Here Comes the Saga of Ragnar

The Sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok by Ben Waggoner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ragnar Lidbrook, made famous by the TV show “Vikings”, however the real Norse Sagas are nothing at all like that. First off Ragnar is a prince the eldest son of a king. The sagas contain two different versions of Ragnar’s life. In the first version, the Prince Ragnar goes to a neighboring kingdom to save a maiden, named Thora from a snake that has surrounded her house. Thora is a kings daughter and this snake eats its tale . Kind of like the Midgard serpent. After Ragnar rescues and marries her he has two sons. One is named Agnar and I forget the other one. After a few years she passes on and Ragnar meets another princess. In the first version she is the daughter of s slain king. Harelig hides her in a harp and travels the land protecting her. Later he is betrayed by an older couple that kills him for his money. The princess lives the life of a servant girl until Ragnar comes and rescues her. They marry and have children. The first is Ivar the boneless, the Vitserk, Bjorn Ironsides and finally Sigurth the snake. Ragnars first two sons from the first wife are killed in battle. The other brothers take revenge. Upsalla in Sweden becomes theirs. Ragnar will meet his end in England in a pit of snakes after his magic shirt is removed. Ivar the boneless exacts a cunning revenge and in the first version he founds London. The brothers raid all over Europe. Many are killed in battle but Bjorn and Ivar live on as kings.

The second version goes more into the background of Ragnar’s family . Ausug Ragnars second wife is known in the second version as of elven descent and has some magical abilities. She is also descended from Sigurd and Brunhild. In the second version Ivar founds York instead of London.
Enjoy the read and learn Ragnar’s real story

View all my reviews