Vikings (TV series)

Lore & Background

The series is inspired by the tales of the Norsemen of early medieval Scandinavia, broadly following the exploits of the legendary Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok and his crew, family, and descendants. These stories are notably laid down in the 13th-century sagas Ragnars saga Loðbrókar and Ragnarssona þáttr, as well as in Saxo Grammaticus' 12th-century work Gesta Danorum. Further inspiration is taken from historical sources such as records of the Viking raid on Lindisfarne, depicted in the second episode, and Ahmad ibn Fadlan's 10th-century account of the Varangians. The series begins at the start of the Viking Age, marked by the Lindisfarne raid in 793.

The principal cast features Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok, alongside Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Jessalyn Gilsig, Gustaf Skarsgård, Gabriel Byrne, George Blagden, Donal Logue, Alyssa Sutherland, Linus Roache, and Alexander Ludwig. The series was filmed entirely in Ireland, on-location in County Wicklow and at Ashford Studios. A sequel series, titled Vikings: Valhalla, premiered on Netflix on February 25, 2022.

Reader's Guide

Vikings is significant as a television series that brought Norse legendary sagas to a global audience, blending historical inspiration with dramatized storytelling. Produced as an Irish-Canadian co-production, it was filmed in Ireland and ran for six seasons on the History Channel. The series' portrayal of Ragnar Lothbrok and his descendants, including their raids across England, Scandinavia, Kievan Rus', the Mediterranean, and North America, contributed to popular interest in Viking history and culture. Its sequel series, Vikings: Valhalla, continued the narrative on Netflix. The show's production involved notable locations in Ireland, including Ashford Studios and the Wicklow Mountains, and featured music by Norwegian group Wardruna. The series concluded after its sixth season, with the second half released on Amazon Prime Video in Ireland on December 30, 2020, and broadcast on History in Canada from January 1 to March 3, 2021.