In Scandinavian legend, Björn Ironside was the son of Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok who led profitable raids throughout Europe within the ninth century C.E. earlier than turning into a ruler of Sweden and Norway and founding the royal Munsö Dynasty.
Historical past ChannelAlexander Ludwig portrays Björn Ironside within the Historical past Channel present Vikings.
The Vikings actually weren’t missing for esteemed warriors, however few reached the renown of Bjorn Ironside. Like his father Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn seems incessantly in previous Viking legends and Frankish sources — however that additionally makes it troublesome to parse the reality about him from the mythology.
Nonetheless, the similarities from each accounts can present a reasonably nicely rounded description of Bjorn Ironside. He’s most frequently described as a strong and fearsome warrior with sides, as his identify would recommend, like iron. He was identified for the varied expeditions he and his brothers — Ivar the Boneless, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye — embarked upon, significantly the Mediterranean expedition in the course of the late ninth century.
Their exploits have been popularized in more moderen years because of the Historical past Channel tv sequence Vikings, however the present additionally contributes additional to the blurring line between fantasy and truth. Most of Bjorn’s exploits had been shared within the Thirteenth-century textual content The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and the later work, The Story of Ragnar’s Sons, which chronicles the lives of Bjorn and his brothers after their father’s demise.
So, who was Bjorn Ironside, actually? It’s troublesome to say, however what is evident is that the chronicles of his exploits have entranced readers for hundreds of years.
Historic Accounts And Frankish Sources About Bjorn Ironside
The primary mentions of Bjorn in medieval Frankish sources are considerably contested, however they’re nonetheless value mentioning as they provide the earliest proof of his existence.
The Annales Bertiniani and the Chronicon Fontanellense reference a Viking chieftain named “Berno” who emerged as a formidable pressure in West Francia in the course of the mid-ninth century.
In the summertime of 855, Berno, alongside one other Viking chief named Sigtrygg, sailed up the Seine River, launching raids into the Frankish heartland. Their mixed forces confronted King Charles the Bald in Champagne that very same 12 months. Though they suffered a defeat, it wasn’t decisive.
Public AreaRagnar Lothbrok along with his spouse Aslaug, the mom of Bjorn Ironside.
Sigtrygg withdrew in 856, however Berno fortified his place, receiving reinforcements and establishing a stronghold on the island of Oissel close to Rouen. From this base, they launched a big assault on Paris across the flip of 856 and 857.
King Charles tried to besiege Oissel in 858, however the Vikings’ sturdy protection, mixed with political distractions from Louis the German’s invasion, compelled him to desert the hassle.
After a gathering with Charles in Verberie in 858, Berno’s identify disappears from up to date information, however Viking exercise alongside the Seine endured, that means he very nicely may have been concerned.
Nevertheless, one other necessary historic textual content, the Thirteenth-cenutry Gesta Danorum (“The Danish Historical past”) by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, speaks in better element about Bjorn and his household — together with point out that Bjorn Ironside even turned a legendary king of Sweden.
Chronicles Of Bjorn Ironside From The Gesta Danorum
Within the Gesta Danorum, Grammaticus describes a battle between Ragnar Lothbrok and Sörle, a newly appointed ruler of the Swedes. To resolve their dispute, each events agreed to a fight involving choose champions.
Ragnar, accompanied by his sons Bjorn, Fridleif, and Radbard, confronted the famend warrior Starkad and his seven sons.
“Bjorn, having inflicted nice slaughter on the foe with out damage to himself, gained from the power of his sides, which had been like iron, a perpetual identify (Ironsides),” Grammaticus wrote. “This victory emboldened Ragnar to hope that he may overcome any peril, and he attacked and slew Sörle with all the forces he was main. He offered Bjorn with the lordship of Sweden for his conspicuous bravery and repair.”
Public AreaRagnar Lothbrok’s sons assembly with King Ælla’s messengers.
Later, one other of Ragnar’s sons, Ubbe, conspires along with his maternal grandfather, Esbjörn, in opposition to Ragnar, whereas envoys are despatched to Bjorn in Sweden to solicit help for his or her rebel.
Nevertheless, Bjorn rejects their proposal. Ever loyal to his father, he additionally executes the envoys and orders the slaughter of their entourage. Subsequently, Esbjörn is killed in a sea battle, and Ubbe is taken captive.
As Ragnar’s life progresses, he appoints Bjorn because the regent of Norway, whereas one other son, Eric Weatherhat, is given management over Sweden.
After Ragnar’s demise, Bjorn and his brothers launch an assault on King Ælla in England with a fleet of 400 ships in retaliation. The battle ended with King Ælla’s demise by the use of blood eagle — a way of torture and execution sometimes believed to be fictitious.
“In the meantime, Sigurd and Bjorn got here up with a fleet of 400 ships, and with open problem declared battle in opposition to the king,” Grammaticus’ chronicle continues. “This they did on the appointed time; and once they had captured him, they ordered the determine of an eagle to be minimize in his again, rejoicing to crush their most ruthless foe by marking him with the cruelest of birds. Not glad with imprinting a wound on him, they salted the mangled flesh. Thus Ælla was accomplished to demise, and Bjorn and Sigurd went again to their very own kingdoms.”
Yolanda Perera Sánchez/Alamy Inventory PhotographThe demise of Ragnar Lothbrok after being thrown right into a snake pit.
Bjorn then returns to his Swedish kingdom however later intervenes in Denmark to suppress one other rebel in opposition to Ragnar’s lineage. Main a formidable fleet of 1,700 ships, Bjorn and his brothers decisively defeat the insurgents at Slesvig.
That is the final point out of Bjorn Ironside within the Gesta Danorum. It’s value noting, nevertheless, that Grammaticus wrote his account a number of centuries after the topic of his story walked the Earth — and that a lot of what he wrote aligns with accounts present in The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and The Story of Ragnar’s Sons, although sure particulars, just like the identify of Bjorn’s mom, differ.
The difficulty is that the sagas are extra broadly believed to be fiction, based mostly on warriors from the ninth century. These similarities, then, additionally forged some doubt on the accuracy of Grammaticus’ account.
The Sagas Of Ragnar Lothbrok And The Story Of Ragnar’s Sons
Wikimedia CommonsThe Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok.
In The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, Bjorn is portrayed as one of many sons of Ragnar and Aslaug — not Thora, as she is understood within the Gesta — alongside his brothers Ivar the Boneless, Hvitserk, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.
The saga tells of their collective quest to develop their kingdom, together with the conquest of territories like Zealand, Jutland, Gotland, and Öland. Following these conquests, they set up their stronghold in Lejre, Denmark, with Ivar assuming management.
It additionally tells of Ragnar’s ill-fated expedition to England, throughout which he boasted that he may invade the nation with simply two ships. This hubris leads to his seize and demise by way of snake pit by the hands of King Ælla.
The Story of Ragnar’s Sons successfully picks up there, increasing, because the title suggests, on the additional exploits of Ragnar’s kids following his demise.
Like within the Gesta, Bjorn and his brothers launch an preliminary assault in opposition to Ælla however face setbacks. Ivar, ever the strategist, negotiates for land, which he cleverly makes use of to ascertain a foothold. This strategic transfer paves the best way for a renewed assault, throughout which they seize Ælla and precise vengeance via the blood eagle.
Bjorn and his brothers then embark on in depth raids throughout England, Normandy, France, and Lombardy, finally main them to the town of Luni, the furthest they handle to succeed in. Realizing it might be too troublesome to take the town, particularly with Rome close by, they return to Scandinavia, the place they divide their father’s kingdom and Bjorn receives Uppsala in central Sweden, in addition to its surrounding lands.
Wikimedia CommonsThe barrow of Bjorn Ironside.
As soon as once more, Bjorn disappears from the report, with no additional point out of his exploits or his demise. Point out of him additionally seems in one other work from the eleventh century by William of Jumièges.
This chronicle, the Gesta Normannorum Ducum (“Deeds of the Norman Dukes”) tells of Bjorn Ironside’s exploits within the Mediterranean, and in addition hyperlinks him with one other Viking named Hásteinn, who some students recommend could have been written out of historical past, his story mixed with Bjorn’s. Nevertheless, the account of William of Jumièges has been broadly criticized as being unreliable.
The one different noteworthy chronicle of Bjorn Ironside’s life is, frankly, the Vikings tv present — so how does it examine to different accounts?
How Correct Is The Portrayal Of Bjorn Ironside In Vikings?
Historical past ChannelAlexander Ludwig and Katheryn Winnick as Bjorn and Lagertha in Vikings.
So far as Vikings is worried, historic accuracy shouldn’t be a precedence. Whereas many parts of the present — like costuming, for instance — do seize a reasonably correct portrayal of the Viking Age, sure parts of its timeline concerning characters is solely totally different.
The primary main inconsistency with historic texts is, oddly as soon as once more, the identify of Bjorn’s mom. Within the present, she is named Lagertha.
The sequence additionally condenses timelines, attributing varied exploits to Bjorn that span totally different intervals. For example, his Mediterranean expedition is depicted alongside occasions that, traditionally/mythologically, occurred individually.
And naturally, on condition that it’s a tv drama, a lot of Bjorn’s progress as a personality is solely fabricated. Based mostly on any historic accounts/legends, it might successfully be potential to know Bjorn’s psychology — and the concept of a “character arc” itself is just about unique to fiction.
Nonetheless, to be truthful to the present, the precise historical past can be slightly elusive.
After studying about Bjorn Ironside, find out about 9 of historical past’s most brutal warlords. Or, see the stunning fact about Viking helmets — and the way they appear totally different than you may count on.
