Ragnar Lodbrok
The historical Ragnar
About the historical Ragnar Lodbrok few facts are known; already its existence is by no means assured. Maybe it was at Ragnar and Lodbrok even two different people who were mixed only in the later tradition.
Ragnar in the Nordic Tradition
Overview
In the Icelandic saga of Ragnar Ragnar lodbrokar appears as the son of noble descent, who hails from Denmark. There and in Saxo Grammaticus (Book 9 of the Gesta Danorum ) the epithet Lodbrok " loden trousers" and refers to the clothes that Ragnar has invested in the fight with a kind of dragon to protect himself from the poisonous bite. He slays the dragon, which his fame increases. He eventually becomes a mighty king in Denmark. Both died in Saxo and in the Saga of Ragnar in the snake pit of the Northumbrian king Aelle.
Ragnar women
In Saxo Grammaticus, Ragnar married three times: first Lathgertha, then Torah and finally Suanlogha. Lathgerthas most striking features are their martial skills and her magnificent long hair. She is the mother of the Son Fridlevus, who plays a minor role, and two daughters, whose names are not mentioned. Ragnar leaves Lathgertha in favor of Torah.
Also Ragnar's wife Suanlogha will only appear in Saxo's version. It is Ragnar's third wife after Lathgertha and Torah, plays only a minor role and is only mentioned twice. She is the mother of Regnaldus, Vithsercus and Erik, which also occur in the saga all three at Saxo. Perhaps there is a connection between Suanlogha and Ragnar's wife Aslaug that does not occur in Saxo. Ragnar's wife Torah occurs in both Saxo and in the saga. Your representation is true in both versions agree largely.
Aslaug is Ragnarssaga Ragnar's second wife after Torah. She is a daughter of Sigurd and Brynhild from the Völsunga saga and the true main character of the Ragnarssaga. It does not grow on their parents, as they were exposed to as a child. Aslaugs descent from the Wölsungen is probably the work of an Icelandic skald Hofgenealogen or to decorate the family tree of the Norwegian royal family. It provides Ragnar proof of their noble origin in view and brings the son Sigurd to the world.
Ragnar's sons
Agnarr ( Saxo: Agnerus ) is the only Ragnarssohn, in which Saxo Grammaticus and the Ragnarsaga match in relation to the mother. In both cases, he is the son of Thora. In both versions, he falls in the fight against the king Eysteinn (Latin: Ostenus ) as he tries to avenge his brother Eirekr (Latin Ericus ).
Eirekr 's Saga Thora, Saxo Suanloghas son. Ragnar's son Björn is in the saga of the son Aslaugs in Saxo the Suanloghas. Sigurd's special feature, the so-called snake view has already been mentioned with his mother Aslaug.
Ragnar and Aslaugs son Ivar is called in the saga " beinlauss ", " boneless " or " legless ". Rory McTurk has related to Ivar's epithet suggests that this is possibly misinterpreted. " Boneless " is therefore in some Norwegian stories a name for wind, so therefore Ivars skills can be meant as a navigator.