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How Did Ragnar Die in Vikings​? The Legacy of a Warrior

Season 4 of Vikings showed the death of Ragnar Lothbrok, an important incident that remains as one of the series’ most brutal and stunning incidents. The execution of Ragnar by being cast into a pit of deadly snakes was directly derived from the Viking sagas.

Ragnar orchestrated his own demise inside the narrative, which ultimately became his most significant triumph.

Initially presented as a farmer in the first season of Vikings, Ragnar’s inquisitiveness about the world prompted him to voyage westward and orchestrate raids on England, ultimately ascending to kingship.

Season 4 of Vikings marked Ragnar’s decline, characterized by a drug addiction, a catastrophic defeat in the Second Siege of Paris, and an extended absence from Kattegat.

Upon Ragnar’s return to Kattegat, he was no longer in a condition to achieve any conquests. With a debilitated physique and a compromised reputation, he was compelled to excavate his cache of treasure — intended for his afterlife in Valhalla — to incentivize a band of raiders to accompany him to England.

A tempest obliterated his vessels, and Ragnar reached his destination accompanied just by his incapacitated son, Ivar the Boneless. Although he posed no threat, Ragnar’s demise enabled the character to inflict unprecedented harm upon England. It constituted “an element of a more extensive and audacious strategy.”

What Is the Cause of Ragnar’s Death in Vikings?

The death of Ragnar in the Vikings series was one of the most astonishing scenes of season 4 and the entire show, considering he was the principal protagonist up to that juncture.

Due to his affinity for warfare and conquest, Ragnar Lothbrok’s demise was inevitable; nonetheless, the element of surprise arises from the deliberate nature of his death and the horrific circumstances surrounding it.

Following Rollo’s betrayal of Ragnar by remaining in Paris, Ragnar launched an assault on Francia to avenge his brother, but suffered a decisive and humiliating defeat. Upon returning to Scandinavia, Ragnar departed from his homeland of Kattegat to live in seclusion due to this humiliation.

This prolonged interval, spanning several years, irrevocably altered Ragnar, rendering him diminished and embittered by the perception that his golden age had past. Faced with the inevitability of a deteriorating existence, Ragnar choose to pursue a path to destruction, culminating in his downfall.

Ragnar returned to England and submitted to King Ecbert of Wessex, who subsequently handed him over as a prisoner to King Ælle. Ælle subjected Ragnar to prolonged torment, although Ragnar remained stoically unperturbed, ultimately meeting his demise when Ælle cast him into a pit of deadly snakes.

This is merely one of numerous accounts regarding the demise of the historical figure Ragnar Lothbrok, although it is undoubtedly among the most graphic.

The brutal and unforeseen circumstances surrounding Ragnar’s death in Vikings astonished viewers, yet it was more compelling because to Ragnar’s meticulous premeditation of the entire event.

Ragnar Stopped Believing in Gods Before He Died

how did ragnar die in vikings

A key component of understanding Ragnar’s death among the Vikings is the reality that he was on precarious religious ground by the time of his death in season 4. Ragnar’s inquisitive intellect compelled him to study all matters, including the deities themselves.

The discord between the Norse pantheon and Christianity has been a central element of Vikings from the first, shown by the bond between Ragnar and his cherished companion, Athelstan. The two characters reacted distinctly to the conflict of religions in their life.

Athelstan experienced a conflict between his Christian upbringing and monastic years, and his affinity for the Vikings and their deities following his arrest. He was unable to definitively choose between the Norse faith and Christianity until just before Ragnar Lothbrok’s demise, when he experienced a rebirth as a Christian.

In contrast, the greater Ragnar’s exposure to Athelstan’s faith, the more he appeared to question the existence of the gods. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the gods — whether genuine or not — wielded influence over individuals, and commenced exploiting that to his benefit.

In the First Siege of Paris, as depicted in Vikings season 3, Ragnar feigned conversion to Christianity and requested baptism.

He subsequently feigned his demise to facilitate the transport of his casket into the city center for a Christian interment, before theatrically emerging and unlocking the gates of Paris for his forces to unleash chaos. Following Athelstan’s demise, Ragnar substituted his belief in the deities with self-reliance.

During his convalescence from the injuries sustained in Paris, Ragnar envisioned the gates of Valhalla shutting before him. This may indicate that he was not prepared to die, but it might also signify the time Ragnar lost faith in Valhalla.

In season 4 of Vikings, Ragnar explicitly expressed his lack of faith by criticizing the Seer’s forecasts as ambiguous, perplexing, and self-fulfilling. Ragnar informed the Seer, “I do not believe in the existence of the gods.”

Humankind governs its own destiny, rather than divine beings. The deities are a construct of humanity, providing responses that individuals are too fearful to confront alone.

In the twilight of his life, Ragnar was no longer prepared to concede that the gods had predetermined the nature of his demise. He confidently asserted that he determined his own fate and solely orchestrated the trajectory of his demise.

Ragnar Was Ready for Death

how did ragnar die in vikings

Upon his return to Kattegat following the time leap in Vikings’ season 4, it became evident that Ragnar Lothbrok was reflecting on his mortality. He then admitted to King Ecbert that “death has occupied my thoughts for an extended period.”

Initially, Ragnar provoked his sons to slay him and ascend to kingship, a task they ultimately declined. He subsequently hanged himself from a tree, paying respect to the tale of Odin’s self-sacrifice on Yggdrasil, paralleling the one-eyed Allfather in Ragnar Lothbrok’s death scene, where one of his eyes is swelled shut from a beating.

After the rope ultimately broke and preserved his life, Vikings’ Ragnar Lothbrok pursued death through a different means – by returning to England. He devised a strategy to orchestrate the downfall of his adversaries while ensuring the triumph and renown of his sons.

His intention of never returning was evident, as he took the time to bid farewell to all his loved ones, even reconciling with Floki.

Why Did Ragnar Want King Ælle to Execute Him?

The main goal of Ragnar Lothbrok’s death was to help with the downfall of both King Ecbert and King Ælle. Ragnar and Ælle had always harbored animosity against each other; but, their analogous temperaments and mutual admiration for Athelstan fostered a significant regard between Ragnar and Ecbert.

Nonetheless, Ragnar Lothbrok of the Vikings could not perish without devising retribution for the massacre of the Viking village years prior. He deceived Ecbert into thinking the guilt was absolved, prompting Ecbert to surrender him to Ælle and allow Ivar to escape, while secretly instructing Ivar to exact vengeance on both of them.

Ragnar Lothbrok’s demise encompassed more than mere retribution. In season 2 of Vikings, he inquired of the Seer regarding the fate of his sons, who said that they would achieve greater renown than him.

Ragnar recognized Ivar’s potential for greatness, informing his youngest son that his immobile legs endowed him with a power absent in his brothers. Ragnar Lothbrok’s demise served as a final lesson for Ivar the Boneless: he underscored that individuals would perpetually undervalue him due to his legs, akin to how Ragnar’s adversaries undervalued him when he presented as a frail, elderly man in tattered garments.

Convinced that he had determined his own destiny, Ragnar resolved to shape the destinies of his boys as well. By instilling in them the urge to avenge his murder, he also provided the rallying cry necessary to mobilize the formidable heathen army.

During his life, Ragnar expended his whole wealth to assemble a meager raiding band; nevertheless, in death, Ragnar Lothbrok emerged as a Viking legend capable of uniting the Northern peoples and guiding his sons into greatness. His legacy remains important to Vikings: Valhalla.

Ragnar Lothbrok’s journey from farmer to legendary in Vikings is amazing. Check his smart tactics, significant downfall, and lasting legacy. Want to get more details on his ascent and decline? Visit our website for a comprehensive examination of his remarkable narrative and its importance in Viking mythology.

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