Ragnar Lodbrok

01Identity

Ragnar Lodbrok in Norse tradition

His shaggy breeches give Ragnar Lodbrok his defining epithet, while serpents, ships, swords and a snake pit mark his heroic imagery. Ragnar Lodbrok is a Norse-Germanic hero associated with raiding, warfare, kingship and seafaring expeditions. His identity is that of a hero rather than a deity, and his story also carries themes of dynastic ancestry and heroic vengeance.

The quick answers

Who is Ragnar Lodbrok?
Ragnar Lodbrok is a Norse hero associated with raiding and warfare; kingship; seafaring expeditions; dynastic ancestry; and heroic vengeance.
Source
Source
- Norse Mythology
- Price, The Viking Way
- Dictionary of Mythology
- Dictionary of northern mythology
What is Ragnar Lodbrok associated with?
Ragnar Lodbrok is associated with raiding and warfare; kingship; seafaring expeditions; dynastic ancestry; and heroic vengeance.
Source
Source
- Norse Mythology
- Price, The Viking Way
- Dictionary of Mythology
What family links are recorded for Ragnar Lodbrok?
Father: Sigurd Hring, Mother: Álfhildr Gandálfsdóttir of Álfheimr, Spouse: Aslaug, 7 children.

02Family

Ragnar Lodbrok’s family, at a glance

Sigurd HringÁlfhildr Gandálfsdóttir of Álfheimr

Ragnar Lodbrok

with Aslaug, Lathgertha, Svanloga, Thora Borgarhjört

Björn IronsideHalfdan RagnarssonHvitserkIvar RagnarssonRognvald RagnarssonSigurd Snake-in-the-EyeUbba

03The names

The names Ragnar Lodbrok answers to

Ragnarr Loðbrók

Old Norse form meaning Ragnar Hairy-Breeches

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

Ragnar Lothbrok

Common English and Scandinavian form of his name

SourcePrice, The Viking Way

Regnerus Lothbrogh

Latinized form used by Saxo Grammaticus

SourceDictionary of northern mythology

Ragnar Sigurdsson

Ragnar, son of Sigurd Ring, in saga genealogies

SourcePrice, The Viking Way

04The myths

The myths of Ragnar Lodbrok

2 myths, with sources recorded for each.

Ragnar and Lagertha

Frø seized power in Norway and dishonoured the household of King Siward. Ragnar campaigned against him and rescued Siward's household.

Lagertha was a shield-maiden connected with Siward's household. After the campaign, Ragnar took her as his bride.

Ragnar and Lagertha, a MythSource painting of the scene

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

1Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the NorthlandT1
2the ancient sourcesT1
Quote
“Ragnar fights Frø in Norway, rescues the household of King Siward, and marries Lagertha, a shield-maiden linked with that household.”
the ancient sources
3Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the NorthlandT1

The Sons of Thora

Thora died and left Ragnar with their sons Eirek and Agnar. Both brothers later became celebrated warriors.

3 sources· checked 2026-08-19

1Price, The Viking WayT1
2Treasury of Norse MythologyT1
3the ancient sourcesT1
Quote
“Thora dies, leaving Ragnar with their sons Eirek and Agnar, who later gain renown as warriors.”
the ancient sources

The wider mythology

Works that draw on more of the mythology than any single story: full retellings of the saga, and worlds built out of the material.

The Viking

Book

Edison Marshall's 1951 novel centres Ragnar Lodbrok's raids and death in Northumbria as seen through an invented ex-slave protagonist, Ogier (Eric); it reworks Ragnar's wider legend rather than the Lagertha or Thora myths, neither of whom appear.

The Vikings

Film

The film reworks Ragnar's wider legend (his raids, a rivalry between his sons, and his death at King Aella's hands) through invented characters Einar and Eric, not Thora's sons Eirek and Agnar.

Vikings

Television

The six-season series retells Ragnar's whole legendary arc (his rise, marriages to both Lagertha and Aslaug, raids, death in the snake pit, and his sons' revenge and expansion) rather than staying inside the single sparse Lagertha-courtship myth.