Vikings saw most of its main characters die, but how do their deaths in the series compare to those of their real-life counterparts?

The historical drama Vikings came to an end after six seasons and a lot of betrayals, battles, and deaths, and not all main characters made it to the final episode – here’s how their deaths compare to what happened to them in real life or according to legends. Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings debuted on History Channel in 2013. Even though it was originally planned to be a miniseries, it was quickly renewed for a second season, allowing viewers to continue following the stories of Ragnar, Lagertha, Rollo, Floki, and other notable figures from the Viking Age.

Vikings initially followed Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a legendary Norse figure who is said to have been one of the greatest Vikings to ever live. Yet, his existence continues to be debated by historians. As the series progressed, it shifted its focus to Ragnar’s sons and their own travels, with special attention to the arcs of Björn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) and Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen), making them protagonists even before Ragnar’s death in season 4. Luckily for Vikings watchers, season 6 gave closure to the arcs of the remaining main characters, but not all of them made it out alive, and some didn’t even reach the final season.

Vikings saw a lot of betrayals and battles from the beginning, and some of its main characters died in battle, therefore earning their place in Valhalla — a majestic and enormous hall in Asgard where those who die in battle go, equivalent to the afterlife. Others were captured, tortured, and killed, and some died in unexpected circumstances. Although Vikings aimed to be as historically accurate as possible, there are not many historical records on some of the characters (and some might be entirely fictional). So, the writers had to take a lot of creative liberties, and in most cases, their deaths didn't match those of their real-life counterparts. Here’s how the deaths of the main characters in Vikings compare to real life.

Ragnar Lothbrok

Although Ragnar was the leader of Vikings in its first seasons, he might have not been a real person. There aren’t many historical records that can support the existence of several characters, among those Ragnar Lothbrok. It’s believed, then, that the figure of Ragnar is based on three different men: Viking leader Reginherus, King Horik I of Denmark (who was included in the series), and King Regindfried. Ragnar died in season 4’s episode “All His Angels”, where after King Aelle tortured him and cut a cross into his head, he was thrown into a pit of snakes. Ragnar died as a result of the snake bites, and that was the end of his arc — though, some fans still wonder what happened to his body and if he really died in the pit. The sagas in which Ragnar appears state that he was defeated by English forces and thrown into a snake pit. But when taking into account that he might be a combination of historical figures, then the “real” Ragnar could have died in different ways: murdered (like Reginherus), killed in battle (Horik), or in an attempted invasion (Reginfrid).

Lagertha

Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) was a shield-maiden, mother of Björn Ironside and Gyda, the first wife of Ragnar, and one of the most popular and beloved characters in Vikings. Her eventual death came as a big surprise for the audience. Lagertha appears in Saxo’s Gesta Danorum alongside Ragnar, so her existence is still debated, with modern historians explaining she might be a reflection of tales about Viking warrior women, or the Norse deity Thorgerd, though she could also be a representation of the valkyries (female figures that choose who will be taken to Valhalla). In Vikings, Lagertha was killed in season 6’s episode “Death and the Serpent”, where she rode back to Kattegat after killing White Hair and sustaining serious injuries. Once there, she arrived at Hvitserk’s home, but he was in a state of delirium and hallucinated a serpent he believed to be Ivar. So he stabbed it, but in reality, he stabbed Lagertha. Given that it’s unclear if Lagertha was a real person or not, there are no accounts of how the real one could have died.

It’s worth noting that there was an Icelandic woman named Thorgerd Egilsdottir who appears in several Icelandic sagas alongside characters seen in Vikings, such as Helga (Floki’s wife, played by Maude Hirst) and Torstein (Jefferson Hall). But there are no details on her death. On the other hand, the goddess Thorgerd Holgabrudr is considered an example of a guardian goddess and has been compared to the valkyries, but the tales don’t offer any clues on how the "real" Lagertha could have died. So, unlike Ragnar's case, there are no real or mythological characters that can hint at what happened to Lagertha.

Bjorn Ironside

Björn Ironside was Ragnar and Lagertha’s son, who spent a big part of his time in Vikings in constant conflict with his half-brother Ivar the Boneless. Unlike Ragnar and Lagertha, Björn Ironside is one of the few characters in the series based on a real-life Viking chief. The real Björn was a legendary Swedish king and the first ruler of the Munsö dynasty, and the touch of fantasy in his story comes from the Scandinavian legends that say he was the son of Ragnar and Aslaug. Björn (whose nickname “Ironside” originated from killing several enemies in battle without hurting himself) died in Vikings season 6 after being stabbed by Ivar with a sword. Though, he didn’t die on the spot and managed to pull one final trick on his enemies. However, Björn's wounds were so severe he eventually passed away, but his legacy continued until the final episode of Vikings. As for the real Björn Ironside, there are no records on how he died, so it’s assumed that he either died of old age or illness, but he had a more peaceful death than his fictional counterpart.

Ivar the Boneless

One of Vikings' most feared and hated characters was Ragnar and Aslaug’s youngest son Ivar the Boneless, who for a long time believed himself to be a God. But that was obviously not true and he died in season 6. Ivar the Boneless had one of the most complex stories in the series, and his life was marked by hardships from the beginning. Ivar was born with weak bones, his legs twisted and presumed broken, and was in a lot of pain, with the mysterious Harbard being the only one who could ease his pain. Ivar grew up to become a ruthless warrior and a feared enemy, who was in constant conflict with his brother Björn. Jumping to Vikings season 6, after seeing his brother Hvitserk exhausted and injured during a battle, he stepped in so his brother could stand back and survive.

Hvitserk pointed out that Ivar’s eyes were blue, meaning that he was in great danger of breaking his bones. Ivar urged his warriors to continue fighting, then turned around and found a young man with a dagger. Ivar told him not to be afraid, and so the young man stabbed Ivar multiple times, killing him on the spot. Ivar the Boneless, just like Björn, is based on a real person, considered one of the greatest Viking leaders and who was also born with weak bones. However, when it comes to how he died, there are different versions of the events. Some claim he died due to a sudden and horrible disease (it's unknown if it could have been related to his condition), but a mass grave discovered in England might point at Ivar actually dying in battle, just like in Vikings.

Floki

Kattegat’s prankster, exceptional boatbuilder, and Ragnar’s best friend, Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård) is also based on a real person: Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson, the first Norseman to intentionally sail to Iceland. In Vikings, Floki was believed to be dead after he got trapped inside a cave that was inside a volcano, which erupted while he was there (and where he found a Christian cross when he believed the cave was a gate to Helheim). However, much to many's relief, he returned in the second part of Vikings season 6. Floki was implied to have become senile, but he still managed to share some wise words with Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) in the series finale. Floki didn’t die on the show, but the real one is believed to have returned to Norway, then went back to Iceland where he lived until his death. So, Vikings’ Floki might have had a similar fate.

Is Vikings: Valhalla Historically Accurate?

Like its predecessor, Vikings: Valhalla does take some historical liberties when it comes to telling Leif Erikson's story. Valhalla mainly covers Leif's journies, along with his sister Freydís Eiríksdóttir, and the growing tensions between the pagans and the Christians. While some of this is historically accurate, there are some deviations. The first comes in the form of Freydís Eiríksdóttir's story. The only information known about her comes from two different sagas, Saga of the Greenlanders and Saga of Erik the Red. In the first saga, she's depicted as a cutthroat, taking a home in Vinland from her own brothers and then ordering her husband to kill their settlement. After he obeys her wishes, she then kills all of the women in their separate settlement. In the second saga, she's a fierce warrior, who joined Leif in his travels and even fights while pregnant. There's no record of her tense relationship with the Christians, nor her facing an attack at their hands.

Another major difference comes in the form of the fall of the London Bridge and King Canute's reign. The fall of London Bridge in Vikings: Valhalla was carried out as an intricate plan of Leif's. In reality, Leif had nothing to do with the London Bridge's destruction. In the show, King Canute was able to take the throne as a result of London Bridge's fall. However, in reality, it happened differently. Canute took over Northumbria, and then later laid siege on London. After a successful venture, Canute was given ownership over everything north of the Thames. Like Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla does change several historical events for the sake of the narrative. But, ultimately, it works well for the scope of the show.

Next: Vikings Future Explained: Season 7 & Valhalla Spinoff Series