Few figures from the Viking Age spark as much curiosity as Ragnar Lothbrok — a name that appears in medieval sagas, on streaming screens, and in debates about history. But separating the man from the myth is trickier than it sounds. The 9th-century Viking legend has been pieced together from sources written centuries after his supposed raids, leaving historians to treat him as a semi-legendary figure rather than a securely documented king.
Number of known wives: 2 (Lagertha and Aslaug) plus concubines · Number of sons: 5 (Bjorn, Ivar, Hvitserk, Sigurd, Ubbe) · Century: 9th century · TV series: Vikings (2013–2020) · Historical status: Semi-legendary · Actor: Travis Fimmel
Quick snapshot
- Ragnar Lothbrok appears in 13th-century Icelandic sagas (History Hit (history publication))
- His sons Ivar the Boneless and Bjorn Ironside are historical figures who led the Great Heathen Army (Historic UK (British history site))
- Rollo was a historical Viking leader and first Duke of Normandy (History Hit (history publication))
- Whether Ragnar himself was a real person (Mittelalter Digital (medieval studies journal))
- The exact number of his wives and relationships (Old Norse (Norse mythology site))
- Whether he actually led the siege of Paris in 845 (History Collection (history blog))
- Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a Viking leader named Ragnall in 840, possibly linked to Ragnar tradition (Historic UK (British history site))
- Ongoing archaeological discoveries may further blur the line between legend and history (YouTube (history channel))
Seven key facts about Ragnar, one pattern: the further back we go, the more the sources rely on tradition rather than contemporary records.
The key facts table below shows the basic biographical details of Ragnar Lothbrok as recorded across different sources.
| Attribute | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Ragnar Lothbrok (Ragnarr Loðbrók) | History Hit |
| Century | 9th century | Historic UK |
| Known for | Legendary Viking raids and father of the Great Heathen Army | History Hit |
| Portrayed by | Travis Fimmel | Reddit (AskHistorians forum) |
| First appearance in literature | 12th-century Icelandic sagas | World History Encyclopedia (academic encyclopedia) |
| Number of wives | 2 (Lagertha, Aslaug) plus concubines | Old Norse |
| Most famous son | Ivar the Boneless | Historic UK |
The pattern: the table confirms that the most concrete details about Ragnar come from sources written centuries after his supposed lifetime.
Was Ragnar Lothbrok a Real Viking?
What is the historical evidence for Ragnar Lothbrok?
- No contemporary 9th-century source mentions a Viking leader named Ragnar Lothbrok. The earliest accounts come from the 12th and 13th centuries, written by Saxo Grammaticus in Gesta Danorum and in Icelandic sagas like the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (World History Encyclopedia (academic encyclopedia)).
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a Viking leader called Ragnall or Reginherus active in 840, but the identification with Ragnar is debated (Historic UK (British history site)).
- Scholars caution that saga narratives are literary constructions written centuries after the events they describe, not eyewitness accounts (Mittelalter Digital (medieval studies journal)).
Most historians treat Ragnar Lothbrok as a composite or legendary figure rather than a single historical king. The catch: the later sources that name him were written to glorify royal lineages, not to record precise history.
Without a contemporary inscription or chronicle, the evidence for Ragnar’s real existence is thinner than many popular accounts admit. The saga writers had a different goal — storytelling and dynastic prestige — not fact-checking.
Does Ragnar Lothbrok’s bloodline still exist?
- Some medieval texts frame Ragnar as an ancestor of prominent families, blurring legend and genealogy (Mittelalter Digital (medieval studies journal)).
- However, no verified genealogical link connects a modern person to Ragnar Lothbrok. The claim remains unproven.
The pattern: medieval genealogies often used legendary figures to legitimise ruling houses. Modern descendant claims rely on the same sagas, not on DNA evidence.
How Many Wives Did Ragnar Lothbrok Have?
Who was Ragnar Lothbrok’s first wife?
- According to Saxo Grammaticus, Ragnar’s first wife was Lagertha, a legendary shield-maiden (World History Encyclopedia (academic encyclopedia)).
- Lagertha is not independently attested as a historical figure; she appears only in Saxo’s 12th-century account.
Who was Ragnar Lothbrok’s second wife?
- After Lagertha, the sagas say Ragnar married Aslaug, a princess said to be the daughter of the legendary hero Sigurd (Old Norse (Norse mythology site)).
- Some versions also mention a third wife, Thora Borgarhjort, as an earlier partner.
How many sons did Ragnar have?
- The sagas list at least five sons: Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Hvitserk, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, and Ubbe. Some accounts add Halfdan and others (YouTube (history channel)).
- These sons are the figures most often linked to the historical Great Heathen Army that invaded England in the 860s.
The catch: the number of wives and sons varies across different saga versions, reflecting the fluid nature of oral tradition. No single canonical list exists.
Which Son of Ragnar Was Most Famous?
Who was Ivar the Boneless?
- Ivar the Boneless is the most famous son due to his leadership of the Great Heathen Army and his distinctive nickname (Historic UK (British history site)).
- He is a historical figure mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, though the nickname’s origin is uncertain.
Who was Bjorn Ironside?
- Bjorn Ironside is another son who, according to later tradition, became a legendary king of Sweden (YouTube (history channel)).
- Historical records of Bjorn are thin, but his name appears in several medieval sources.
What did each son achieve?
- Ivar led the Great Heathen Army in the 860s and 870s, capturing York and defeating multiple Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
- Bjorn is associated with raids in the Mediterranean and later rule in Scandinavia.
- Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Ubbe are also named in the saga tradition as leaders of Viking armies.
The implication: the sons’ historicity is stronger than Ragnar’s own, but their legendary exploits are often exaggerated in the sagas.
The Great Heathen Army’s leaders are the closest we get to a historical anchor for the Ragnar story. Without them, the entire legend would lack any connection to documented events.
Why Was Ragnar Lothbrok Removed from Vikings?
Why did Ragnar plot his own death?
- In the TV series Vikings (2013–2020), Ragnar orchestrates his own death to protect his sons and ensure his legacy. He is captured and thrown into a snake pit by King Aelle (Reddit (AskHistorians forum)).
- This plot device is a dramatic invention, loosely inspired by the legendary death described in the Tale of Ragnar’s Sons.
Who played Ragnar Lothbrok in Vikings?
- Travis Fimmel portrayed Ragnar from season 1 through season 4 (Reddit (AskHistorians forum)).
- His performance was widely praised and made the character a cultural icon.
What happened to Ragnar in the series?
- Ragnar’s death occurs in season 4, episode 15. After his execution, his sons avenge him by invading England with the Great Heathen Army.
- The show’s timeline compresses events and reimagines historical figures for dramatic effect.
The trade-off: the TV series is entertainment, not history. The real Ragnar — if he existed — left no record of a snake pit death.
Was Rollo a Real Viking?
Who was Rollo in history?
- Rollo (also known as Hrolf) was a historical Viking leader who became the first Duke of Normandy in 911 (History Hit (history publication)).
- He is a well-documented figure, unlike the legendary Ragnar.
Was Rollo related to Ragnar Lothbrok?
- There is no historical evidence that Rollo was Ragnar’s brother. The TV series invented the relationship for dramatic purposes (History Hit (history publication)).
- Medieval sources sometimes connect Rollo to a Danish dynasty, but not to the Ragnar saga.
The pattern: the TV show merges two distinct historical threads — the legendary Ragnar and the historical Rollo — to create a compelling family drama.
Timeline signal
- 793 — Viking raid on Lindisfarne (often associated with Ragnar’s era)
- 845 — Legendary siege of Paris by Ragnar (History Collection (history blog))
- 865 — Arrival of the Great Heathen Army in England, led by Ragnar’s sons (Historic UK (British history site))
- 867 — Battle of York (Ivar the Boneless)
- 893 — Death of Rollo (historical)
- 2013 — Premiere of TV series Vikings
- 2016 — Death of Ragnar in the series
Clarity section
- Ragnar Lothbrok is a legendary figure mentioned in 13th-century sources (History Hit)
- His sons are historical figures (Historic UK)
- Rollo was a historical Duke of Normandy (History Hit)
- Whether Ragnar himself was a real person (Mittelalter Digital)
- The exact number of his wives (Old Norse)
- Whether he actually led the siege of Paris (History Collection)
- The relationship between Ragnar and Rollo (History Hit)
Quotes
“It is said that King Ragnar was cast into a snake pit and died there, after which his sons swore vengeance.”
— The Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok (13th-century saga)
“Ragnar Lothbrok is a figure of legend, not history. The sagas that name him were written long after the Viking Age.”
— Historian Katherine Holman, author of Historical Dictionary of the Vikings
For history enthusiasts, the lesson is clear: enjoy the saga, but don’t mistake it for a documentary. The real Ragnar — if he ever existed — remains hidden behind centuries of storytelling, and the only way to honour that legacy is to keep asking which parts are fact and which are fiction.
en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, youtube.com, vikingr.org
Frequently asked questions
Who was the most feared Viking ever?
Ivar the Boneless is often cited as the most feared Viking due to his leadership of the Great Heathen Army and his legendary cruelty. However, fear is subjective — many Viking leaders earned reputations for violence.
What is the Great Heathen Army?
The Great Heathen Army was a large coalition of Viking warriors that invaded Anglo-Saxon England in 865. It was led by Ivar the Boneless and his brothers, whom later tradition linked to Ragnar Lothbrok (Historic UK).
Did Ragnar Lothbrok really have a relationship with Lagertha?
According to Saxo Grammaticus, Ragnar married Lagertha, but she is a legendary figure, not a historical one. There is no contemporary evidence for the relationship (World History Encyclopedia).
What happened to Ragnar’s sons after his death?
In the sagas, his sons avenge him by invading England. Historically, the Great Heathen Army expanded its campaigns, and Ivar the Boneless died in 873, while Bjorn Ironside ruled in Sweden.
Is the TV show Vikings historically accurate?
No. It takes creative liberties with timelines, characters, and events. The show blends historical figures with legendary elements for dramatic effect (Reddit AskHistorians).
How tall was Ragnar Lothbrok?
No reliable records exist. In the TV series, actor Travis Fimmel is 1.83 m (6 ft) tall, but the historical Ragnar’s height is unknown.
Did Ragnar Lothbrok have a famous sword?
In the sagas, Ragnar wields a sword called “Lodbrog’s sword” or “the sword of the hair”, but no archaeological finds have been linked to him.
What is the meaning of the name Lothbrok?
The Old Norse name “Loðbrók” likely means “hairy breeches” or “shaggy trousers”, possibly referring to a distinctive garment worn by the legendary figure.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Report, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.