The Vikings typically lived to be around 40-50 years old. What was the average lifespan of a Viking? Born in Norway, Erik gained his nickname most likely due to the colour of his hair and beard but it could also reflect upon his violent nature. Who was the worst Viking? Perhaps the epitome of the archetypal bloodthirsty Viking, Erik the Red violently murdered his way through life. What is a Viking queen called? A shield-maiden (Old Norse: skjaldmær ) was a female warrior from Scandinavian folklore and mythology. … The story says Lagertha helped Ragnar avenge his grandfather Siward, who had been killed during an invasion, and this is how the two met. The legends do confirm she was once the wife of the famous Viking King, Ragnar Lodbrok. Was Lagertha Bjorn’s mother in real life? Legend says the real Lagertha was in fact a Viking shieldmaiden and was the ruler of Norway. He is the son of Ragnar Lothbrok and Lagertha and the oldest of Ragnar’s many sons. Is Bjorn Lagertha son?ījörn, also known as Bjorn Ironside, is the King of Kattegat. Where is Lagertha buried? Vikings: Queen Lagertha is buried at sea in emotional scene. … He was succeeded by his son William Longsword in the Duchy of Normandy that he had founded. Was Rollo a real Viking? Rollo (Norman: Rou, Rollo(u)n Old Norse: Hrólfr French: Rollon – 928/933) was a Viking who became the first ruler of Normandy, today a region in northern France. The real Floki is believed to be the first Norseman to intentionally sail to Iceland, setting sail with his wife Gró and his children included Oddleifur and Þjóðgerður. Was floki a real Viking?įloki in Vikings is based on a real Norseman, Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson, who lived in the 9th century.
Fans were shocked to find out how she had been scheming with another slave she once knew, who had been sold by Erik. Without his sight, Erik became powerless, and this gave Ingrid the opportunity to take control. This would either be covered with a huge mound of earth or set alight and pushed out to sea.ĩ. Bitter Scandinavian winters and frozen fjords didn’t stop the Vikings from tucking into their favourite food – fish! During warmer months they would hang up and dry fish to eat later.ġ0. Ever wondered where the word ‘berserk’ comes from? ‘Berserkers’ was the name of some terrifying Viking warriors who wore bear or wolf skins and howled in battle like wild animals! What did you make of our fab facts about the Vikings? Let us know what you loved about them in a comment, below! Photos and illustrations © Getty Images UK.Was Erik the Red blind? Ingrid, who turned out to be witch, used her powers to encourage the gods to turn Erik blind. When important Vikings died, they would be placed with all their clothes, jewellery, even their animals, in a burial ship. Fenrir Grayback, the werewolf in the Harry Potter books, was named after a ferocious giant wolf from ancient Viking mythology.Ĩ. The Vikings were eco-pioneers – sort of! The ‘long houses’ where families lived would have turf roofs to help keep in the heat.ħ. Keels – central spines along boats’ bottoms – made their 16 to 37m ‘longboats’ easy to steer, and because these were designed to float high in the water, landing on beaches was easy.Ħ.
The Vikings were expert boat builders and sailors.
Among the many gods Vikings believed in were Thor, the god of thunder, and Loki, a cheeky mischief-maker who could shape-shift to become all different kinds of animals. Around 500 years before Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ the American continent, Vikings had visited its shores, landing in what is now Canada in around AD 1000.Ĥ.
The name ‘Viking’ means ‘a pirate raid’ in the Old Norse language.ĭid you know that we have a FREE downloadable Vikings primary resource? Great for teachers, homeschoolers and parents alike!ģ. The Vikings were famous for sailing huge distances from their home in Scandinavia between AD 8 to raid and plunder, but they also traded with people from other countries.Ģ. After the Anglo-Saxons, came the vicious Vikings! Join the National Geographic Kids gang as we learn to live like a Scandinavian sea-warrior, in our ten fierce facts about the Vikings… Viking factsġ.