While there's no definitive evidence of a major "Black Viking King" in mainstream history, historical accounts mention Geirmund the Black-Skinned (Heljarskinn), a powerful chieftain and early Icelandic settler known for his dark skin, though he wasn't a unified kingdom's king like Harald Fairhair. The concept of race was different then, but Vikings did encounter diverse peoples, leading to some Scandinavian individuals having darker complexions or African heritage through extensive trade and travel, though large-scale Black rulers are largely fictionalized in shows like Vikings: Valhalla for dramatic effect.
Halfdan the Black (Old Norse: Halfdanr Svarti; fl. c. 9th century) was a king of Vestfold.
Basically no. Vikings were Scandinavian. 99,99% of people in Viking society were of European origin unless they came from far far away as thralls or merchants.
While other characters are based on real people, Estrid Haakon is an invented character, whose Viking grandfather met her royal African grandmother while in the great trading city of Alexandria, Egypt. They fell in love and returned to Kattegat, eventually passing on ruling duties to her.
Geirmund Heljarskinn becomes the “Black Viking” – the most powerful settler on Iceland through times.
1. Erik the Red. Erik the Red, also known as Erik the Great, is a figure who embodies the Vikings' bloodthirsty reputation more completely than most. Named Erik the Red due to the colour of his hair, Erik ended up founding Greenland, but that was only after he'd been banished from Iceland for murdering several men.
Rollo does, indeed, grow and ends up defeating Ragnar . He also goes on to be the father of many European houses so his legacy is a huge deal.
Hjor was the last of the kings at Avaldsnes who descended from the Augvald dynasty. His wife Ljufvina was a princess of Mongolian descent and despite her dark skin and unusual looks, she reigned as queen over the Norsemen at Karmsundet. Hjor and Ljufvina had two sons: the twins Hamund (Håmund) and Geirmund.
Later she becomes Bjorn's wife and the ultimate love of his life. She participates at the Siege of Kattegat and survives. When Lagertha crowns with Sword of Kings Bjorn, new King of Kattegat, Gunnhild becomes Queen of Kattegat.
Her tale was recorded by the chronicler Saxo in the 12th century. According to the historian Judith Jesch, Saxo's tales about warrior women are largely fictional; other historians wrote that they may have a basis in tales about the Norse deity Thorgerd.
While the Vikings as a group are gone, their descendants live across Scandinavia and Europe. Some communities in Norway and Sweden maintain Viking heritage through re-enactments and reconstructed villages.
Yes, it's highly likely there were gay people (men and women) among the Vikings, but their experiences differed greatly from modern LGBTQ+ identities, with same-sex acts sometimes tolerated if societal duties (marriage/children) were met, but passive roles in male-male sex stigmatized as unmanly (ergi), leading to insults and potential punishment, especially after Christianization, though evidence for lesbian relationships is scarce in sources, according to historians.
In Viking society, 12-year-old girls were considered young women, often involved in household labor, with some entering marriages, having rights like inheriting property, and facing risks like enslavement during raids, while Viking raids themselves targeted wealthy settlements for riches, sometimes involving violence, though their specific actions towards young girls varied by context.
Blámaðr. Blámaðr, meaning 'blue man' in Old Norse (Old Swedish: blaman, Early Modern Swedish: blåman), was the Nordic designation for dark-skinned people during the Viking Age and into the early modern period, as the color black initially was on the blue spectrum in Old Norse.
The saddest death in Vikings is subjective, but most fans point to Ragnar Lothbrok's tragic end in a snake pit, symbolizing the fall of a great man, or the drowning of baby Siggy (Bjorn's daughter), highlighting innocent suffering; others find Athelstan's death by Floki and Helga's subsequent grief, or even Bjorn's final moments, incredibly heartbreaking due to loss and unfulfilled potential.
- King of Norway 1046-1066
Harald Hardrada (Harald III Sigurdsson) is often known as "the last real Viking," and maybe he was what many understood by a real Viking king.
Vikings left a big mystery about Bjorn Ironside's real father, with clues pointing to both Ragnar and Rollo, but it's more likely that Rollo is his biological father. Despite the uncertainty, Bjorn's upbringing by Ragnar had the most impact on him, making him a likable and respected character.
Gisla is based on the historical figure, Gisela of France. According to tradition, and like the events in the series, Gisela was betrothed to Rollo after his conversion to Christianity and his ascension as ruler of Normandy in 911.
Bjorn Ironside had many wives throughout Vikings, influenced by his father's behavior. His relationships with Thorunn, Torvi, Sneafrid, and Gunnhild all had their complexities. Bjorn's final season saw him married to two wives, Gunnhild and Ingrid, in a unique arrangement.
Vikings: Valhalla brought viewers back to the world of Michale Hirst's Vikings with a new group of characters, among them the ruler of Kattegat, Jarl Haakon, a Black Viking portrayed by Caroline Henderson — and the introduction of her character led many viewers to wonder if Black Vikings were real.
The most famous Viking is undoubtedly the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok, a figure in Norse mythology who was said to have terrorized Europe during the 9th century. He's described as a powerful and merciless ruler, but also a wise and generous one; he was often seen as an inspiration for Scandinavian kings.
A female Viking warrior is called a shield-maiden (Old Norse: skjaldmær), a legendary figure from sagas and mythology who fought alongside men, while general terms for women included kona, fru, or kvinna, but "shield-maiden" is the term for a female fighter.
After participating in the first battle against King Brihtwulf, Rollo and Torstein consume some intoxicating mushrooms. While under the influence of the mushrooms, Rollo hacks the leg off of a captured Mercian soldier, saying that he just did not like the angle of the leg.
Rollo was the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror, the progenitor of House of Normandy in England. As such, Charles III and the current British royal family are descendants of Rollo, albeit not in the direct male line.
The Queen stands firm, insisting that Magnus is Ragnar's son and that Ragnar will protect Mercia for their son's benefit. She promises that should Wessex attack, they will have to meet with the full force of the Viking army. Despite the Queen's claims, there is no proof that Magnus is Ragnar's son.