List of ''Vikings'' characters

Ragnar Lothbrok

• Played by Travis Fimmel (seasons 1–4)

Originally a farmer, Viking Ragnar Lothbrok claims to be descended from the god Odin. He becomes Earl of Kattegat after he challenges and kills the ruthless Earl Haraldson. He is also a feared warrior, becomes a raider of undiscovered lands, and, eventually, King of Denmark. Despite his reputation for ruthlessness and brutality, he is a curious man prepared to learn about other cultures. Based on the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok.

Lagertha

• Played by Katheryn Winnick (seasons 1–present) and Mabel Hurley (season 5)

Lagertha is Ragnar's first wife and a shieldmaiden. Following her separation from Ragnar, Lagertha rises to become Earl of Hedeby in her own right, going by the name Earl Ingstad. Following the deaths of Ragnar and Aslaug, she becomes Queen of Kattegat. Based on the legendary Lagertha.

Rollo

• Played by Clive Standen (seasons 1–present)

Ragnar's brother. A ruthless and skilled warrior, but his life in his brother's shadow makes Rollo's feelings towards Ragnar change from love and admiration to hateful jealousy. Eventually, he defects to the Franks and is made Duke of Normandy. Based on the historical Rollo.

Siggy

• Played by Jessalyn Gilsig (seasons 1–3)

Earl Haraldson's wife, and later the love-interest of Rollo. She possesses a strategic mind and an urge to regain her power and influence, but grows to care for Ragnar and his family. She drowns while attempting to save Ragnar's children from a similar fate.

Floki

• Played by Gustaf Skarsgård (seasons 1–present)

A gifted but eccentric shipbuilder and friend of Ragnar. His ships create a revolution in shipwrighting. He considers himself descended from the trickster god Loki. Loosely based on the historical Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson.^[2]

Athelstan

• Played by George Blagden (seasons 1–4)

An Anglo-Saxon monk, originally serving at the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. Captured by Ragnar on his first raid, Athelstan is constantly torn between the customs of Christian England and the pagan ways of Scandinavia. He finally chooses Christ and is murdered by Floki.

Earl Haraldson

• Played by Gabriel Byrne (season 1)

Ragnar's predecessor as Earl of Kattegat and husband of Siggy. He grows to resent Ragnar's ambitions to raid the West, and sees Ragnar's growing popularity as a threat to his rule. He is killed by Ragnar during personal combat.

Aslaug

• Played by Alyssa Sutherland (seasons 1–4)

Ragnar's second wife, claiming to be the daughter of the shieldmaiden and valkyrie Brynhildr and the dragonslayer Sigurd. She is ultimately killed and usurped by a vengeful Lagertha. Based on the legendary Aslaug.

King Horik of Denmark

• Played by Donal Logue (seasons 1–2)

A powerful king in Denmark who ends up being overthrown by Ragnar. Based on the historical Horik I.

Bjorn Ironside

• Played by Nathan O'Toole (seasons 1–2, 4) and Alexander Ludwig (seasons 2–present)

Ragnar and Lagertha's son, given his epithet by his father after his first battle with the Saxons. Based on the semi-historical or legendary Björn Ironside.

King Ecbert of Wessex

• Played by Linus Roache (seasons 2–4)

Ruler of the most powerful kingdom in England. He dreams of becoming Bretwalda and becomes an unlikely friend of Ragnar. Based on the historical Egbert of Wessex.

Kalf

• Played by Ben Robson (seasons 3–4)

A prominent and ambitious Hedeby villager who later betrays Lagertha and takes her earldom.

Harbard

• Played by Kevin Durand (seasons 3–present)

A charismatic wanderer and storyteller who visits Kattegat.

Emperor Charles of West Francia

• Played by Lothaire Bluteau (seasons 3–present)

Ruler in Paris, he witnesses Ragnar's attack on the city and later employs Rollo as a defender against Viking raids. Charles is a composite character drawing from the historical Charles the Bald (grandson of Charlemagne who first defended Paris from the Vikings), Charles the Fat (who commanded Odo) and Charles the Simple (who encountered Rollo, and may have had a daughter Gisela).

The Seer

• Played by John Kavanagh (seasons 1–present)

Seiðr of Kattegat. He often provides mysterious predictions to the characters.

King Harald Finehair

• Played by Peter Franzén (seasons 4–present)

An ambitious Viking who seeks to become the king of all of Norway. Based on the semi-historical or legendary Harald Fairhair.

Halfdan the Black

• Played by Jasper Pääkkönen (seasons 4–5)

Harald's violent younger brother. A composite character of the historical Halfdan Ragnarsson and semi-historical or legendary Halfdan the Black, the father of Harald Fairhair.

Aethelwulf

• Played by Moe Dunford (seasons 2–5)

Son of King Ecbert and a fanatical Christian. He is married to Princess Judith, with whom he has a son, Prince Aethelred. He dies by asphyxiation after being stung by a bee. Based on the historical Aethelwulf.

Ivar the Boneless

• Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 2–3), James Quinn Markey (season 4) and Alex Høgh (seasons 4–present)

Ragnar and Aslaug's conflicted fourth son. A birth defect has rendered his legs useless and left him impotent. Based on the historical Ivar the Boneless.

Hvitserk

• Played by Cathal O'Hallin (seasons 2–3), Stephen Rockett (season 4) and Marco Ilsø (seasons 4–present)

Ragnar and Aslaug's second son. Based on the semi-historical or legendary Hvitserk.

Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye

• Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 2–3), Elijah O'Sullivan (season 4) and David Lindström (season 4)

Ragnar and Aslaug's third son. Killed by his brother Ivar. Based on the semi-historical or legendary Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.

Ubbe

• Played by Cormac Melia (seasons 2–3), Luke Shanahan (season 4) and Jordan Smith (seasons 4–present)

Ragnar and Aslaug's first son. Based on the historical Ubba.

Bishop Heahmund

• Played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers (seasons 4–present)

A very religious warrior priest.^[3] Broadly inspired by the historical Heahmund.

Svein

• Played by David Pearse (season 1)

A loyal henchman of Earl Haraldson. He is killed by Rollo, after Earl Haraldson's death.

Gyda

• Played by Ruby O'Leary (seasons 1 and 4)

Daughter of Ragnar and Lagertha. She dies in a plague. Loosely based on Ragnar's unnamed daughters.

Erik

• Played by Vladimir Kulich (season 1)

Elderly Viking and one of Ragnar's warriors. He has a wife, Elisef, and a son, Leif. He is an early supporter of Ragnar and is murdered by earl Haraldson.

Leif

• Played by Diarmaid Murtagh (season 1)

One of Ragnar's warriors and son of Erik and Elisef. He offers himself as a sacrifice at Uppsala.

Arne

• Played by Tadhg Murphy (seasons 1–2)

One of Ragnar's warriors; an archer with an eyepatch. He is killed in battle by Rollo.

Torstein

• Played by Jefferson Hall (seasons 1–3)

One of Ragnar's warriors and closest friends. He is killed by Mercian archers.

Elisef

• Played by Carrie Crowley (seasons 1–2)

Wife of Erik and the mother of Leif.

King Aelle of Northumbria

• Played by Ivan Kaye (seasons 1–4)

Ivan Kaye

Ruler of one of England's ancient kingdoms and the first to be attacked by Ragnar. Father of Princess Judith, Aethelwulf's wife, and grandfather of Princes Aethelred and Alfred. Based on the historical King Ælla of Northumbria. He killed Ragnar by throwing him into a pit of snakes and was executed by Bjorn as retribution for Ragnar's death.

Thyri

• Played by Elinor Crawley (seasons 1 and 3)

Daughter of Earl Haraldson and Siggy. She, along with Gyda, dies in a plague.

Helga

• Played by Maude Hirst (seasons 1–4)

Floki's long-suffering lover and wife. Murdered by her own adopted daughter who shortly after committed suicide.

Queen Ealhswith of Northumbria

• Played by Cathy Whyte (seasons 1–2, 4)

Wife of King Aelle and the mother of Princess Judith.

Jarl Borg

• Played by Thorbjørn Harr (seasons 1–2)

A powerful warlord of an earldom in Götaland. He has a wife, Torvi, and a son, Guthrum. He was killed by Ragnar with the Blood Eagle, for having attacked his people and his family.^[4][5]

Prince Erlendur

• Played by Edvin Endre (seasons 2–4)

King Horik's first son. He is cruel and spiteful. After the death of his father, he seeks vengeance against Ragnar and his family. He ends up marrying Torvi and conspires with Kalf to ruin Ragnar. He is killed by Torvi.

Earl Sigvard

• Played by Morten Suurballe (season 2)

Lagertha's second husband and Earl of Hedeby. He is killed by Lagertha after multiple incidents of abuse.^[6]

Bishop Edmund

• Played by Philip O'Sullivan (seasons 2–4)

An influential advisor at the court of King Ecbert. He is murdered by Hvitserk when the Great Heathen Army sacks Ecbert's villa. Based on the historical Eadmund of Winchester.

Torvi

• Played by Georgia Hirst (seasons 2–present)

Wife of Jarl Borg, then lover and wife of Bjorn.

Þórunn

• Played by Gaia Weiss (seasons 2–3)

Bjorn's love interest. She has a daughter, Siggy.^[7]

Einar

• Played by Steve Wall (seasons 2–4)

A scheming troublemaker, and ally of Earl Sigvard of Hedeby. He later betrays Sigvard and helps Lagertha gain power in Hedeby. When Lagertha rejects his advances, he helps Kalf gain power in Hedeby. In the end, he is injured by Kalf and killed by Lagertha.

Judith

• Played by Sarah Greene (season 2) and Jennie Jacques (seasons 3–present)

Daughter of King Aelle and Queen Ealhswith of Northumbria and the wife of Aethelwulf. She has a legitimate son with Aethelwulf, Aethelred, and an illegitimate one with Athelstan, Alfred. Based on the historical Judith of Flanders.

Kwenthrith

• Played by Amy Bailey (seasons 2–4)

Pretender to the throne of Mercia. She has a brother, Prince Burgred, and a putative illegitimate son with Ragnar, Magnus. Based on the historical Cwenthryth.

Angrboda

• Played by an uncredited infant actress (seasons 2–3) and Rosalie Connerty (season 4)

Floki and Helga's daughter.

Prince Burgred

• Played by Aaron Monaghan (season 3)

The rebellious brother of Kwenthrith. Based on the historical Burgred of Mercia. He is poisoned by Kwenthrith who becomes Queen of Mercia.

Aethelred

• Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 3–4) and Darren Cahill (seasons 5–present)^[8]

Prince Aethelwulf and Princess Judith's son. Based on the historical Æthelred of Wessex.

Earl Siegfried

• Played by Greg Orvis (season 3)

A friend of Earl Kalf's and an ally to King Ragnar. He is killed at the Siege of Paris. Loosely based on the Norse chief Sigfred who took part in the Siege of Paris (885–86).

Sinric

• Played by Frankie McCafferty (seasons 3–present)

Sinric (Sindric from season 5 onwards) is a wanderer who taught Ragnar about England and Frankia, and who serves as a translator for the Northmen. Loosely based on the Norse chief Sinric who took part in the Siege of Paris (885–86).

Alfred

• Played by an uncredited infant actor (season 3), Conor O'Hanlon (season 4), Isaac O'Sullivan (season 4) and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo (season 4–present)

Son of Judith and Athelstan. Based on the historical Alfred the Great.

Count Odo

• Played by Owen Roe (seasons 3–4)

In charge of defending the city from the Vikings. Based on the historical Odo of France. He is flogged to death by Roland on Emperor Charles's orders.

Princess Gisla

• Played by Morgane Polanski (seasons 3–present)

Daughter of Emperor Charles and later wedded to Duke Rollo. Based on the historical or legendary Gisela of France.

Roland

• Played by Huw Parmenter (seasons 3–4)

Count Odo's first-in-command. He has an incestuous relationship with his sister, Therese. He is assassinated with his sister by Emperor Charles's men.

Therese

• Played by Karen Hassan (seasons 3–4)

A noblewoman, Roland's sister, and Count Odo's mistress. She is assassinated with her brother by Emperor Charles's men.

Guthrum

• Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 3–4), Anton Giltrap (season 4) and Ben Roe (season 5)

Jarl Borg and Torvi's son. He is killed in battle by Hvitserk.

Magnus

• Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 3–4) and Cameron Hogan (season 4)

Ragnar and Kwenthrith's supposed illegitimate son.

Yidu

• Played by Dianne Doan (season 4)

Chinese slave belonging to Aslaug. Yidu becomes protective of the sons of Ragnar. She also forms a close bond with Ragnar, providing him with a drug and becoming his lover. Later she becomes distressed with the Viking way of life and tries to leave Ragnar. When she refuses to provide him with more of the drug, Ragnar drowns her.

Father Prudentius

• Played by Seán Ó Meallaigh (seasons 4)

Serves at the court of King Ecbert.

Waerferth

• Played by Des Carney (season 4)

One of King Ecbert's scouts. He is stabbed to death by Kwenthrith.

Astrid

• Played by Josefin Asplund (seasons 4–5)

Shieldmaiden and lover of Lagertha. She and Bjorn have a secret affiar. She is later kidnapped by king Harald whom she marries. When attempting to warn Lagertha of an incoming attack she is raped by the whaler she tries to bribe. Soon after she finds herself pregnant and induces Lagertha to kill her during battle.

Margrethe

• Played by Ida Marie Nielsen (seasons 4–present)

One of Queen Aslaug's slaves in Kattegat and the shared lover of Ubbe, Hvitserk and Sigurd. She is disturbed by Ivar and fears him. She is later freed and married by Ubbe. Hvitserk remains her lover with Ubbe's consent.

Tanaruz

• Played by Sinead Gormally (season 4)

A Moorish orphan girl adopted by Helga. When Helga brings her to the sack of Ecbert's villa, Tanaruz snaps and stabs Helga and then kills herself.

Lord Cuthred

• Played by Jonathan Delaney Tynan (season 5–present)

A nobleman in service of King Aethelwulf and Bishop Heahmund.

Kassia

• Played by Karima McAdams (season 5–present)

A Byzantine abbess. Loosely inspired by the historical Kassiani.

Kjetill Flatnose

• Played by Adam Copeland (season 5–present)

A violent and bold patriarch of a large family. He is chosen by Floki for an expedition to set up a colony. Based on the legendary Ketill Flatnose.

Eyvind

• Played by Kris Holden-Ried (season 5–present)

A viking of Kattegat who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Aud

• Played by Leah McNamara (season 5–present)

Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild's daughter, who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony. Based on the semi-historical Aud the Deep-Minded.

Helgi the Lean

• Played by Jack McEvoy (season 5–present)

Eyvind and Rafarta's son, who also joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Thorunn

• Played by Mei Bignall (season 5–present)

Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild's daughter and Helgi's wife, who also joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Ingvild

• Played by Kelly Campbell (season 5–present)

Kjetill Flatnose's wife, who also joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Bul

• Played by James Craze (season 5)

Eyvind and Rafarta's son, who also joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony. He is killed by Thorgrim.

Asbjorn

• Played by Elijah Rowen (season 5–present)

A Viking who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Rafarta

• Played by Donna Dent (season 5–present)

Eyvind's wife, who also joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony. Her brother was killed by Kjetill's father prior to the events of the series.

Thorgrim

• Played by Rob Malone (season 5)

A viking who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony. Son of Kjetill Flatnose.

Frodi

• Played by Scott Graham (season 5–present)

A viking who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Jorunn

• Played by Tallulah Belle Earley (season 5–present)

Kjetill Flatnose and Ingvild's daughter, who also joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Hali

• Played by Ryan Henson (season 5–present)

A Viking who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Asa

• Played by Svea Killoran (season 5–present)

A Viking who joins Floki's expedition to set up a colony.

Svase

• Played by Anthony Brophy (season 5)

A Sami chief and an ally to Lagertha. He is killed in battle. Loosely based on the legendary Sami king Svasi.

Snaefrid

• Played by Dagny Backer Johnsen (season 5)

King Svase's daughter. She is killed in battle. Loosely based on the legendary Snæfrith, a lover of Harald Hairfair.

Season 1

• Eddie Elks as Olafur, a Viking warrior in the service of Earl Haraldson
• Jouko Ahola as Kauko, a Finnish Viking and one of Ragnar's warriors
• Eric Higgins as Knut Tjodolf, Earl Haraldson's half-brother
• Will Irvine as Brother Cenwulf, serving at the monastery of Lindisfarne
• Sam Lucas Smith as Edwin, a Saxon
• Jonathon Kemp as Lord Wigea, an advisor of King Aelle
• Peter Gaynor as Lord Edgar, an advisor of King Aelle
• Trevor Cooper as Earl Bjarni, Thyri's husband-to-be
• Angus MacInnes as Tostig, an old Viking warrior

Season 2

• Morgan C. Jones as The Law Giver, the lawspeaker of Kattegat
• Duncan Lacroix as Ealdorman Werferth of Wessex, serving King Ecbert
• Richard Ashton as Thorvard, a Viking warrior loyal to King Horik

Season 3

• Mark Huberman as Louis, a soldier in Paris

Season 4

• Niall Cusack as Abbot Lupus, Rollo's teacher in Paris
• Charles Last as William, first son of Rollo and Gisla
• Charlie Kelly as Egil, an agent of King Harald
• Caitlin Scott as Princess Blaeja, Judith's sister
• Jack Nolan as Earl Jorgensen, a Swedish warlord, sacrificed to the gods by Lagertha to secure the victory against the Saxons.
• Sophie Vavasseur as Princess Ellisif, the former betrothed of King Harald
• Gary Buckley as Earl Vik, Princess Ellisif's husband
• Uncredited child actor as Marcellus, second son of Rollo and Gisla
• Uncredited child actress as Celsa, daughter of Rollo and Gisla

Season 5

• Keith McErlean as Lord Denewulf, a nobleman in service of Bishop Heahmund
• Kieran O'Reilly as "White Hair", Ivar's bodyguard
• Albano Jerónimo as Euphemius, a Byzantine commander, based on the historical Euphemius of Sicily
• Paul Reid as Mannel, Queen Judith's cousin
• Khaled Abol Naga as Ziyadat Allah, an Arab ruler. Based on the historical Ziyadat Allah I of Ifriqiya

Season 1

• Gerard McCarthy as Brondsted
• Billy Gibson as Ulf
• David Wilmot as Olaf Andwend
• Conor Madden as Eric Trygvasson, a Viking who is prosecuted in Kattegat by Earl Haraldson
• Cian Quinn as Olaf, son of Ingolf
• Craig Whittaker as Hakon
• Des Braiden as Father Cuthbert, in charge of the monastery of Lindisfarne
• Sebastiaan Vermeul Taback as Osiric
• David Murray as Lord Aethelwulf, the brother of King Aelle
• Sean Treacy as Prince Egbert, King Aelle and Queen Ealhswith's son
• James Flynn as Eadric
• David Michael Scott as Nils

Season 2

• Anna Aström as Hild, a servant in Kattegat
• Jay Duffy as Ari, King Horik's second son
• Alan Devine as Ealdorman Eadric of Wessex, serving King Ecbert
• Edmund Kente as Bishop Swithern of Winchester. Based on the historical Swithun.
• Jens Christian Bushov Lund as Olrik
• Elizabeth Moynihan as Queen Gunnhild of Denmark, King Horik's wife

Season 3

• Ian Beattie as King Brihtwulf of Mercia, Kwenthrith and Burgred's uncle. Based on the historical Beorhtwulf of Mercia.
• James Murphy as Ansgar, a monk trying to convert Vikings in Kattegat. Based on the historical Ansgar.

Season 4

• Cillian O'Sullivan as Eirik, a Viking warrior in Paris, former second in command of Rollo. He is betrayed by him and killed by Franks.
• Robban Follin as Berserker, an assassin recruited by Erlendur and Kalf
• Declan Conlon as Lord Wigstan, a relative of Kwenthrith and head of the Royal Family of Mercia. Based on the semi-historical Wigstan.
• John Kavanagh as Pope Leo IV
• Adam McNamara as Thorhall, a Danish Viking
• Liam Clarke as Gudmund
• Ed Murphy as Gardar
• Jack Walsh as Scotus, loosely based on the historical John Scotus Eriugena
• Josh Donaldson as Hoskuld, a Viking warrior of great skill
• Tamaryn Payne as Widow Ordlaf, a lady of Sherborne

Season 5

• India Mullen as Aethegyth, a noblewoman from Wessex
• Frank Prendergast as Bishop Cynebert of York
• Laurence O'Fuarain as Hakon, a whale hunter of Vestfold
• Bosco Hogan as the Lord Abbot of Lindisfarne
• Mabel Hurley as young Lagertha, appearing in a flashback
• Ross Matthew Anderson as Lagertha's father, appearing in a flashback

Earl Haraldson, King Ragnar, King Horik, Emperor Charles, and King Harald's family tree

King Ecbert and King Aelle's family tree

Queen Kwenthrith's family tree

Floki's family tree