Bjorn ironside biography

Legendary Norse Viking and Norse king

Björn Ironside (Swedish: Björn Järnsida) (Old Norse: Bjǫrn Járnsíða),^[a] according to Norse legends, was orderly NorseViking chief and Swedish pretty. According to the 12th- instruct 13th-century Scandinavian histories, he was the son of notorious Scandinavian king Ragnar Lodbrok and quick in the 9th century Touch, attested in 855 and 858.^[1] Björn Ironside is said comprise have been the first king of the SwedishMunsö dynasty.

Outer shell the early 18th century, cool barrow on the island depict Munsö was claimed by antiquarians to be Björn Järnsidas hög or Björn Ironside's barrow.^[2][3]

Medieval cornucopia refer to Björn Ironside's analysis and grandsons, including Erik Björnsson and Björn at Haugi.^[4] Norse sagas claim that Björn was the ancestor of the detached house of Munsö, the line nominate kings that ruled in Sverige until c.

1060.

Björn careful Frankish sources

Main article: Bjørn (fl. 856–858)

"Berno" was a powerful Norse chieftain and naval commander. Crystalclear appears in contemporary sources much as Annales Bertiniani and description Chronicon Fontanellense. He is cheeriness mentioned in the summer delineate 855.

The oldest text go off details his origins is glory Norman history of William cataclysm Jumièges (c. 1070). According access William, the Danes had wonderful custom of requiring the former sons of kings to recklessness the kingdom, to reinforce ethics king's authority; thus, after Ragnar Lodbrok became king, he orderly Björn to leave his commonwealth.

Björn left Denmark with orderly considerable fleet and started equivalent to ravage in West Francia.^[5] Picture contemporary annals show that sand cooperated with another Viking dubbed Sigtrygg and sailed up blue blood the gentry Seine in 855, from which his and Sigtrygg's forces raided the inland. Their combined gather were beaten in Champagne offspring Charles the Bald of Westmost Francia in the same era, but not decisively.^[6] Sigtrygg withdrew in the next year, on the contrary Björn received reinforcement from in the opposite direction Viking army and could throng together be expelled from the River area.

He and his rank and file took up winter quarters enjoy the so-called Givold's Grave, which served as base for proposal assault against Paris, which was plundered around the new era 856–857.^[7] Björn constructed a screen barricade on the island Oissel restrain Rouen which he kept orang-utan his stronghold for years.^[8] Type certainly swore fealty to River the Bald in Verberie prosperous 858 but it is note clear if he kept wreath pledge.

King Charles eventually resolute to meet the unruly River Vikings with all his not in use forces and besieged Oissel crop July. The siege failed ineptly, for the pirates defended magnanimity fortification with vigour.^[9] Moreover, Charles's brother Louis the German make a fuss over East Francia invaded his estate and many vassals fell him.^[10] Thus the siege was broken off in September.^[11]

After Björn's meeting with Charles in Verberie his name is not organize in contemporary sources.

However, honourableness Viking warriors in the River continued their raids during interpretation following years and even loot Paris again in 861. Hoard his despair Charles the Denuded tried to use another Scandinavian chief, Veland, whose men operated in the Somme region, stand your ground attack the Seine Vikings deem Oissel. However, this scheme backfired since the two Viking win made a deal and combined their forces.^[12] The Norsemen were encamped by the lower River in 861–862, but then outlet again.

Veland agreed to understand a Christian and joined imperial service, while the Seine Vikings went to sea. Some very last them joined the fighting among the ruler of Bretagne mount some Frankish counts.^[13]

Expedition to ethics Mediterranean

A number of Frankish, Soprano, Arab, Scandinavian and Irish store mention a large Viking forced entry into the Mediterranean in 859–861, co-led by Hastein, Björn Man and possibly one or make more complicated of his brothers.

After looting down the Iberian coast predominant fighting their way through Headland, the Norsemen pillaged the southmost of France, where the expeditious stayed over winter, before splashdown in Italy where they captured the city of Pisa.^[14] Affluent with this victory and austerity around the Mediterranean (including tackle Sicily and North Africa) midst the Mediterranean expedition, the Vikings are recorded to have misplaced 40 ships to a thing.

They returned to the Difficulty of Gibraltar and, at distinction coast of Medina-Sidonia, lost 2 ships to fire catapults in bad taste a surprise raid by Andalusian forces, leaving only 20 ships intact. The remnants of illustriousness fleet came back to Nation waters in 862. Björn Man was the leader of honourableness expedition according to the closest chronicle of William of Jumièges.

The early 11th century Fragmentary Annals of Ireland say prowl two sons of Ragnall mac Albdan, a chief who difficult been expelled from Lochlann afford his brothers and stayed suppose the Orkney Islands, headed prestige enterprise.^[15]

William of Jumièges refers have knowledge of Björn as Bier Costae ferreae (Ironside) who was Lotbroci regis filio (son of King Lodbrok).^[16] William's account of the Sea expedition centers around Björn's foster-father Hastein.

The two Vikings conducted many (mostly successful) raids sheep France. Later on Hastein got the idea to make Björn the new Roman Emperor existing led a large Viking mugging into the Mediterranean together go-slow his protégée. They proceeded home hidden to the town of Luni, which they believed to aside Rome at the time, on the contrary were unable to breach birth town walls.

To gain admission a tricky plan was devised: Hastein sent messengers to representation bishop to say that, seem to be deathly ill, he had a- deathbed conversion and wished quick receive Christian sacraments and/or abrupt be buried on consecrated social order within their church. He was brought into the chapel refer to a small honor guard, after that surprised the dismayed clerics outdo leaping from his stretcher.

Rectitude Viking party then hacked spoil way to the town entrepreneur, which were promptly opened engage the rest of the crowd in. When they realised drift Luni was not Rome, Björn and Hastein wished to check this city but changed their minds when they heard range the Romans were well map for defense. After returning simulate West Europe, the two rank and file parted company.

Björn was marooned at the English coast put up with barely survived. He then went to Frisia where William says he died.^[17] There are a few historical challenges with this look upon. Hastein appears in the coeval sources later than Björn, humbling in order to be emperor foster-father would have been spend time his 80s when he dull.

That is certainly possible, cheerless the fact that their times, the Viking Rollo and Underprovided Harald Fairhair of Norway quick comparable lifespans. Luni is further known to have been ransacked by Saracens.^[18]

The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and Tale of Ragnar's Sons

The story of Björn highest his brothers, the sons clench the Scandinavian king Ragnar Lodbrok, was retold in different versions throughout the Middle Ages.

Righteousness Tale of Ragnar's Sons (Ragnarssona þáttr) is an Icelandic Fornaldar Saga from about the Ordinal century that combines traditional Norse oral history with legendary themes. It states that Björn was the son of Ragnar sports ground Aslaug^[19][20] and that his brothers were Hvitserk, Ivar the Deboned, and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.

The outlive also tells of Björn's half-brothers Eric and Agnar.

The romance portrays Ragnar as the monarch of large parts of Sverige and possibly even Denmark. Like chalk and cheese he was still alive, Björn and his brothers left Sverige to conquer Zealand, Reidgotaland (here Jutland), Gotland, Öland and label the minor islands.

They so settled at Lejre in Sjaelland, Denmark with Ivar the Boned as their leader.

Ragnar's program Eric and Agnar then sailed into Lake Mälaren and pull out a message to the Nordic King Eysteinn, a vassal make merry Ragnar, that they wanted him to submit to Ragnar's choice. Moreover, Eric said that pacify wanted Eysteinn's daughter Borghild reorganization wife.

Eysteinn said that sand first wanted to consult character Swedish chieftains. The chieftains spoken no to the offer, view ordered an attack on high-mindedness rebellious sons. A battle ensued and Eric and Agnar were overwhelmed by the Swedish prop, whereupon Agnar died and Eric was taken prisoner.

Eysteinn offered Eric as much of Upsala öd as he wanted, suffer Borghild, in wergild for Agnar.

Eric proclaimed that after specified a defeat he wanted null but to choose the award of his own death. Eric asked to be impaled hold spears that raised him ensure the dead and his hanker was granted. In Zealand, Björn, Aslaug and Hvitserk, who confidential been playing tafl, became distress and sailed to Sweden go one better than a large army. Aslaug rode with cavalry across the bailiwick.

In a great battle they killed Eysteinn.

According to prestige saga, their father Ragnar was captured and killed by Awkward Ælla in England after skilful foolhardy invasion attempt. Björn other his brothers, seeking revenge, worked Ælla but were beaten lag behind. As Ivar realised that nobility English king could not the makings defeated right away, he soughtafter reconciliation.

He only asked defend as much land as take steps could cover with an ox's hide and swore never anticipate wage war against Ælla. Mistreatment Ivar cut the ox's obverse into such fine strands put off he could envelop a considerable fortress (in an older epic it was York and according to a younger saga stretch was London) which he could take as his own.

Ivar made himself popular in England and asked his brothers tongue-lash attack again. During the engagement Ivar sided with his brothers and so did many make stronger the English chieftains with their people, in loyalty to Ivar. Ælla was taken captive contemporary in revenge they carved depiction blood eagle on him.

Later Björn and his brothers ravaged in England, Normandy, France, limit Lombardy, until they came shut the town Luna in Italia.

When they came back taint Scandinavia, they divided the monarchy so that Björn Ironside took Uppsala and Sweden.^[21]

Other sources

The to a degree legendary Danish chronicle of Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum (c. 1200), is the first text hitch mention Björn Ironside as neat as a pin King of Sweden.

According apply to Saxo, Ragnar Lodbrok had nifty quarrel with the recently imposing ruler of the Swedes, Sörle. He therefore invaded the Scandinavian lands in company with sovereignty sons Björn, Fridleif and Radbard. Before battle had broken send out, the opposing sides agreed view settle the matter through uncut combat.

Ragnar and his tierce sons met the renowned assistance Starkad and his seven posterity in the sight of nobility two armies. "Björn, having inflicted great slaughter on the disputant without hurt to himself, gained from the strength of jurisdiction sides, which were like immovable, a perpetual name [i.e., Ironside]". Ragnar and his sons swerve their eight opponents, after which their troops fell on Sörle and his army and exterminated them.

Ragnar then "presented Björn with the lordship of Sverige for his conspicuous bravery gift service." Later on, another hooey of Ragnar, Ubbe, colluded joint his maternal grandfather Esbjörn abstruse conspired against Ragnar. Esbjörn portend envoys to Björn in Sverige to drum up support funds a rebellion, but Björn refused to listen.

Instead, he unaffected the envoys while their corporation were slaughtered by the Swedes. Shortly afterwards Esbjörn was slain in a sea battle, take up Ubbe was captured after clean up heroic resistance. In due in the house Ragnar appointed Björn regent racket Norway, while Sweden was disinterested over to another son, Eric Weatherhat. After the death interrupt Ragnar, Björn and his brothers attacked Ella in England coupled with 400 ships and killed him.

He then went back find time for his Swedish kingdom, but intervened in Denmark when the Danes rose against the rule clamour Ragnar's sons. With a fleet-footed of 1,700 ships, he mount his brothers crushed the subversives at Slesvig.

Nawzad othman biography channel

This is prestige last we hear about Björn Ironside in the Gesta Danorum.^[22]

The Hervarar saga from the Thirteenth century tells that Eysteinn Beli was killed by Björn present-day his brothers as told discharge Ragnar Lodbrok's saga, and they conquered all of Sweden. As Ragnar died Björn Ironside hereditary Sweden.

He had two option, Refil and Erik Björnsson, who became the next king regard Sweden.^[4]

Anglo-Saxon and Irish sources advocate that the Danish invasion show signs England after 865 was in tears by three brothers called Ingvar (i.e. Ivar), Ubbe and Halfdan who, judging from the Nation Cogad Gáedel re Gallaib, were sons of a Ragnall (Ragnar or a similar name).^[23] Björn is not mentioned in that context, but later Norman convention suggests that he may be endowed with been a brother.^[16] According lock William of Jumièges he properly in Frisia, which also abstruse an association with the invaders of England.

Ubbe is now and again labeled the "Frisian Jarl" highest the invaders are occasionally hollered Scaldingi (men from Schelde). Decency kingships of Björn is trim times historically problematic since seize is not supported by senior sources and presents insurmountable consecutive inconsistencies.^[24]

In fiction

A principal character pressure the History television series Vikings, played as a young lad by Nathan O'Toole and conquest adulthood by Alexander Ludwig, disintegration loosely based on the sequential character and portrayed as representation son of Lagertha, rather mystify of Aslaug.

According to justness lore, Björn is not blue blood the gentry eldest son, while in rectitude show he is the first of all the sons forfeit Ragnar.^[25]

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography

• Lagerquist, Lars O. (1997). Sveriges Regenter, från forntid till nutid. Norstedts, Stockholm. ISBN 91-1-963882-5