Every Character Based On A Real Person

Summary

• Vikings
  introduces viewers to Viking culture, though some characters may not have existed. Many characters were based on real people.
• Ragnar Lothbrok was a central character based on historical figures, though the existence of the real Ragnar is debated by historians.
• Characters like King Horik of Denmark and King Ecbert of Wessex were based on real rulers, with actual historical records to support their stories.

Vikings has done its best to introduce viewers around the world to Viking culture and Norse mythology, and while it has been as historically accurate as possible, it has obviously changed, added, or omitted many characters and events from the Viking age. However, there are many well-known characters that are based on real people. Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings made its debut on History Channel in 2013. Vikings initially followed the journeys of legendary Norse figure Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his Viking brothers.

The series gradually shifted its focus to Ragnar’s sons and their own travels, making them the protagonists, more so after Ragnar’s death in season 4. The series takes inspiration from the 13th century Norse sagas, since the Vikings themselves didn’t leave any written records of their travels, and the ones that exist came years later from other cultures that were in contact with them. This makes the historical truth of some Vikings characters — most notably Ragnar — unclear. Still, there are many Vikings characters based on real people, though the show took several liberties with their stories.

Ragnar Lothbrok

Played By Travis Fimmel

Until his death in season 4, Ragnar was the central character of Vikings. As the central axis of the show’s twisting narrative, it’s unsurprising he was based on a real person, although saying that Ragnar was “real” is a bit misleading. While there are many historical records and accounts of Ragnar Lothbrok, the majority were written many centuries after his death. Matters are further complicated by many documented Viking and Nordic kings claiming to be his descendants, as this was seen as a symbol of status that gave validation to their various claims to an equally varied number of thrones.

There was a Ragnar who laid siege to Paris in 845, so this part of his story on
Vikings
was at least true.

Modern historians have a consensus that Ragnar Lothbrok (also sometimes spelled Ragnar Lodbrok) didn’t actually exist. The earliest accounts of his life come from Viking sagas and epic poems, and it’s likely that stories of his triumphs and victories were amalgamated from several different individuals and then embellished through word-of-mouth, which was how most stories and accounts of the era were told. There was a Ragnar who laid siege to Paris in 845, so this part of his story on Vikings was at least true.

King Horik Of Denmark

Played By Donal Logue

King Horik of Denmark, played by Donal Logue, was only a presence during Vikings seasons 1 and 2. However, he was also one of the many Vikings characters based on a real person — and to make matters more interesting, he’s also one of several documented figures who modern historians may have inspired the sagas of the life of Ragnar Lothbrok. King Horik I (also sometimes spelled Hårik) ruled the Danes from 813 right up until his death in 854, though he co-ruled with his brother Harald Klak until 828.

Horik met his end at the hands of Ragnar in Vikings, though the real historical figure was killed by his nephew, Guttorm (who was also killed later in the same conflict). While his rule could be deemed successful, it ended with his downfall and his kingdom split into thirds. Following the end of his rule, the Danes wouldn’t be united again for almost a century, and only began to become a unified kingdom again when Gorm the Old took the throne in the year 938.

King Ecbert Of Wessex

Played By Linus Roache

Linus Roache’s Vikings character, King Ecbert, is one of several Saxon kings in the show, and like many of them is based on a real person. What’s more, thanks to the English kingdoms generally being much better when it came to record-keeping, more is known about Ecbert and the other Saxon kings than is known about their titular Viking counterparts. The real King Ecbert ruled Wessex from 802 until he died in 839, at which point he was succeeded by Aethelwulf.

It’s unknown how the real King Ecbert died, though it almost certainly wasn’t by his own hand as
Vikings
depicted.

The real Ecbert had several conflicts with the Vikings of Denmark, though his most significant military victory was the defeat of the kingdom of Mercia, which was annexed by Wessex. While a powerful ruler, his influence began to wane in 829 when Mercia regained its independence. It’s unknown how the real King Ecbert died, though it almost certainly wasn’t by his own hand as Vikings depicted.

Emperor Charles Of West Francia

Played By Lothaire Bluteau

Emperor Charles in Vikings wasn’t based on one specific person but was, in fact, a combination of three rulers — all of whom were called Charles. They were Charles the Bald, Charles the Fat, and Charles the Simple. As is evident from each of their names, this triad of Charles’s weren’t looked upon fondly by those they ruled over. Charles the Bald was the grandson of Charlemagne, and was the Charles who unsuccessfully defended Paris against the Vikings in 845 as the show depicted.

Charles the Fat was the great-grandson of Charlemagne, and the final ruler of the Franks before their kingdom became fractured. He died in 888 after natural causes several years after being removed from the throne. He also ended up seeing off several Viking sieges of Paris, though paid for a peace settlement with the Norsemen. The finale Charles, Charles the Simple, ruled over West Francia until 922. Notably, the real Rollo married his daughter, Gisela/Gisla.

King Harald Finehair

Played By Peter Franzen

Another ruler depicted in Vikings who was based on a real historical figure was King Harald Finehair of Vestfold (which still exists as an electoral district in modern Norway). In the show, Harald Finehair joins the Great Heathen Army, and makes several failed attempts to conquer Kattegat. The real ruler Harald is based on was the Norwegian king Harald Fairhair, who lived between 850 and 932, and is regarded as the first king of Norway when he ruled between 972 and 930.

There have been some modern scholars who doubt the existence of Harald, especially since many accounts of his existence come from sagas, similarly to Ragnar.

The real King Harald is seen in Norway as a symbol of independence and a pivotal symbolic figure ever since Norway separated from its union with Sweden. However, there have been some modern scholars who doubt the existence of Harald, especially since many accounts of his existence come from sagas, similarly to Ragnar.

Ubbe

Played By Jordan Patrick Smith

Ragnar and Aslaug’s first son, Ubbe, ended Vikings by discovering North America. While this made a fitting narrative ending on the show, it was entirely fictitious. However, while the real person Ubbe is based on, Ubba, never sailed for “The Golden Land”, he does count among the Vikings characters based on real people (albeit one with an incredibly reinterpreted story). The real Ubbe was a commander of the Great Heathen Army, though much like Ragnar and most of his sons, little is known about his life, and the various documentations that mention Ubba also tell conflicting stories.

The earliest mention of Ubba came in relation to the end of the reign of King Edmund of East Anglia in the 9th century, about which little is also known. He is then mentioned in multiple historical accounts and documents across the Middle Ages, though all of these were written centuries after his supposed death in 878 (it’s believed, though not confirmed, that he was killed at the Battle of Cynwit in Devon in southwest England). Unlike his brothers, Ubba is barely mentioned in the traditional Norse sagas and poems depicting the life of Ragnar.

Prince Oleg

Played By Danilla Kozlovsky

Also known as Oleg the Prophet, Prince Oleg (played by Danilla Kozlovsky) didn’t appear in Vikings until season 6, though he left an impression on viewers. Despite his moniker, Oleg was a ruthless and sadistic ruler, and had ambitions for the Rus to conquer Scandinavia. Unsurprisingly, given his temperament, Oleg and the equally-ruthless Ivar are able to form an uneasy allegiance, and despite their different cultures, see each other as almost kindred spirits.

Just like his portrayal in
Vikings,
the real Oleg sacked Constantinople and was noted for bringing many Eastern Slavic tribes into the fold of the Rus’ kingdom.

The real figure this Vikings character is based on is Oleg of Novgorod, also known as Oleg the Wise. He ruled the Rus of Kiev between the 880s and 940s, although the exact years of his reign are heavily disputed. Just like his portrayal in Vikings, the real Oleg sacked Constantinople and was noted for bringing many Eastern Slavic tribes into the fold of the Rus’ kingdom.

Rollo

Played By Clice Standen

Rollo (Clive Standen) is Ragnar’s older brother and later Duke of Normandy. He was known for being impulsive and aggressive, and for betraying his brother many times. Rollo is based on the historical figure of the same name who was a real Viking and who became the first ruler of Normandy. His place of birth is unknown, though a biography written by Dudo of Saint-Quentin in the late 10th century claims he was from Denmark.

The real Rollo led many raids before settling in Normandy, where he married Princess Gisla (who might have been as young as five years old at the time). Among his descendants are William Longsword, Richard the Fearless, and Gerloc (also known as Adele), who married William III, Duke of Aquitaine. Rollo’s grave can be found at the Cathedral of Rouen in France.

Floki

Played By Gustaf Skarsgård

The trickster of the group and exceptional boat builder, Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) was Ragnar’s best friend and a very eccentric man. He was very loyal to the Gods, so much that he would avoid doing things that could make them mad, which is in big part why he never liked Athelstan, as he was a Christian who influenced Ragnar’s beliefs. In season 5, Floki arrived to Iceland, but his settlement slowly fell apart, so he left and ended up in a cave which he believed to be a gate to Helheim, but instead found a Christian cross there.

Contrary to
Vikings
’ Floki, the real one was accompanied by his family. He went back to Norway and later returned to Iceland, where he stayed until his death.

The cave turned out to be inside an erupting volcano, trapping him there. Floki is loosely based on Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson, who was the first Norseman to intentionally sail to Iceland. Contrary to Vikings’ Floki, the real one was accompanied by his family. He went back to Norway and later returned to Iceland, where he stayed until his death.

Bjorn Ironside

Played By Alexander Ludwig

Bjorn Ironside is Ragnar and Lagertha’s son (though Rollo might be his real father), who overthrew his half-brother, Ivar, and became King of Kattegat. The real Bjorn is very different to the one in Vikings; for starters, he wasn’t Lagertha’s son, but Aslaug’s, and Ivar was his older brother. He was a legendary Swedish king and the first ruler of the Munsö dynasty.

Something the series got right from Bjorn’s history was how he pretended to be on his deathbed, so he would be let into one of the towns they were looking to attack, only to spring from the stretcher once inside and let the Viking forces in. An intriguing part of the history of the real Bjorn Ironside is that, according to several historical sources both from Europe and Medieval Arabic scholars, he once led a huge Viking raid over the Mediterranean. This included Italy and North Africa, showing just how widely the real-life Vikings traveled during the 9th century.

Ivar the Boneless

Played By Alex Høgh Andersen

Ivar is Ragnar and Aslaug’s fourth son, born with a defect that rendered his legs useless. Ivar is pretty unstable, sadistic, and incredibly narcissistic. The real Ivar the Boneless, also known as Ivar Ragnarsson, was one of the greatest Viking leaders ever, and the commander of the Great Heathen Army in the late 9th century, a coalition of Norse warriors who came together to invade four Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

The cause of his death is a mystery, despite there being several contemporary historical accounts, it’s widely believed by historians that he was ultimately taken by disease

It’s unknown when the real Ivar the Boneless was born, but he’s known to have died around 873. While the cause of his death is a mystery, despite there being several contemporary historical accounts, it’s widely believed by historians that he was ultimately taken by disease, rather than having the glorious death on the battlefield the versions in Vikings sought. The origin of his nickname is also uncertain, as it could have been due to brittle bone disease, male impotence, or a translation mistake, as he might have actually been known as “the Hated”.

Lagertha

Played By Katheryn Winnick

Lagertha was Ragnar’s first wife and mother of Bjorn and Gyda. She was a skilled shieldmaiden, who after her separation from Ragnar, became Earl of Hedeby and later Queen of Kattegat. The real Lagertha was also said to have been a Viking shieldmaiden and ruler of what’s now Norway. Like many Vikings characters, Lagertha was also based on a “real” person, though accounts of her were first recorded in the 12th century several hundreds of years after her death — and the accuracy of writings on Lagertha’s life are heavily disputed.

Lagertha appears in the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, which has made modern historians believe that she wasn’t a real person, but more of a reflection of tales about Viking warrior women or the Norse deity Thorgerd. This is in line with her husband, the famed warrior Ragnar and the central character of Vikings, who many historians also believe never actually existed.

Aslaug

Played By Alyssa Sutherland

In Vikings, Aslaug was a princess, Ragnar’s second wife, and mother of Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar. She died in season 4 after Lagertha conquered Kattegat, which prompted Aslaug to accept her defeat under the condition that she be given safe passage to leave. Lagertha agreed, but as Aslaug left, she killed her with an arrow.

The “real” Aslaug is said to have been the daughter of legendary hero Sigurd and shieldmaiden Brynhildr

The “real” Aslaug is said to have been the daughter of legendary hero Sigurd and shieldmaiden Brynhildr, Ragnar’s third wife, and mother of Bjorn, Sigurd, and Ivar. Just like Ragnar and Lagertha, Aslaug was only believed to be real until the modern era when historians were able to more clearly assess and analyze the validity of many figures in Norse history. She is also believed to have been fictional, and like many characters in the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, is an amalgamation of several historical figures whose try identity has since been lost to the mists of time.

Sigurd

Played By David Lindström

Sigurd Ragnarsson was Ragnar and Aslaug’s son, who was killed by Ivar after the former mocked the latter in public. The Vikings character is based on the Danish king Sigurd Aslaugsson, also known as Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye. The real Sigurd (who’s not to be confused with another Sigurd from Norse mythology, who was the son of Odin) got his nickname as he was born with a mark in his eye, described as the image of the Ouroboros (a snake biting its own tail), something that was prophesied by Aslaug. He joined Ivar in the Great Heathen Army.

Like his father and mother, there are questions around whether Sigurd snake-in-the-eye was a real person or a quasi-mythological figure. However, his existence is far more likely than that of Ragnar himself. It’s possible his legend was inspired by the Danish King Siegfried, who ruled over the Danes in the late 9th century alongside his brother, Halfdan.

Aethelwulf

Played By Moe Dunford

Aethelwulf was King of Wessex and Mercia, and died from an allergic reaction to a bee sting. The real Aethelwulf was King of Wessex, but the Vikings weren’t a threat to it during his reign — he was defeated by them once, but achieved a major victory in a later one. He is regarded as one of the most successful West Saxon kings, laying the foundations for the success of his son, Alfred the Great (who, in Vikings, is portrayed as the illegitimate son of Aethelwulf’s wife, Judith, and Athelstan).

The real Aethelwulf ruled over Wessex between the ages of 839 and 858.

The real Aethelwulf ruled over Wessex between the ages of 839 and 858. Unlike Ragnar and his sons, there’s a surprisingly rich level of historical knowledge on King Aethelwulf, as Anglo Saxon record keeping was much more advanced during the 9th century than that of the Vikings. Upon his death he was succeded by Alfred, who went on to lay the foundations for what would eventually become the British Monarchy — and is the only English monarch to be referred to as “the Great”.