Vikings True Story: How The Real Ragnar Lothbrok Died

[Nergal]

 

 

 

Season 4 of Vikings saw the demise of its lead, Ragnar Lothbrok, but how did the real Ragnar die? Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings made its debut on History Channel in 2013, and was originally planned to be a miniseries. However, the first episodes were so well received that it was renewed for a second season, coming to an end after six seasons and lots of violent and tragic deaths, including those of some of its main characters, such as Ragnar and Lagertha.

Vikings initially followed Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his travels and raids alongside his Vikings brothers. As the stories progressed, the series began to shift its focus to Ragnar’s sons and their own journeys, making them the protagonists – which came in handy after season 4, as Ragnar died. Although Vikings is a historical drama and Hirst made a lot of research when developing the series, thus taking many elements from history, it also had to make some up so it could tell the desired stories, more so as there are not many records on the characters depicted in the show.

Ragnar Lothbrok, for example, is a big mystery, but Vikings took many details from the legends of the great Ragnar. In season 4’s episode “All His Angels”, after torturing him and cutting a cross into his head, King Aelle threw Ragnar into a pit of snakes, from which he couldn’t (nor tried to) escape. The legend of Ragnar Lothbrok says that he died just like in the series: thrown into a pit of snakes by King Aelle, but the trick here is that Ragnar’s existence is unclear, and the Viking warrior everyone knows might actually be a combination of different real-life people, with a dose of fiction to add to the legend.
 

 

The figure of Ragnar Lothbrok is believed to have been based on three different men: Viking leader Reginherus, King Horik I of Denmark (who appears in the series), and King Reginfrid. With that in mind, the “real” Ragnar died in different ways. Reginherus (or Reginheri) is said to have been killed, though details are unknown; King Horik I, along with other kings, were killed in a battle with the forces of his exiled brother, Guttorm, who returned to claim the kingdom (and also died in that battle); and King Reginfrid is said to have been killed in an attempted invasion. When bringing Ragnar Lothbrok’s story to TV, having him die in a pit of snakes as he did in the legend makes a better, more dramatic story than dying in battle or being killed during an invasion.

While Vikings isn’t fully historically accurate, it’s understandable that Hirst and company have taken many creative liberties, as there’s not enough material to work with. Ragnar’s case is a very special one, as everything about him is mere speculation and legend, but at least the most interesting and dramatic version of his death made it to the series.