Harper, Paul: Sons of Ragnar

The legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and his five famous sonsIvar, Björn, Ubbe, Halfdan, and Sigurdhave been immortalized by Norse sagas and the hit series *Vikings*. The true story of this Viking-age warrior family is equally dramatic. According to a legendary Old Norse tale, Ragnars sons led a "Great Heathen Army" to avenge their fathers death, forever changing the face of Britain. Drawing on numerous historical sources, extensive archaeological finds, and exciting new research, this work reconstructs the incredible true story of Ragnars five famous sons and examines how much truth lies within the legendary sagas. The most notorious son was Ivar the Boneless. The book sheds light on his connection to the mysterious "dark strangers" in Ireland, his infamous executions of two Anglo-Saxon kings, and a spectacular raid on an impregnable fortress in present-day Scotland. A massive skeleton discovered in a Viking mass grave at Repton is linked to Ivar, while another legend claims he was buried on the coast to deter future invaders; both fascinating theories are explored here. The book also covers Björn Ironsides notorious Mediterranean raid, as well as his ties to a Swedish dynasty and a massive burial mound in Sweden. One of the decisive battles in British historythe Battle of Cynuit, where Ubbe fought against the Anglo-Saxonsis the subject of an in-depth investigation, and the location of the Battle of Ashdown, where Halfdan clashed with Alfred the Great, is pinpointed through new research. Finally, the book addresses the intriguing question of whether shield-maidensand a figure like Lagerthaactually existed. The book also incorporates the remarkable Norse mythology that inspired Ragnars sons as they cut a swathe of destruction through Britain, Ireland, and France. Two massive Viking raids on Parisincluding one possibly led by Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, which is immortalized in a remarkable poembookend this incredible story. The first attack was led by the historical Ragnar Lothbrok