XI Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2019

Ragnar Lodbrok is a semi-mythical character. Scientists are still arguing about his existence. As a historical character, Ragnar Lodbrok does not appear in the annals, but the Norse sagas show that he was a real person.

Ragnar Lodbrok is known as Ragnar Leather Pants. This nickname was given to Ragnar for wearing leather pants sewn by his wife Lagerta and which served him as an amulet or a talisman. According to another version, Ragnar received the nickname Leather Pants because he wore tight leather pants as a child, and when he accidentally fell into a serpentine den, he managed to survive due to the fact that snakes could not bite them. Another nickname of the famous king was “Fateful”. The nickname is a translation of the name Lodbrog: lod - fate, brog – a banner. The legend says that Odin’s raven indicating the direction of the march with his wing was depicted on the banner of Ragnar, which represented his army [1].

Ragnar Lodbrok was a legendary ruler of Sweden and Denmark, a glorious conqueror, an invincible and skilled warrior in battle. He became an influential jarl by the year 845, so he was a contemporary of Rurik. Legends say that Ragnar was constantly striving for new conquests and heroic deeds, fearing that his sons could overshadow his glory. If this king really existed, he was likely to make forays from 835 to 865 A.D. These raids were always successful thanks to special military tactics. It was that Ragnar who attacked Christian cities during religious holidays. On such days, both the guards and the inhabitants were in a relaxed state, and therefore they could not provide decent resistance. The citizens of the captured cities paid large ransoms to avoid complete ruin. A cunning and insidious Viking leader took a ransom, and after a while he returned and demanded even more [1]. In addition to being a ruler, Ragnar is known as a warlord, an adventurer who raided other countries and also engaged in sea robbery. In Scandinavia, he is considered a real national hero.

According to one of the legends, the three daughters of the crafty king wove him a magic banner with a picture of a raven. Before each campaign the banner was uncovered. If the raven flapped its wings, then it meant good luck for the Vikings. If the wings sagged in the folds of the banner, then the campaign in foreign lands was postponed. Ragnar Lodbrok had a kind of a talisman. These were leather pants stitched with fur outside. They defended the leader of the Vikings during battles [4].

One of the most famous campaigns of Ragnar is still celebrated and is considered a holiday - March 28, the Day of Ragnar Lodbrok. The holiday of Ragnar Lodbrok, on which toasts are said in honor of Ragnar, songs about the famous king are sung, sagas are read and various mass events are held, is considered a symbol of courage and bravery. On March 28, 845 Ragnar Lodbrok attacked France and captured Paris. Ships climbed up the Seine River and captured the capital of France. Karl Bald was the king then, he admitted defeat but still managed to negotiate with the Viking chief Ragnar, to whom he paid 7,000 pounds in silver. In return, Ragnar promised not to touch Paris and kept his word, but on returning home, he plundered all the French lands that he crossed [3].

Ragnar Lodbrok died in 865. During a military campaign in the UK, his ship ran aground. It happened in Northumbria in the north of England. Here he was attacked by British troops. Ragnar was captured. He was brought to King Ella II, who ordered him to be dumped in a pit full of poisonous snakes, where he died from numerous bites. Judging by the legend, the last words of Ragnar were: "How my piglets would grunt if they knew how I, an old boar, felt now!" With these words, he hinted to the king that his sons would avenge the death of his father [2].

The Ragnar’s promise came true. The sons, including Ivar Boneless, Bjorn Iron-sided and others, retaliated for the execution of their father in 867. With their troops, they invaded England, defeated the English forces, captured King Ella, and executed him, subjecting him to cruel torture and torment. After that the kingdoms such as Northumbria, Mercia, eastern England were plundered. This event is known as the Danish conquest of the island. It ended in 871, when Alfred of Wessex defeated the descendants of Ragnar with their troops [2].

Ragnar Lodbrok had many sons, the most famous of them were: Eirik, Agnar, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Bjorn Iron-sided, Ivar Boneless, Ubba, Harald, Halfdan, Hwitserk, Fridleyv, ​​Ulv. Ragnar’s sons enjoyed great honor and all of them were kings in their inheritances and land holdings. In addition, Ragnar had many children born out of wedlock [5].

Ivar Boneless (Ragnarsson) was one of the most celebrated Ragnar’s sons who left a noticeable mark on history. Known as a leader of the Danish Vikings, characterized by a special fury in battle. It was Ivar Boneless who headed the “great army of the pagans”, which in 865 went to England to avenge Ragnar Lodbrok. Ivar, along with his brothers and army, subjugated Northumbria, and then gave it to the power of the Normans Yorvik in England [1].

Another Ragnar’s son, Bjorn Iron-sided, a famous king and conqueror, was also famous. After Ragnar’s death, the king’s title passed to his son Bjorn, who became his full successor. Bjorn's identity is reliably confirmed by historical chronicles. On the island of Munseu on the lake Malaren in Sweden, there is still a mound, where Bjorn Iron-sided was once buried by pagan rites.

Список литературы:

1. А. Я. Гуревич. Походы викингов. М.: Наука, 1966.182 c. https://royallib.com/read/gurevich_a/pohodi_vikingov.html#0

2. Грамматик Саксон Деяния данов. Том 1, 2017. 392 c. https://knigogid.ru/books/820820-deyaniya-danov-tom-1/toread

3. Викинги: Набеги с севера / Пер. с англ. Л. Флорентьева. М.: ТЕРРА, 1996. 168 с. (Энциклопедия «Исчезнувшие цивилизации»). http://padaread.com/?book=9491

4. Р. Шартран, К. Дюрам, М. Харрисон, И. Хит.Викинги. Мореплаватели, пираты и воины. М.: Яуза, 2007. 194 с.http://bookre.org/reader?file=719145

5. Прядь о сыновьях Рагнара (рус.). Северная Слава. Перевод Потанина Н., 2003. 7 c. http://norroen.info/src/forn/ragnarssynir/ru.html