Dan Snow's History Hit

Ragnar Lothbrok: Viking Legend

Aug 2, 2023
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ANECDOTE

Ragnar's Name

  • Ragnar Lothbrok, desiring Thora's hand, faced a challenge: a venomous serpent terrorizing her village.
  • He cleverly coated his breeches in tar, protecting himself from the fangs and slaying the beast, earning his name "Hairy Breeches".
INSIGHT

Ragnar's Historicity

  • Ragnar Lothbrok's existence is debated; his attributed sons were real, but his own historicity is uncertain.
  • He appears in fictional sagas and potentially as a sub-king in Swedish traditions, possibly representing multiple Viking figures.
ANECDOTE

Reginheres and Ragnar's Raids

  • Reginheres, a Viking, attacked Normandy before 845 and later besieged Paris, receiving a substantial payout.
  • Years later, another Ragnar raided Ireland, adding to the confusion surrounding the figure.
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