On March 28, Scandinavians celebrate the Day of Ragnar Lothbrok, the legendary Danish king who accomplished great things either in the 8th or 9th centuries. Or maybe he didn’t do it at all, but this in no way prevents the northerners from honoring Lodbrok as one of the most dashing leaders in history, even if fictitious.
In honor of the holiday, Disgusting Men have collected 6 things that the famous Ragnar can teach us all - how to love women and fight, what to say before dying and how to forever remain in people's memory thanks to leather pants.
A cool guy must have a cool nickname
Ragnar Lothbrok in the Vikings series
We fought fiercely - and our proud Descendants, brave like us, will hang chain mail with shields and swords in their father's palaces as a keepsake for their sons.
Ragnar Lothbrok
The name of the Danish king Ragnar Lothbrok is covered with glory and honor, but everything about its meaning is very ambiguous. Many researchers believe that the nickname “Lodbrok” stuck to the Scandinavian by accident.
One day, young Ragnar fell into a hole prepared by hunters for a large animal. The deep trap was infested with poisonous snakes, and only his leather trousers (lodbrok) protected him from fatal bites, hence his nickname. According to another legend, these pants were given to the warrior by one of his wives. They supposedly had magical properties and protected against sword strikes.
Still others believe that Ragnar got his name from the name of the river Lodbrik or the Icelandic word “leodbroga” (frightening people). There is also a version that Ragnar went on campaigns with a banner on which Odin’s raven was depicted. Lod is fate, brog is a banner, hence the slightly modified nickname Lodbrok (Fateful).
One way or another, most scientists point out that it is the version with the fall into the pit that is correct, and this story only complements the dashing image. Young Ragnar was clearly lucky that he did not fall into a cesspool.
If you want to be cool, have relatives among the gods
As the ancient sagas tell us, Ragnar was a representative of the Yngling family, a dynasty of Scandinavian kings. Later legends say that Lodbrok was related to the god of fertility and light Frey, or even descended from Odin himself.
Historians claim that Ragnar was the son of the Danish king Sigurd the Ring, who overthrew the previous ruler Harold the Toothless from the throne at the Battle of Bravellir. This battle is described in many family sagas as one of the bloodiest in the entire history of the North.
The more women the better
Historiography says that Ragnar married three times. Lagertha's wives, Thora and Aslaug, bore him nine children, with five more by unnamed women mentioned in the sagas.
Researchers have come to the conclusion that the number of bastards of Ragnar Lothbrok cannot be accurately counted - at one time, “joining” the great family was a rule of good manners for many warriors.
Of the sons of Ragnar, three gained the greatest fame - Ivar the Boneless, who subjugated English Northumbria, Bjorn Ironside, who plundered the coast of Morocco, and Sigurd Snake-Eyes. All of them bore the titles of kings.
You'll like it:
Iliad
4.517303★
Audiobook by Homer.
