University of Iceland

School of Humanities

Viking and Medieval Norse Studies

Written paper

Course:

The Old Norse-Icelandic Literary Corpus – Overview and Main Questions

Subject:

Ragnar Loðbrók between historicity and fiction

Menthor: Student:

Prof. dr Torfi Tulinius Borivoj Ratkov

Reykjavik, December 2014

Ragnar Loðbrók is character that stands on the farthest edge of history. He has been the subject of
much attention, both during the Middle ages, romanticism and modern culture. He was the
subject of many poems, books, novels, and of lately, films and tv-shows. During the Viking ages,
Ragnar Loðbrók was regarded as a role model of a viking leader and a forefather of many
prominent Northmen, and a 'myth' about him lasted for a long time. In this paper we will list the
medieval works are (and also might be) mentioning Ragnar Loðbrok, including both Icelandic
medieval literature and foreign sources, and present the theories of possible connection between
those 'different' characters. We will also address the problematics with his name, whether we can
connect Ragnar and Loðbrók being the same person.

There are many historical mentions of certain Ragnar from ninth century, but first of all, we will
focus on three works from icelandic medieval literature in which Ragnar Loðbrók is protagonist
(or at least one of them) - Ragnars saga Loðbrókar, Ragnarssona þáttr and Krákumál.

Ragnars saga Loðbrókar, translated as The saga of Ragnar Lodbrok, is legendary saga surviving
in two manuscripts. One from Danish Royal Library (NkS 1824b 4to) is written around 1400, is
more complete, and also includes Völsunga saga, presenting Ragnars Saga Loðbrókar as direct
continuation of it. The other manuscript (AM 147 4to) is incomplete and presents a slightly
different version of the events. Both of those versions are thought to come from a lost text know
as the 'Original Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok', which could've been composed around 1230. 1 This
saga covers history of Aslaug (Kraka), Ragnar's pursuit of Thora, then his marriage with Aslaug,
adventures and deeds of his sons and Ragnar's death in Northumbria in the snakepit by king Ælle.

Ragnarssona þáttr, or 'Tale of Ragnar's sons' is found only in Hauksbók, written in early 1300s
by the Icelander Haukr Erlendsson. However, the author of this tale might not have been
Haukr,and it seems to be combined material from 'Original Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok' and
Skjöldunga Saga, somehow abbreviating them.2

Krákumál appears in several manuscript, but the most complete version is the one with the
complete version of Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok. Its an example of a "life-poem", in which the
speaker review the deeds of his life, often while dying. Similar to this is Beowulf's death speech

1
McTurk 1993: 519-520
2
McTurk 1991: 56
in Beowulf, and also several such poems are fund in fornaldarsögur, notably Örvar-Odds saga
and Hrevar's saga. It might have been composed in Orkney or Scotland, not just because of style,
but because of placenames, which can suggest that Ragnar's raiding might have began in
Scandinavia, but moved on to Scotland, and then to Ireland and Wales.3

This three sources agree on many things regarding life and death of Ragnar Loðbrók. Also,
tradition represented in these three sources have lots of heroic bibliographical patterns and
analogues with various older of contemporary works, as well as Scandinavian and international,
which is thoroughly analyzed by McTurk.4 This tells are that the legends of Ragnar, and his
family, are very much a patchwork with a dimly visible historical core, covered by a mass of
folktales and legends. Also, there are many indications that both Ragnars saga Loðbrókar and
Þattr contain episodes shaped by social concerns (status of a woman in society) in Iceland in mid
13th century, as well as analogues between Áslaug's story and Agnesar saga.5

Regarding Icelandic literary corpus, Ragnar Loðbrok is quoted quiet oftenly as a historical
forefather of many prominent people, expecially Icelanders. Ari Þorgilsson includes Ragnarr
Loðbrók in his family lineage, which ends by himself, in his Íslendingabók.6 Ragnar's saga
mentions that a distinguished line of Icelanders was descended from Ragnar, throught his son
Bjorn Ironside, and Landnámabók mentions this lineage, as well as another one through his
daughter Alof.7

Now, we shall turn our attention to foreign historical sources that (might) mention certain
Ragnars in 9th century which we can connect to our hero from sagas. Although there is no
definite proof that he existed, he's often identified with few figures we are about to mention.

In contemporary historical sources, year 845 was important. That year Paris was sacked by
certain viking leader called Reginheri (Reginheri in Annales Xantenses for 8458, Ragneri dux
Nortmannorum in Chronicon Fontanellense for 845, princeps Reinerus in the Miracula Sancti
Richarii, etc). These sources all agree that Reginheri died shortly after the plundering because of

3
Waggonner 2009: xxvi
4
McTurk 1991: 51-93
5
Tulinius 2002: 130-135
6
Ari: 14
7
Landnámabók: 82, 93-4.
8
Annales Xantenses: 14
the divine punishment, or a disease (in some Frankish sources dysentery is mentioned, as well as
an outbrake of it in Saxo, although in Annales Bertiniani death of the leader isn't quoted).9 In the
sources it is said that Reginheri is leading the expedition on Seine as a part of larger Danish war
effort against Frankish Empire by Horicus I, which must put Reginheri into high position in
Danish court, but it backs up from claim that latter Ragnar Loðbrók is the of Denmark.

In Vita Anskarii (The Life of Anskar), written between 865 and 876 by Anksar's pupil Ribert, and
addressed to the fellow monks of their mother house at Corbie, near Amiens in Picardy, certain
Ragnarius is mentioned several times. First, he is mentioned when Charles the Bald, son of Louis
the Pious gave monastery of Turholt to him, Ragnarius, a man who is, clearly said by Rimbert,
very well know to he addressees (monks)10. Later he is mentioned again that he, much to
Anskar's dismay, took in service some boys which were supposed to be trained as missionaries.
Then, in dream, in king Charles's presence, he kicked Anskar's in the mouth, after what Jesus
appeared and promised that Ragnarius will be punished for that. Soon after that divine
punishment occurred upon Ragnarius, and he lost everything.11 This might have been the same
person as Raginheri from Frankish sources, for several reasons: first, his name corresponds to the
those previously mentioned, he is well know to the monks of France, which might be because he
was the Viking leader who sacked Paris, and because of mentioned divine punishment, which
bears some resemblance to, for example Miracula Sancti Germani.12

Ragnar Loðbrók might also be found in fragments of Irish Annals translated by Joan N. Radner13
in a figure of Ragnall, son of Albdan. For year 867 it is stated that Ragnall came to Ireland with
three sons. The youngest stayed with him, but the older ones when to raid in the Mediterranean.
After some time of raiding one of them had a dream that they are wasting time by raiding all
countries, and that the father needs their help back home14. This corresponds to the story in sagas
that the sons of Ragnar are in Italy in the time of their fathers death in England. Also, there are
records of historians (William of Jumiéges) that sons of Loðbrók were involved in raids in

9
Mc Turk 1976: 95-97
10
Vita Anskarii: ch. 21
11
Vita Anskarii: ch. 36
12
McTurk 1991: 3-6
13
"Fragmentary annals of Ireland", ed. and translated by Radner Joan N, Dublin 1978
14
Fragmentary annals of Ireland: 867
Mediterranean countries.15 Although sagas do not tell of his raiding in Ireland, Saxo mentions
it.16

Gesta Danorum (Deed of the Danes), written by 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus, in it's
book IX gives a long description of Ragnar Loðbrók. It greatly coincides with story in sagas
(winning of Þora, cause of death, and last words, etc), but it introduces new characters and deeds.
I will not go in depth of analyzing all aspects of this. Authors think that Saxo, for his Regnerus
Lothbrog, used at least two historical figures as models, as up to maybe a third one too.17

Another problematic that is connected with the figure of Ragnar Loðbrók is the connection
between names Ragnar and Loðbrók, and as well as the origin of the name Loðbrók. In previous
part of this work we analized the mentions of name Ragnar and its derivatives. The first known
instances of the name Loðbrók are found in 11th century Latin writings of Adam of Bremen
(..Ingvar, the son of Lodbrok..)18 and William of Jumiéges (..Lotbroci regis filiio,...)19. The
earliest source that present the combination of these two names is from the first half of 12th
century, by Ari in his Íslendingabók, in chapter one, where he states that Ivar, son of Ragnar
loðbrók, had St Edmund, king of England, killed.20 Among non-Scandinavian continental
writings there is no direct or clear evidence that these two names are connected or designate the
same person.

In the first stanza of Krákumál, which is probably dating in second half of 12th century21, the
speaker says how he got his nickname Loðbrok, by slaying the serpent in Gautland, but gives no
explanation of the name. Saxo, writing in early 13th century, states that Thora's father gave him
that nickname because of shaggy appearance of the breeches he wore when slaying the serpent.22
Although these two are most widely known and accepted interpretations, there are several other
theories regarding the name Loðbrók, some of which we will now mention. Runic inscription
found in Maeshowe in the Orkneys depicts Loðbrók as a female name ("This mound was raised

15
McTurk 1976: 107
16
Saxo: 290
17
McTurk 1976: 111
18
Adam of Bremen: 37
19
William of Jumiéges: 10-11, 16-17
20
Ari: 3
21
MrTurk 2001: 7
22
Saxo: 282
earlier thatn Loðbrók's. Her sons they were bold..."), although this might just be just an error in
writing or a lack of respect for Loðbrók. Continuing on theories that Loðbrók is female name, we
must mention theory presented by McTurk23, who, quoting and analyzing manuscript text
abbreviations of the poem by wooden man from last chapter of Ragnars saga Loðbrókar,
presupposes the possibility that the origin of the name might just be in Scandinavian harvest-
goddess Lodhkona (Loþkona).

In his earlier work, continuing on work of Jan de Vries, Rory McTurk tries to conclude that
Ragnarr/Reginheri/Ragnall, the leader of the Paris expedition might be Ragnar loðbrók by
analyzing different historical sources (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Chronicon Æthelweardi, Annales
Xantenses, Annales Fuldenses, Passio Sancti Eadmundi, Adam of Bremen,etc) and trying to
connect characters from them (Albann, Inwære/Iguuar, Ubba, Sigifridus) in brotherly ties with a
same father, with a goal of lining Ragnar and Loðbrók as a same person.24

As we see presented here, we can never for sure say the truth about Ragnar Loðbrók. Mentioned
sources tell us that there was one or more Ragnars in that time, and that he is attributed great
deeds, but are all characters mentioned one or more figures, further works might show us. One
thing is sure, even if Ragnar and his sons are partially or wholly fictional, his "Viking Empire"
provided inspiration for later generations. In Jómsvikinga saga, Ragnar's decendants Knut and
Harald claimed northern England as their inheritance when they conquered it, 'because sons of
Ragnar Loðbrók and other ancestors of theirs had it"25 Norse ruled over northern parts of England
for a long time, lasting from the coming of Sons of Loðbrók and their 'Great Heathen Army' in
865, to 954 when Eirik Bloodaxe was driven out. Their claims for northerly parts of Britain lasted
even longer - Norwegian kingdom didn't formally relinquish its claims in norhern Scotland and
the Hebrides untill 1266. There were many reasons why they invaded these parts, but, in their
mind, because of the heroes of the old as Ragnar, they must have felt that their cause was just.

23
Mcturk 2001: 15-37
24
Mcturk 1976
25
Jómsvíkinga saga: 6
Bibliography and references:

Adam of Bremen:

Adam of Bremen, "History of the Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen", translated with

introduction and notes by Francis J. Tschan, 1959, New York

Annales Xantenses:

"Annales Xantenses et Annales Vedastini", revised by B. de Simson, Hannover 1909

Ari:

"Islendigabók — Kristni Saga", translated by Grønlie Siân, Viking Society for Northern
Research, 2006.

Fragmentary annals of Ireland:

"Fragmentary annals of Ireland", ed. and translated by Radner Joan N, Dublin 1978

Jómsvikinga saga:

"The Saga of Jomsvikings", translated by N.F. Blake, London ,1962

McTurk 1976:

McTurk Rory, "Ragnar loðbrók in the Irish annals?", in Proceedings of the seventh Viking
Congress, Dublin 15-21 Augus, ed. by Bo Almqvist and David Greene, Dublin, 1976
McTurk 1991:

McTurk Rory, "Studies in Raagnars saga Loðbrókar and its Major Scandinavian Analogues",
London, 1991

McTurk 1993:

McTurk Rory , "Ragnars saga loðbrókar', in Medieval Scandinavia, Ed. Philip Pulsiano and
Kirsten Wolf, London 1993.

Saxo:

Saxo Grammaticus, "The history of the Danes : books I-IX", edited by Hilda Ellis Davidson,
translated by Peter Fisher, Cambridge, 1998

Tulinius 2002:

Tulinius Torfi, "The Matter of the North: the Rise of Literary fiction in 13th century Iceland",
Odense, 2002.

Vita Anskarii:

Charles H. Robinson, "Anskar, The Apostle of the North, 801-865", translated from the Vita
Anskarii by Bishop Rimbert his fellow missionary and sucessor, London, 1921

Waggoner 2009:

Ben Waggoner, "The Sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok", New Haven, 2009

William of Jumiéges:

"The gesta Normannorum ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of
Torigni", edited and translated by Elisabeth M. C. van Houts, Oxford, 1995