourge of England and France. Whereas Ragnar's sons Ivar the Boneless, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Björn Ironside, Ubbe and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye are historical figures, opinion regarding their father is divided. [40][37] Ragnar attacked and defeated one of the divisions of the smaller Frankish army, took 111 of their men as prisoners and hanged them on an island on the Seine to honour the Norse god Odin, as well as to incite terror in the remaining Frankish forces. According to Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, he was the oldest son of Ragnar Loðbrok and his wife Aslaug. Ælla, son of Hama, expelled Ragnar's sub-ruler Ivar the Boneless from England with the help of the Galli (Gaill, Hiberno-Norse? In the thread "When Did King Harald I Fairhair of Norway live?" Scourge of England and France, father of the Great Heathen Army and lover to the mythical queen Aslaug, the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok has enchanted story tellers and historians for almost a … [35] This Ragnar has often been tentatively identified with the legendary saga figure Ragnar Lodbrok,[36] but the accuracy of this is disputed by historians. [50] Among the organizers were at least some of the brothers Ivar the Boneless, Ubba, Halfdan, Björn Ironside, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, all of which are known as historical figures, save the slightly more dubious Hvitserk. Ragnar ascended the throne when his father died in 804. Costambeys, M (2004). The two younger sons of Halfdan, King of Lochlann, expelled the eldest son Ragnall who sailed to the Orkney islands with his three sons and settled there. According to legend, Ragnar Lothbrok was a king of Denmark who succeeded Sigurd Hring in 804 AD. [61] According to the sagas Sigurd became King of Zealand, Skåne and the lesser Danish Isles. The contemporary historical records of the ninth century (when Ragnar Lothbrok supposedly lived) show only one Viking of the correct name, a Viking named “Reginheri” (a Latin form equivalent to the name Ragnar) in France who died in the year 845, according to the contemporary Frankish annals (Annales Bertiniani, or the Annals of St. Bertin). This story is also recounted in the later Icelandic works Ragnars saga loðbrókar and Þáttr af Ragnarssonum. The only legitimate source for information on Ragnar Lothbrok is the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of documents detailing Anglo-Saxon history originally published around the time Ragnar was said to exist. He may also have been a King of part of Denmark (Jutland? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). 4.5 out of … The Icelandic scholar Ari Þorgilsson, writing between 1120 and 1133, was the first to record ‘Ragnar’ and ‘Lothbrok’ together, claiming it was “Ivar, son … [59] Björn had two sons, Erik and Refil Björnsson. [23] Finally, the Scythians were forced to accept Hvitserk as their ruler. Ragnar "Lodbrok" "Hairy Britches" Sigurdsson was born about 765 in Uppsala, Sweden, son of Sigurd I "Ring" Randversson and Alfhild Ingebjorg Gandolfsdatter. [60] Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye is perhaps the same person as Sigfred, brother of Halfdan, who was king in Denmark together with Halfdan in 873. The 12th-century Icelandic poem Krákumál provides a romanticized description of Ragnar’s death and links him in marriage with a daughter of Sigurd (Siegfried) and Brynhild (Brunhild), figures from the heroic literature of the ancient Teutons. Incensed, he attacked the English king with his fleet but was captured and thrown into the snake pit, similar to the Icelandic sagas. Ragnar Lothbrok print, Vikings poster, vikings logo, vikings tv show, vikings gifts, scandinavian art, cotton paper, vikings decal PiktografferShop. Ragnar Lodbrok (Ragnar Hairy-Breeches) was a legendary viking king whose exploits are described in several sagas and other records of the time. Cambridge University Press. Share Share Tweet Email. Company Overview for RAGNAR LOTHBROK LIMITED (09434564) Filing history for RAGNAR LOTHBROK LIMITED (09434564) People for RAGNAR LOTHBROK LIMITED (09434564) More for RAGNAR LOTHBROK LIMITED (09434564) Filter by category Show filing type. [58] According to late sagas Björn Ironside became King of Sweden and Uppsala, although this presents chronological inconsistencies. The Ragnarsdrápa, ostensibly composed by Bragi Boddason in the 9th century, praises a Ragnar, son of Sigurd, for a richly decorated shield that the poet has received. Ragnar led a Viking expedition to England and slew its king Hama, proceeding to kill the earls of Scotland and install Sigurd Snake-in-the Eye and Radbard as governors. On an unknown date in (perhaps) the 860s, Norse raider Ragnar Lodbrok (or Ragnar Lothbrok) was allegedly put to death in the Indiana Jones-esque manner of being cast into a pit of snakes. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Gustav Storm (1877), "Ragnar Lodbrok og Lodbrokssønnerne; studie i dansk oldhistorie og nordisk sagnhistorie". 1075). Her sons, they were bold; scarcely ever were there such tall men of their hands". And this is typical of all those in power. Corrections? [37][38] Ragnar Lodbrok is also sometimes identified with a Ragnar who was awarded land in Torhout, Flanders, by Charles the Bald in about 841 but eventually lost the land as well as the favour of the King. Viking Empires (First ed.). He supposedly led many raids into England and France until he was shipwrecked on the Northumbrian coast, captured by Ælla of Northumbria and killed by being thrown into a pit of snakes. Ragnar Lodbrok features prominently in the following works: Frankish accounts of a 9th-century Viking leader named Ragnar, Anglo-Saxon and Irish accounts of the father of Ivar and Halfdan, Tolkien, Christopher, & Turville-Petre, G. (eds) (1956). This marriage resulted in the sons Ivar the Boneless, Björn Ironside, Hvitserk, Ragnvald and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. According to the Seer, Ragnar was born and raised in the lands near Kattegat, in southern Norway, and earned a reputation as a clever boy. When did King Harald I Fairhair … One of them learnt from a vision that Ragnall had fought a battle where the third son had been slain and in which he himself had most likely perished. The invasion of England by the Later on, Ragnar with three sons invaded Sweden where a new king called Sörle had appeared and withheld the heritage of Thora's sons. By Brianna Gunter Jan 12, 2019. The four tales depicted on the shield would then symbolize four aspects of the Lodbrok saga (the initial defeat of the sons of Lodbrok in England due to recklessness, Ivar the Boneless's deceitful approach to King Ælla, Ivar's cunning snatching of land from Ælla, Ragnar's struggle against the giant serpent in order to win Thora). The raven-standard of the Lothbroks. According to Hilda Ellis Davidson, writing in 1979, Certain scholars in recent years have come to accept at least part of Ragnar's story as based on historical fact.[64]. According to Saxo’s legendary history, Ragnar was eventually captured by the Anglo-Saxon king Aella of Northumbria and thrown into a snake pit to die. We watch Ragnar age, with bags under his eyes and greying hair. There are historians, however, who dispute this idea. Nevét többféle képen is írhatjuk tekintve az akkori nyelveket, mert más volt dánul, latinul és franciául is (Ragnar-Regnar-Regner-Reginheri-Reginherus vagy Lothbrok-Lodbrok-Lodborg). https://www.charactour.com/hub/characters/view/Vikings.Ragnar-Lothbrok Oxford University Press. The shield depicts the assault on Jörmunrek, the Hjaðningavíg tale, the ploughing of Gefjon, and Thor's struggle with the Midgard Serpent. Their son in turn is Knut, ancestor of the later Danish kings. After the last victory over Harald, Ragnar learned that King Ælla had massacred Ragnar's men on Ireland. [6] Eysteinn Beli, who according to the Hervarar Saga was Harald Wartooth's son, ruled Sweden sometime after Sigurd until he was slain by the sons of Ragnar and Aslaug.[7]. [55], According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Danes battled the West Saxons nine times, including the Battle of Ashdown on 8 January 871, where Bagsecg was killed. He was however defeated by superior English forces and was thrown into a snake pit to die in agony. They may have sought to avenge Ragnar’s death, which may or may not have been murder, or they may have been claiming land to which they believed they had a right as a result of a previous invasion by Ragnar that may or may not have actually happened. Ywar successfully attacks the kingdoms of Britain, though not as an act of revenge as in the Icelandic sagas. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Contemporary academia regards most of the stories about him to be fiction. After the battle the Saxons took great plunder, and among other things the banner called "Raven". The legendary Viking, who was also the king of Denmark and Sweden, was also known as Ragnar Sigurdsson as he was told to be Danish … He received the surname Lodbrok, on account of the strange coat he wore, he was also known as 'Hairy Breeches' which name he was given because of the trousers he wore made from animal skin … After gaining power he honoured the said custom and ordered his junior son Björn Ironside to leave his realm. This information is part of by on Genealogy Online. His sons with Thora are Radbard, Dunvat, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Björn Ironside, Agnar and Ivar the Boneless. The reference to a "blood eagle" punishment has however been much debated by modern scholars. Ragnar, alongside his brother Rollo who later became the creator and first Duke of Normandy, became loosely famous in Scandinavia due to their successive raids in the Baltics as well as what is today Russia and Ukraine. [10] He first killed a giant snake that guarded the abode of the East Geatic jarl's daughter Thora Borgarhjort, thereby winning her as his wife.