*Saxo
Grammanticus
# wikipedia.org
Much of the history of these early families may be invented mythology. Care needs to be taken about the birth dates, and lineage.
The stories about Ragnar Lodbrok were probably exaggerated but are also interesting for it's apparent confirmation of the Viking raids down into England, Scotland, Ireland, the Normandy coast and into the Mediterranean. They were written down by Saxo Grammaticus, a monk, about 1200 and may have been based on family lore. They have been used over the centuries with additions, deletions and reinterpretations. This family may have left no written since much of the written record was kept by Catholic monks in the churches. Stories of family valor may have been used to amplify the right of the heirs to their royal standing.
The Great Heathen Army invaded the British Isles beginning about 865. Ubba seems to have led the main army.
"As a boy Sigurd was close to his father and accompanied Ragnar on a hazardous expedition through Russia to the Hellespont. Later on in life he is said to have sojourned for a time in Scotland and the Scottish Islands, like all wise men." Wikipedia.org
"Ragnar showed on this occasion the most merciful moderation toward the slayer his dearest son, since he sufficiently satisfied the the vengeance which he desired, by the exile of the culprit rather than his death. This compassion shamed the Russians out of any further rage against such a king, who could not be driven even by the by the most grievous wrongs to inflict death upon his prisoners. Ragnar soon took Caxo back into favour, and restored him to his country upon his promising that he would every year pay him his tribute barefoot, like a suppliant, with twelve elder, also unshod. For he thought it better to punish a prisoner and a suppliant gently, than to draw the axe of bloodshed; better to punish that proud neck with constant slavery than to sever it once and for all. Then he went on and appointed is son Erik, surnamed Wind-hat, over Sweden. Here while Fridleif and Siward were serving under him, he found that the Norwegians and Scots had wrongfully conferred the title of king on two other men. So he first overthrew the usurper to the power of Norway, and let Biorn have the country for his own benefit.
Then he summoned Biorn and Erik, ravaged the Orkneys, landed at last on the territory of the Scots, and in a three-days' batter wearied out their king Murial, and slew him. But Ragnar's sons, Dunwat and Radbard, after fighting nobly, were slain by the enemy. So that the victory their father won was stained with their blood. He returned to Denmark, and found his wife Swanloga had in the meantime died of disease. Straightway he sought medicine for his grief in loneliness, and patiently confined the grief of his sick soul within the wall of his house. But this bitter sorrow was driven out of him by th sudden arrival of Iwar, who had been expelled from the kingdom. For the Gauls had made him fly, and had wrongfully bestowed royal power on a certain Ella, the son of Hame. Ragnar took Iwar to guide him, since he was acquainted with the country, gave orders for a fleet, and approached the harbour called York. Here he disembarked his forces, and after a battle which lasted three days, he made Ella, who had trusted in the valour of the Gauls, desirous to fly. The affair cost much blood to the English and very little to the Danes. Here Ragnar completed a year of conquest, and then, summoning his sons to help him, he went to Ireland, slew its king Melbrik, besieged Dublin which was filled with wealth of the barbarians, attacked it, and received its surrender. There he lay in camp for a year; and then sailing through the midland sea (The Mediterranean Sea - EC) he made his way to the Hellespont. He won signal victories as he crossed all the intervening countried, and on ill-fortune anywhere checked his steady and prosperous advance.
Harald, meanwhile, with the adherance of certain Danes who were cold-hearted servants in the army of Ragnar, disturbed his country with renewed sedition, and came forward claiming the title of king. He was met by the arms of Ragnar returning from the Helles pont: but being unsuccessful, and seeing that his resources of defence at home were exhausted, he went to ask help of Ludwig, who was then stationed at Mainz. But Ludwig, filled with the greatest zeal for promoting his religion, imposed a condition on the Barbarian, promising him help if he would agree to follow the worship of Christ. For he said there could be no agreement of hearts between those who embraced discordant creeds. Anyone, there fore, who asked for help, must fist have a fellowship in religion. No men could be partners in great works who were separated by a different form of worship. This decision procured not only salvation for Ludwig's guest, but the praise of piety for Ludwig himself, who, as soon as Harald had gone to the holy font, accordingly strengthened hi with Saxon auxiliaries. Trusting in these Harald built a temple in the land of Sleswik with much care and cost, to hallowed to God. Thus he borrowed a pattern of holy way fro the worship of Rome. He unhallowed, pulled down the shrines that had been profaned by the error of misbelievers, outlawed the sacrificers, abolished the (heather) priesthood, and was the first to introduce the religion of Christianity to his uncouth country. Rejecting the worship of demons, he was zealous for that of God. Lastly, he observed whth the most scrupulous care whatever concerned the protection of religion. But he began with more piety that success. For Ragnar came up, outraged the holy rites he had brought in, outlawed the true faith, restored the false one to the old position, and bestowed on the ceremonies the same honour as before. As for Harald, he deserted and cast in his lot with sacrilege. For though he was a notable example by his introduction of religion, yet he was the first who has see to neglect it, and this illustrious promoter of holiness proved a most infamous forsaker of the same. [Saxo bk 9 p. 560-563]
King Aella's messengers before Ragnar Lodbrok's sons
by August Malmstrom (1857)
wikimedia.com
