VIkings: 10 Worst Things Ragnar Lothbrok Did
4. Caused His Sons To Invade England
A lot of the entries on this list revolve around Ragnar not understanding the repercussions of his actions or simply not caring.
Following a series of failed suicide attempts, he decides to turn to the Seer for guidance. It is then prophecised that he will die on the day that the blind man sees him.
Ragnar immediately jumps to the conclusion that his journey ends with him and King Ecbert in England. Taking his youngest son Ivar with him, the two eventually become imprisoned by Ecbert's son, Aethelwulf.
Upon Ecbert's return, Ragnar explains his situation and desire for death to his old friend. Ecbert grows worrisome that Ragnar's sons will seek to avenge his death and invade Wessex.
However, the two conspire to have a rival king, Aelle, carry out Ragnar's execution instead and send Ivar home to tell his brothers that Wessex had no part in it.
Ragnar gets his wish and is brutally killed by the Saxons. What they didn't account for is that Ivar, upon his return home, immediately tells his brothers of how their father died and was given to Aelle by Ecbert.
Each of the sons of Ragnar gives up on their current pursuits to band together to lead a gruesome slaughter across all of England.