The Conquests of Ivar ‘The Boneless’ Ragnarsson

A short summary of Ivar Ragnarsson, a Viking who invaded England in the year 865.

Ivar the Boneless was the eldest son of Ragnar Lodbrok. Ivar’s bonelessness was the product of a spell, according to the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok. Aslaug, his mother, was Ragnar’s third wife. She said that after he returned from a long separation, she and her husband had to wait three nights for their marriage to be consummated. After such a long separation, however, Ragnar was overwhelmed with lust and did not heed her terms. Ivar was born with poor bones as a result of that.

Ivar was the leader of the Great Heathen Army, which was a greatly feared force.

Ivar and his brothers invaded England in 865 with a large Viking force and captured York, the capital of the kingdom of Northumbria, in 866. The invasion was orchestrated by Ragnar Lodbrok’s sons to wreak vengeance on Ælla of Northumbria, who reportedly executed Ragnar by tossing him into a snake pit in 865, but this explanation is uncertain.

The army turned north late the following year and conquered Northumbria, finally taking Ælla in York in 867. According to tradition, Ælla was executed using the blood eagle by Ivar and his brothers, a ceremonial method of executing by opening the ribcage from behind and taking out the lungs, creating a wing-like shape.

The Army marched south later in the year and conquered the kingdom of Mercia, taking the city of Nottingham, where they spent the winter. By allying with the West Saxon king of Wessex, King Burgred of Mercia laid siege to the city with a combined force. It was not possible for the Anglo-Saxons to recapture the area, but a truce was negotiated that the Danes would withdraw to York. For over a year, the Great Heathen Army remained in York, collecting its strength for further assaults.

When they returned to East Anglia in 869, Ivar and Ubba were named as the commanders of the Danes, and as the executioners of the King of East Anglia, Edmund the Martyr, for resisting their demand that he renounce Christ. The exact account of the death of Edmund is unclear, but it has been suggested that it is probable that his capture and execution at the hands of the sons of Ragnar occurred. Sometime after 870,

Ivar vanished from the historical record. His final destiny is unknown.