Vikings: The Real Ragnar Lodbrok | History Channel | Laughing Historically

• published: 03 Jun 2015
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We pillage through history to find the true facts behind The History Channel’s “Vikings.” Who exactly was the real Ragnar Lodbrok? Follow us twitter: http://www.twitter.com/laughhistory Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laughinghistorically --- ABOUT US: Join brothers Brandon and Nevin on their crazy trip through time as they dive into some of the weirdest (but true!) and interesting bits of world history. Laughing Historically is a fun educational web show that’s teacher/classroom friendly and great for kids of all ages! — Terms: Vikings - Germanic norse seafarers who raided and traded from their Scandinavian homelands across Europe during the 8th - 11th centuries. Ragnar Lodbrok - a legendary Norse ruler, king, hero from the Viking Age described in several sagas. AKA Ragnarr Loðbrók, Ragnar Hairy Breeches Dysentery - an inflammation of the intestine causing diarrhea with blood. --- TRANSCRIPT: Just because the show Vikings is on the History Channel doesn’t mean its based on real history, right? A guy named Ragnar Lodbrok, like HE existed?! But he did…. Whaaaaa? Alright, you are right, he existed… He was also called Ragnar Hairy Breeches or Shaggy Trousers. He was a viking king that ruled during the Viking Age. Around the 800’s. Not much is known of this guy, so let’s make some stuff up! No...we don’t do that. This is an educational show... Right So, what we do know is from Norse poetry, which reads like flowers blooming in the spring time: He who mourns his demise has never fed meat often to eagles in the Edge-game. It’s hard to urge on weaklings; no coward takes courage from his craven heart. There are over 30 Norse poems about Ragnar Lodbrok, but no actual historic records. That poem described his death. SPOILER ALERT FOR THE SHOW: He was apparently thrown into a snake pit and stung many times before dying. SO WAIT… HE EVENTUALLY DIES?! How did this guy end up in a snake pit? Well, there are some thoughts… Ragnar Lodbrok, who was king of the vikings, raided England and France many many times. Eventually the King of Northumpria, a part of England, captures Ragnar Lodbrok and sentences him to death. Although there are many historians who accept this tale, there is still a lot of skepticism in the history community. Trust us, we have membership cards. The fringe benefits are great. And free parking validation! The only known historic Viking that could have been mixed with Ragnar Lodbrok is Reginheri. He attacked Paris in 845 AD and hanged 111 Christians. He, however, die of dysentery following the raid. The name Ragnar Lodbrok didn’t come to be until Christian monks began writing about the invasions 200 years later. How do we know this Reginheri guy is Lodbrok Lodbrok? Well, dysentery has a few symptoms. One is diarrhea. NEVIN, SPOILERS! When Reginheri came back to discuss his invasion of Paris, he met with the other viking king, King Horik. During his audience, accounts say “all his entrails spilled onto the floor”. You might say… his trousers become soggy????? Either way, Ragnar Poopy Pants had many sons Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarson, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, and Ubbe. These sons are historically documented and eventually avenge Ragnar’s death (whether it was by pooping or snakes,) by assembling the Great Heathen Army and terrifying England for twenty years. Vikings invented skiing 6,000 years ago. The would attach wood planks to their feet for recreation and transportation. They even had their own god of skiing, Err