University Press Biographies - Björn Ironside: The Extraordinary Viking

No biography of Bjorn Ironside would be complete without the story of Bjorns parents. His father, Ragnar Lothbrok, was among the most celebrated men of ancient Scandinavia. And, although many modern sources claim that Lagertha the shield maiden was Bjorns mother, the Medieval texts refer to Aslaug as his mother. These two had remarkable lives as well as an unusual shared history.

Ragnar was the son of Danish King Sigurd Hring and Alfhild, the daughter of King Alf of Alfheimer. So, he was a noble before he began his career of raiding European cities. He won the heart and hand of Lagertha by killing a bear and a hound she had sent to attack him. The couple had a son they named Fridleif and two daughters whose names are unknown. Although Lagerthas father had given Lagertha to Ragnar to be his wife, Lagertha was never happy with the arrangement. The marriage soon unraveled as Ragnar grew tired of Lagerthas anger towards him.

Ragnar acquired his nickname Lothbrok while courting Thora Town-Hart, who would become his second wife. As the story goes, Ragnar fought a snake to win Thoras hand. To protect himself from the snakes venom, he wore a suit of fur dipped in tar. These clothes earned him the name Shaggy Breeches, which translates to Lothbrok in the Old Norse language. Thora and Ragnar had two sons, Eirikr and Agnar. Both of these sons died in battle. Thora eventually grew ill and died, leaving Ragnar on his own once more.

When Ragnar met Aslaug, a Norse queen, he immediately wanted to have her as his wife. Aslaug was the daughter of Sigurd, a mighty Viking warrior, and Brynilde the shield-maiden. When Aslaug was young, her parents were killed, and she was raised by a foster father. After the death of Aslaugs parents, the foster father was afraid for her safety. He put ragged clothes on her to disguise her beauty, put her in a harp, and journeyed with her far from her home. He called her Kraka, meaning Crow, to emphasize this newly-gained ugliness.

However, while she was bathing one day, some men found her and saw how beautiful she actually was. When they arrived back at their ship, commanded by Ragnar Lothbrok, they told Ragnar about the beautiful woman theyd found. He wanted to see her for himself, and sent a message to her that she must come to him dressed and undressed, alone and not alone, and neither fasting nor eating. She arrived dressed in a net, biting an apple, and with a dog for a companion. Ragnar Lothbrok was so impressed with her cunning that he wanted her for his wife.

Aslaug was something of a seer and a sorceress. When she and Ragnar were married, she wanted him to wait three nights before consummating their marriage. She told him that if he didnt, his son would be born without bones. He wouldnt wait, and his son Ivar the Boneless was born soon afterwards. She told him later that he would have a son born with the image of a snake in his eye. Thus, Sigurd Snake-in-the Eye was born. Bjorn Ironside was also a son of Aslaug, along with another son named Hvitserk.

Ragnar had a competitive spirit which extended to his sons. Although he was proud of their exploits, he was jealous of their victories and reputations. As the boys grew up, their father continually tried to outdo them.

Aslaug continued to make prophesies. Before Ragnar set out on his final voyage, she told him his fleet was not ready to make an invasion. Aslaug made him an enchanted shirt which would protect him from snake venom. He ignored her warnings and was not only defeated but eventually tortured and killed. Although there were failures and losses, Ragnar more often came out ahead after raiding a country.