Home · Blog · The 3 Most Famous Viking Leaders
The 3 Most Famous Viking Leaders
In their time, Vikings were rightfully among the most feared warriors on the European continent. They hailed from Scandinavia—the areas of present-day Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Besides excelling in warfare, they were also adept seafarers. Thanks to their maritime skills, Vikings managed to raid countries located hundreds of kilometers away from Scandinavia. However, they would never have achieved such successes without their leaders. Many of them are still well-known today.
Harald I Fairhair
Harald I Fairhair left an indelible mark on Norwegian history. After all, he was the one who founded the Norwegian kingdom. Harald ruled from 872 until 933, when his son Erik Bloodaxe succeeded him after his death.
Harald inherited a small kingdom named Vestfold, but that evidently wasn’t enough for him. Over several years, he annexed other small Norwegian kingdoms to his realm, both through warfare and cunning intrigues. In 872, Harald decisively crushed his opposition in the naval Battle of Hafrsfjord, after which he proclaimed himself the king of a unified Norway.
Although many of his opponents survived, they never again managed to assemble a military force large enough to challenge the newly crowned king. Consequently, Harald’s enemies emigrated en masse from Norway. A significant portion of the opposition settled in Iceland, effectively initiating the colonization of the island.
Erik the Red
Erik the Red ranks among the greatest explorers in Nordic history. Born in Norway around 950, he didn’t stay there long; his family had to emigrate to Iceland. There, he settled down, married, and fathered four sons. However, Erik was not the most exemplary citizen. Linked to several murders, he was forced into exile.
But this did not break him—quite the opposite. Within three years of his banishment from Iceland, he managed to discover and partially settle Greenland. Upon his return to Iceland, he encouraged other adventurers to colonize the newly discovered island.
Erik wasn’t the only explorer in his family. His son, Leif Eriksson, went even further, reaching the American continent.
Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lothbrok is by far the most famous Viking leader ever, thanks in part to the TV series Vikings. This man was said to have conducted brutal raids into England and the Frankish Empire during the 9th century AD, acquiring treasures of immeasurable value. He ultimately met his end in a pit of snakes, where he was thrown by the Northumbrian king.
However, Ragnar most likely never existed, even though Vikings did carry out raids against the English and the Franks during the time of his supposed exploits.
Even if this legendary warrior is probably just a myth, he still deserves his place in this ranking. After all, he is unquestionably the most famous Viking ever.
Pirates of the Pacific
Our instructors run the game with tablets, or you start it yourselves on your phones. Tell us the number of people and the date, we will get back to you the same day.
Bravery and Tenacity
The Viking era has been over for quite some time, but that doesn't prevent us from still admiring these brave northern warriors.
In their time, Vikings were not only seen as the embodiment of evil but also as symbols of boundless bravery and tenacity. Without their charismatic leaders, they would have struggled to earn such a formidable reputation.
