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Björn Ironside (Swedish: Björn Järnsida) (Old Norse: Bjǫrn Járnsíða), [a] according to Norse legends, was a Norse Viking chief and Swedish king. According to the 12th- and 13th-century Scandinavian histories, he was the son of notorious Viking king Ragnar Lodbrok and lived in the 9th century AD, attested in 855 and 858. [ 1 ]
Oct 1, 2024 · Ragnar Lothbrok’s legacy significantly influenced Bjorn Ironside’s reign as Sweden’s first king. As a legendary figure, Ragnar was known for his fierce bravery, ambitious raids, and larger-than-life exploits. This legacy provided Bjorn with a powerful narrative that bolstered his claim to leadership and legitimacy.
- Bjorn in The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok
- The Tale of Ragnar's Sons
- The Gesta Danorum
- Possible Historical Inspiration For Bjorn
The best-known and main source for the mythos of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons is the 13th-century CE Icelandic The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (Old Norse: Ragnars saga loðbrókar). The work first describes the childhood of Bjorn's mother, Aslaug, who is the daughter of Sigurd and Brynhild (the legendary dragonslayer and the Valkyrie from Germanic mythol...
This latter story, along with most of the main elements of The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, is also preserved in the late 13th-early 14th century CE Icelandic work, The Tale of Ragnar's Sons (Ragnarssona þáttr). What the Tale expands on – unsurprisingly, if one has bothered reading its title – is the actions of Bjorn and his brothers, especially after ...
A third main source connected with the Ragnar legend and in which his son Bjorn Ironside plays a clear part is the Gesta Danorum ('Deeds of the Danes'). Probably written in the early 13th century CE by Saxo Grammaticus, in Latin and not Old Norse like the above two, the Gesta's ninth book contains a trove of information on Ragnar's life and deeds i...
It is clear that the legendary corpus focusing on Ragnar and his sons stems mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries CE and is exactly that – legendary. However, the historical context and the inspiration for the legends are found in the 9th century CE, the pinnacle of Viking raids and expansion, and some of the details are indeed historical. King Æ...
- Emma Groeneveld
Aug 28, 2023 · Björn Ironside was a legendary king of Sweden who lived sometime in the 9th century. He is said to have been the first ruler of the Munsö dynasty. Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks (The Saga of Hervör and Heidrek) tells that Eysteinn Beli was killed by Björn and his brothers as told in Ragnar Lodbrok's saga, and they conquered all of Sweden.
- circa 777
- Sweden
- Denmark
The House of Munsö (Swedish: Munsöätten), also called the House of Björn Ironside (Swedish: Björn Järnsidas ätt), the House of Uppsala (Swedish: Uppsalaätten) or simply the Old dynasty (Swedish: Gamla kungaätten), is the earliest reliably attested royal dynasty of Sweden, ruling during the Viking Age. None of the names suggested for ...
May 1, 2024 · Remember Bjorn Ironside: Viking leader and first king of Sweden, a name etched in the Frankish annals of history. Recall his daring exploits across Europe, leaving behind a saga that rivals any myth. Take tales of cunning strategy, like the siege of Luni—where cleverness trumped force.
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May 12, 2024 · Image: The barrow of Björn Ironside, which is located on the island of Munsö in Sweden. Settlement and Kingship After his Mediterranean exploits, saga literature suggests that Bjorn returned to Scandinavia where he became a powerful king, ruling over parts of Sweden.
