The Truth About Ragnar Lothbrok

What do we know about the truth behind the name "Ragnar Lothbrok"? Was he a real historical figure? Or a fictional character?
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[@ArithHärger]

*Visit VKNGjewlery™* 40% Off on the First Line and Classic Collection during 48H only. Get your Promotional Code to use in the next 48h: The Code: ARITH40 Got to: www.vkngjewelry.com/discount/ARITH40 For more information visit them at: www.vkngjewelry.com/

[@RikkiTheRose]

Sorry the site owners are clearly not scandinavian as most designs are fantasy i only buy from Scandinavia. And i saw more steel than bronze, silver or gold. Even with a good discount dung is still dung, and i only buy good products.

[@colinp2238]

@@RikkiTheRose I agree also I think it's overpriced even before you consider delivery.

[@lesliesauceman8093]

Because I'm a fan of the show I have to correct you on a minor detail. The daughter's name was Gydda not Gisla. Gisla was Rollo's wife from Frankia.

[@citizenk9693]

Viking jewry......

[@sandyfroisland8396]

Love this guy!!!

[@WitnessTrueSorcery]

Nicely done my friend. Great analysis. I haven't seen or heard anyone since that TV show came out viewing the saga of Ragnar in such a way. Not even close. All that hype by people watching this TV show without even having a clue that there exist the saga, and not realizing that he may have been a fictional person is kind of ridiculous. I view the TV show as a pure entertainment, and not as a TRVE historical account written in the actual saga of Ragnar Lothbrock, or any of the history books and annals. I mean, It's quite obvious isn't it?! It's like searching for the real "Rambo" person in American history books. Archetypes, symbols and rolemodels. Simple as that. Thanks for the video Arith!

[@ArithHärger]

Thank you my good friend ^^ thank you so much for the feedback. Well said! :D

[@WitnessTrueSorcery]

@@ArithHärger You're very welcome mate! :)

[@sweynskarilsen9105]

@@WitnessTrueSorcery , my favorite thing about Ragnar is seeing so many people in the comment section say they are descendants of his.

[@bjarnepoulsen8169]

If he is fiction or not i dont know. But both him and sigurd his son. Is in the book of my family tree. Så to me he was real🤓👍 and the book goes further back then regnars time. All hail Regnar

[@TheTruth-fs2rm]

@@bjarnepoulsen8169 Same here. Here is my tree, I recorded it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2OkdHaimNqbpZY

[@ciarfah]

Congrats on the sponsor ❤

[@ArithHärger]

Thank you hehe. First time :o I think this channel is getting serious :o

[@kellybraille]

@@ArithHärger This channel SHOULD get some serious attention. You really put some great effort in to these videos - I wish you all the luck in the world.

[@jmaaybraak]

Well done, and well said. I have Norwegian ancestry on my mother's side, and I find any tale concerning my ancient "kinsmen" absolutely thrilling! I very much appreciate the time that is taken making these videos, as I'm sure it can be rather tedious at times. Thank you for all of your efforts....

[@ameriaryan2131]

Your narration is wonderful. I wish I was good at graphic design, because with heilung style video and your speech would make a wonderful video. I image then it would turn into a 2 week project per video so... Good work!

[@Marc-hm6bz]

Very nice video, and awesome sponsor. You seem very well versed, or, at least, knowledgeable of the Iberian and Lusitanian culture and history, which is quite refreshing.

[@colinp2238]

Yes you do have an uncanny knowledge about the Portuguese region. Hmmm I wonder why?????

[@ArithHärger]

@@colinp2238 I wonder why too :p maybe ancestral memory or something hehehe

[@ArithHärger]

Thank you very much hehe ^^ glad you enjoyed this Marc

[@Noctxe]

@@ArithHärger As a Portuguese... Thank you for mention Viriato and country Romans chiefs reported as "The region who does not rule themselves nor lets others rule them"... Well... we do now and... I think we always did ahahahah Also, I think the Viriato battles took place in Sintra, the "magical forest".

[@dentonstalesofthevikingage8945]

Very fine video, great presentation and full of interesting facts, one of the best of its kind that I've seen. It's good to see facts rather than legend, something I've tried to do in my own videos, there are so many misconceptions and half-truths told about the Old Norse, especially those who went Viking, horned helmets for example. Like you I try to sort the facts from the fiction, but I must say you do it superbly. I've only recently come across your channel, and I'll be following it from now on. Well done, keep it up.

[@blackrosedragon3948]

This must be one of the best videos I've watched on KZbin. So short, yet so informative. I love how you compared Ragnar to a Robin Hood-type of figure and said he is meant to represent the Viking age as a whole. So true. Like how The Beatles and The Doors represented the 60's revolution. Perhaps one day in the future people will watch a fictional account of a Morrison/Lennon/Jagger/Hendrix mash-up, lol. Thanks for making this video!

[@citizenk9693]

I don't understand your comment, can you explain?

[@leftstroke]

“My dead comes without apology”

[@paulgalligan1916]

Oh how the little 🐖 🐷 🐽 will grunt Hail king Ragnar 🤴

[@kevinashcroft2028]

Raise those HORNS great vid. Seen clips and enjoyed the portrayal of RAGNAR as father to Ivar ; fantastic scenes that are both moving and inspiring

[@amandastrange4193]

"Hairy pants" XD I can't breathe! I shall forevermore refer to him as "Fuzzy Britches McSnakeBait"

[@andrewslattum2396]

Great video! I need to rewatch later to take notes as I had engaged with someone who says they are a descendant of Ragnar Lothbrok, however their only “proof” is because a DNA test site made the claim, as well as some modern members of their family. It sparked an interesting debate nonetheless but being able to bring more information to that discussion would be amazing. As always, keep up the amazing job

[@ArithHärger]

Lost count of all those who came to tell me they are the direct descendents of Ragnar Lothbrok. Since the Viking series there are hundreds of thousands of descendents of a fictional character, and 88% are from the US. Hehe

[@serpentlady4551]

Everyone seems to think they are descended from Ragnar since Vikings, haha!

[@gt4viking789]

Between 2 Vikings a word of appreciation for sharing your huge knowledge on this fascinating subject. Keep well Peter

[@garychynne1377]

thank yew arith. without a sharp mind a sharp sword is useless. take care gare

[@ArithHärger]

Thank you friend :)

[@richard66754]

My ancestors are from Wales, so I’m not sure I have any Viking in my DNA, but I really do love your channel!

[@headbangrdrawer3149]

Great! Thanks for the video!!

[@goblondie]

great vid. Thanks for your great work :-)

[@chloewinkworthartist]

by the way,ragnar comes from echuca ,in victoria australia....if you come here,youll notice a lot of locals look like extras from the tvshow...

[@chloewinkworthartist]

when ragnars son bjern fights the berserker,alli thought was hey,the berserker looks and sounds like my pop...

[@marktuohy1088]

Arith, can you please make a video about the Normans and their origins? I would love to know more about them and Rollo, as I believe that part of my family's ancestral roots may have involvment in Norman history.

[@thegamer0193]

You may have forgotten Gofraid, The King of Lochlann. He could be the same as "Lodbrok". And his father was called Ragnall, Son of Gothfraidh Conung. It is possible, that this "Gothfraidh Conung" was the same as King Gudfred, father of Horik I. And he had a son also called Ragnar. This Ragnar is the same as Ragnall from Ireland. And this are the historical basic of the Ragnar Lothbroks saga. Gofraid is maybe a misstranslation of his grandfather Gothfraidh. Halfdan was also called "mac Ragnaill", son of Ragnar.

[@metalmindedmaniac2587]

This channel is really good I like to learn about history and this channel is really good for Scandinavian culture and another channel that touches more on sagas and runes would be Jackson Crawford.

[@MegaVamp69]

Thank you, that was educational. I loved it

[@ArithHärger]

Thank you ^^

[@johnleonard1648]

Arith great video but I would like to point out that Hrolfr or Rollo was son of Rognavldr Jarl of Möre son of Eystienn

[@RG.Midtgardsmand]

Excellent video, but i need to watch this a couple of times, because i get a little bit lost or confused 😅

[@crowsbaneful]

The comparison between Ragnar and Robin Hood is a great thing to do as many people (especially those who think tv shows and Hollywood films are exact historical sources) still believe Robin Hood was an individual but from what I've learned the name was commonly used as a term for a thief or by the thief themselves as a pseudonym. One big difference though, Robin used the guise of a cartoon fox and of Kevin Costner to a far bigger downfall than Ragnar Will ever see!

[@ArithHärger]

I actually love that Robin Hood with Kevin Costner XD hahaha come on! It's awesome :P

[@crowsbaneful]

Arith Härger lol I couldn't stop cringing through it ! Lol he wasn't even trying to sound English never mind trying to sound like he was from Notts! And that bloody song!!! Arrghh!!!

[@ArithHärger]

@@crowsbaneful Yes true to that but still... so romantic *_* lol

[@colinp2238]

Enjoyed this video, as I always enjoy you putting the message out to those that are drawn in by modern media. The latter part of the name Lothbrok can be translated to breeches (in Scotland breeks) a form of pants similar to latter day plus fours. The very first form of the name that I saw many years ago was Ragnar Shaggy Breeks which I think is far more picturesque than hairy pants. When will we see The Truth About Arith Harger? Is he an historical figure or a fictional character and what is his relationship to Mr Thorstein?

[@ArithHärger]

My relationship with Mr. T. is purely like the relationship between British countries - We tolerate each other because economically speaking it has its positive aspects :P oh and yes I heard of the Ragnar Shaggy Breeks, but I didn't have much material to work with it, still, it's good you mentioned that in here hehe, thank you my good friend.

[@colinp2238]

@@ArithHärger But what about The Truth About Arith Harger, the video the World is waiting for?

[@tkjon3es]

I'm sad... I liked the fiction side of Viking and Ragnars story lol . Great video!

[@m8rte]

I see you mention Portugal in many of your videos. Hey, you even look like a blonde portuguese XD Skål from Portugal 🍻🇵🇹

[@D5Family]

I'm here trying to prove to my husband that Ivar is supposed to be "EE-vahr" :) Your accent is beautiful. I know it's just an "accent" to me! Maybe like how people think I sound Minnesotan?! 🤣🤣🤣 (I do...)

[@jelkel25]

Yes, I can live with the Robin Hood comparison. There was a religious dichotomy there too (like in the TV series), the Saxons were being kept out of the forests so the Norman's could hunt, the forests were the realm of the Green Man part of local tradition while the Norman's were forcing their foreign form of religion on the locals along with their power structure, making the Green Man a symbol of resistance along with Robin Hood.

[@badgerrrlattin35]

Glad I watched this today, here I've been thinking Ragnar was a real, historical person for about 30 years now. Could Erik the Red be next?

[@danielk8149]

Very good study thank you

[@wadejustanamerican1201]

I have always looked at the TV show not as accurate history but as entertainment.

[@tshelby1569]

Help me understand how People say we know for sure the sons existed but not sure if Ragnar did? How is that possible

[@ArithHärger]

Hello there. It's quite simple, really. Recently I've been asked about Thorfinn Karlsefni being a direct descendant of Ragnar Lothbrok, or so it comes in the sources. It's quite common to see real people being "direct descendant" of a mythical/legendary figure. Indeed, it's not uncommon to see a legendary hero on someone's family tree, especially someone of great renown, as in evoking a legendary ancestry to give more credit to the person and show where the great qualities come from, to legitimize the person in front of their contemporary peers. In other words, just a self-serving fictional tale to aggrandize the fame, for praise, pride and honour. Happens all the time, not just with medieval Nordic peoples. We see this all over the world, even people being direct descendants of gods, the same way European Kings ruled because they had been chosen/ordained by God. It was quite common for ancient people, especially during the Middle Ages and until at least the XVIII century, to make up all sorts of fantastical and legendary lineage that no one could prove. This happened among members of the elite, of course, to legitimise their position and social status. Still happens today. I've made this video because I was getting 100+ messages a day, from different people, claiming to be direct descendant of Ragnar Lothbrok. After this video now people only say they are direct descendant of Rollo (because this one was real).

[@tshelby1569]

@@ArithHärger I see that does kinda make sense, thanks for the great info! much love from TEXAS!

[@JaimieJo]

Since Vikings wrote with Runes and very few people can interpret them. Plus the aspect that the runes are so old, they are hard to read. I would be interested to know if you know of any rune stones have mentioned any of the characters from the Viking Sagas?

[@robiniowoodstonewomenwitch5467]

I like the idea of Ragnar Lothbrock as an archetype I like that idea and the comparison to Robin Hood Wh in My Opinion Venerated the Goddess Catholic Church no likey lol I Agree with Robin Hood "The Goddess is deserving of veneration". Ragnar The Son of a King Very different from the tv version of Vikings I think He was diminished by them intentionally it seems like they like to minimize our hero's and women and men of note and there Great Deeds in my opinion of course~BobCat

[@chloewinkworthartist]

all crap

[@suurikuryellow-tooth9054]

I think Ragnar did exist. His children existed (especially Bjorn and Ivar), and there are too many sagas including him.

[@simonsayss187]

Sigurd Ring was Swedish by almost all accounts, Saxo Grammaticus, puts him among the Swedish Ynglingas. Other sagas puts Sigurd as a Swedish/Dane decendant ruling over Svitjod. Sigurd is most famous dor the battle at Bråvalla (Sweden) where do you get Norwegian from??

[@jonnali]

Thank you 🙏I came here for this comment. So tired of everything Svea (sweden) and Dane are made Norweigan. Don't take me wrong, I love my fellow norweigan sisters and brothers, but come on, don't distort our history/sagas even more than the Vikings series..

[@simonsayss187]

@@jonnali haha im tierd too🤣 Sigurd is king of Svitjod, conquers Denmark at the battle of Bråvalla, his son Ragnar (”Prince” of Svitjod by birth right) also becomes King of Denmark thanks to his father, rules both countries, then his son Björn Järnsida returns to Svitjod and establish the Munsö dynasty, yet some how they all where Dane’s or Norwegians 🤣🤣

[@darthkeppel]

Talk about Ragnar sons! We want to know ir they where real...

[@ancientsurvival]

Could there also be conflation with Regin and the dragon? Perhaps why Ragnar fights the worm.

[@ryansondrol6173]

Maybe Ragnar was multiple people of the same name that all did deeds and all the Ragnars were put together into one figure

[@stigc.minkstuen]

Anyhow - the tv series is drama/fiction - not a historical documentary 😉

[@jonnali]

Sigurd Ring (Sigurðr Hringr) was a Svea king, not norweigan..

[@littlebear1520]

I've been doing a lot of research lately Anna Vikings and weapons and so far everything that I've heard one thing contradict s the other. There are so many strong oral traditions that no one knows even with written if historical accounts are real or not. So was he real person or wasn't he. I don't think there would have been this much on a person that never existed and so and death in mentioned in so many different places. And I've studied history most of my life. Although the same can be true about the Bible. Not so much the old testament but the New testament so really what do we believe in what do we disbelieve?🤷🏼‍♀️

[@silentwitness7132]

I'm glad you've got a sponsor Arith =) will certainly take a look, and thanks for the vid!

[@snake316171]

So because the sagas were written many years after when he lived, might mean he never existed? Sounds familiar doesn't it. Skål.

[@raventube2833]

Too similar to some guy who rose from death.

[@capitalizingcapitalist1202]

You must not know to much about roman history and its historians.

[@chloewinkworthartist]

@@capitalizingcapitalist1202 give a shit all i need to remember is year 9 ,varus...

[@dakotau2575]

How come we don't see you wearing any of their jewelry?

[@conroecurio5145]

Also, good job as always For hand made march also check out grimfrost.com

[@sandyfroisland8396]

You are awesome

[@conroecurio5145]

Probably a different guy.. But is Rognavald the same Guy as Rognavald Eystiensson? ( Rollo 's father?) Son of Eystien glumra Ivarsson And his father was Ivar Halfdansson Would be cool if ragnar lodbrock Siggurdsson was really Rognall/ Ragnavald Eystiensson.. That's possibly my 35th gr8 grandfather in my father's first paternal line. Rollo aka ganger rolfr Ragnavaldsson 1st duke of Normandy Has an unclear ancestry, most likely it's Rognavald as his father, but I have come across where there may be 2 or more other lines for dispute.

[@LeftTurnOnly]

Definitely reminiscent of King Arthur

[@eeljn]

Gee I don't know. What about all of the people who claim to have had their dna tested and it was traced back directly to Ragnar, LOL

[@ArithHärger]

Exactly. I've spoken with at least 56 people who claim to have done a DNA test and they are descendants from Ragnar Lothbrok. Which is impossible, not only because of the reasons I gave in this video, but it's also impossible to trace that far to a specific individual. You can trace all the way back to Neandertals and all, but you can't trace to a specific individual, unless in the DNA data basis you have the blood of the specific indivual. Obviously, no one has the blood of individuals before the 19th century. Genetic studies start in the mid 19th century and DNA research during the mid 20th century.

[@eeljn]

@@ArithHärger I have subscribed. I am mostly Norwegian with a smattering of Swede. I've read many books on the subject of that age over the years and I suspect a lot of it was B.S. There is one character that has always stood out as someone I would like to claim as an ancestor. He would be Ottar or Ohthere of the Tromso area. I picture him as a viking era version of Amundson or Nansen. His ship being a broad beam Knarr rather than a Dragon ship.

[@sweynskarilsen9105]

@@eeljn, those have been my favorite comments because they always make me laugh.

[@CKing-388]

Before the countries unified under one king. There were many Kings and chieftains. In Many areas.

[@bladehoner3185]

Any info on Ivar , possibly ending up as a Dublin king?

[@crzykerns]

wasn't he the 1st king of Dublin?

[@RikkiTheRose]

Sigurd was Swedish not Norwegian

[@RikkiTheRose]

so he was king of sweden and denmark

[@FirelightX3]

Thank you for the truth

[@SunsetStarship]

Well, I've never really thought about it too much but, it's my estimation from the collective sources that, like say Wyatt Earp, there was a guy named Ragnar and the legends grew and grew over time. But, it doesn't really matter because Ragnar Lothbrok is a cultural legend. Like the tomte or nisse, it's just another part of the furnishings of Scandinavian culture. So, it's not relevant to say that there was a real guy. Same with any cultural hero (Moses, Jesus, Buddha, etc.) it's not the real existence that is the guarantor of meaning, it's those who read the story.

[@chloewinkworthartist]

bullshit

[@user-yi9hz3or2t]

The greatest Viking of all time

[@crzykerns]

why are we fighting each other for this piece of land that piece of land, why aren't we not looking outward to the WEST!!.. the writers of vikings didnt wanna make it 100% historical they put their own twist on it!

[@habibikebabtheiii2037]

Rangnar the red? Skyrim?

[@ArithHärger]

"Oh, there once was a hero named Ragnar the Red, Who came riding to Whiterun from old Rorikstead" - I'm a big Elder Scrolls fan :x

[@habibikebabtheiii2037]

I wish they had made long sagas that the bards would recite in Skyrim. Some one should mod that

[@AlvaroZinga-s7b]

What about Ragnar wife

[@hayrayna1314]

De ja vu. Back again.

[@eldarranger5063]

Everyone go watch the last kingdom

[@jamesnasalroadiii5613]

Great show! Another fine twist of entertainment on Reginheri and the brotherhood. The Icelandic people are great story tellers with their sagas... that was their form of entertainment over 800+ years ago! The people of today, have movies and story book sagas as our entertainment...

[@trellwalker9282]

We are all sons of Ragnar!

[@robiniowoodstonewomenwitch5467]

I am in the market For Flaming Sword and unicorn to raido on raids and Have you seen Ragnar I am looking for him LOL~Thx Again Arith Harger

[@Epsillion70]

Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Fucken lol

[@robiniowoodstonewomenwitch5467]

@@Epsillion70 Thx brotha lol

[@colinp2238]

@@Epsillion70 You were responsible for a lot of things that went wrong in our country in the 70s!

[@Epsillion70]

@@colinp2238 You were responsible for a lot of things that went wrong in our country in the 90's!

[@colinp2238]

@@Epsillion70 Really? History has no mention of my name sending us into the dreaded Common Market or any condemning decisions made by the 70's Tory party so how you make that out?

[@stevechappelle2453]

Very interesting. Your exegesis makes me mindful of other"amalgam heroes" such as Moses.

[@danielk8149]

The half Dan meaning? It shows in my family tree half Dane?

[@letrollbelge1109]

Ragnar lothbrock is a simbole for

[@Epsillion70]

... Okay Brother Arith Harger can you debunk the feminist movement of a supposed patriarchal society as they say in the same passion you debunked... Ragnor Lodbrok!?...

[@ArithHärger]

Next Sunday there will be a video about, sort of, women role in the vikign society, but not quite. You will understand.

[@robiniowoodstonewomenwitch5467]

Greetings I have Strong heritage from Sweden among many lines in my geneological chart THX ARITH HARGER~OF THE BEARD RESPECT

[@ArithHärger]

Thank you very much ^^

[@robiniowoodstonewomenwitch5467]

@@ArithHärger Somewhere in the world tree we are connected take care Brotha I greatly enjoy your videos thx LOL~BobCat Lothbrock or Ragnar BobCat LOL

[@mustangboss1246]

Lol you just trying to ruin it for everyone

[@Vince111079]

The series are over hypt, most people watch that Serie doesn't care it if is true or not, the only want a to be a part of the hype..

[@ArithHärger]

I'll confess, the hype isn't in me for these series to be honest, probably due to the historical and archaeological critical mind, I'm not sure, but I think the series are good and entertaining, but it's not something I absolute enjoy or spend my time in agony waiting for the next episodes

[@ArithHärger]

I'll confess, the hype isn't in me for these series to be honest, probably due to the historical and archaeological critical mind, I'm not sure, but I think the series are good and entertaining, but it's not something I absolute enjoy or spend my time in agony waiting for the next episodes

[@ArithHärger]

I'll confess, the hype isn't in me for these series to be honest, probably due to the historical and archaeological critical mind, I'm not sure, but I think the series are good and entertaining, but it's not something I absolute enjoy or spend my time in agony waiting for the next episodes

[@RikkiTheRose]

"The Truth About" and you only give us a theory? what is your end goal outlander?

[@ArithHärger]

The truth is quite simple, he didn't exist. At the end of the video it becomes more clear - he was the product of an Age, the mixture of real life historical figures to create one archetype, a role model, a hero and a legend, so people may have a figure to identify themselves with. Ragnar Lothbrok became the symbol of the Viking Age, the personification of an Era.

[@DerogatoryMess]

Clickbait! LOL got to get all those H Channel viewers in for the real history

[@chiefanderson4527]

I have to disagree with both witness true sorcery and arith härger, you cant really compare viking with Rambo first of all vikings wasnt a big population they didnt write their history aswell so it could lived on through the People at those Times as things change and rollo Being ragnars brother thats just part of the show like rus invaded the North? Clearly they didnt, but history is often written by the winners and vikings wasnt a military opponent If there is any bit of written information about Ragnar i believe its from England and yes i think the show is to lift Up the viking spirit but People No matter where from Being descendants or part of or maybe better because of any great person have existed in the same country as you ? Thats bullshit,, fun fact America is abit of a ripoff from the roman empire modern tho thanks to Rome, the nazi army like roman army otherwise history is all lies and we Arent going that way ?? ; / Every military politician dictators presidents etc disagrees things do repeat it self humanity in a nutshell

[@RikkiTheRose]

Sigurd was Swedish not Norwegian

[@KenKobayashiRasmussen]

Thats what I learned too in Denmark, Ragnar was a Danish king, born of a swedish and danish parents