logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
50m 54s

Ragnar Lothbrok: Viking Legend

History Hit
About this episode

The ninth-century Danish king and warrior Ragnar Lothbrok became notorious again most recently through the TV series The Vikings. But what do we know about the real Ragnar Lothbrok? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis finds out from Professor Carolyne Larrington, author of The Norse Myths That Shape the Way We Think.  


This episode was edited and produced by Joseph Knight.

The scriptwriter was Lucy Davidson.

The voice actor was Kimberly Parker

The Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie.


Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free original podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, Matt Lewis, Tristan Hughes and more. Get 50% off your first 3 months with code DANSNOW. Download the app or sign up here.


PLEASE VOTE NOW! for Dan Snow's History Hit in the British Podcast Awards Listener's Choice category here. Every vote counts, thank you!


We'd love to hear from you! You can email the podcast at ds.hh@historyhit.com.


You can take part in our listener survey here.

Up next
Aug 21
Emperor Nero
Emperor Nero has gone down in history as the archetypal bad ruler - cruel, decadent, and perhaps even responsible for setting Rome ablaze. But how much of this is fact, and how much is propaganda?Dr Shushma Malik from the University of Cambridge joins us to dive into Nero’s reign ... Show More
45m 16s
Aug 19
The Colosseum
Join Dan in Rome as he unravels the dramatic story of the Colosseum and the gladiators who fought — and died — for glory. From the origins of gladiatorial combat in funerary rites to the elaborate, politically charged spectacles of the Imperial era, Dan reveals what it took to re ... Show More
1h 12m
Aug 17
Napoleon in Paris
Napoleon Bonaparte dreamed Paris would be the 'capital city of the universe' and much of what we see - and love - about Paris is thanks to him. The long straight boulevards, the fountains, the galleries and museums- even the bread that comes with European cuisine were brought in ... Show More
48m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2023
Ragnar Lothbrok: The Viking Legend
The ninth century Danish king and warrior Ragnar Lothbrok became notorious again most recently through the TV series The Vikings. But what do we know about the real Ragnar Lothbrok? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis finds out from Professor Carolyne Larrington, author ... Show More
51m 13s
Jul 2019
The Life & Legend of Ragnar Lothbrok w/ Dr. Elizabeth Ashman Rowe
Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Elizabeth Ashman Rowe of Cambridge University about the life and legend of Ragnar Lothbrok. In this episode, we discuss historical sources for his life and how studying him can contribute to a greater understanding of the Viking Age. ... Show More
28m 14s
Jul 2023
Lost Vikings of Greenland
Is there a lost colony of Vikings somewhere in Greenland, shut off from the rest of the world? For hundreds of years, that question has taxed many minds for a variety of reasons that often reflect changes in outlook. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt Lewis talks to Dr. Rober ... Show More
34m 36s
Nov 2023
Vikings in America
What is a Viking? Did they really make it to the United States? And if so, how far did they get? Don speaks to Martyn Whittock about the norse landings in North America. From the Icelandic sagas to the archaeological evidence that supports them, listen as we separate the truth fr ... Show More
40m 28s
Nov 2023
Viking Yule: The Norse Winter Holiday & the Wild Hunt w/ Dr. Terry Gunnell
Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/historyofvikingVisit my friend and Swedish blacksmith, Philip Lufolk: https://lufolk.comMedieval Scandinavians and other Germanic peoples celebrated a holiday called Yule during the time of year when days became longer and ... Show More
43m 43s
Apr 2024
Viking Royalty: Nicknames, Love Poems & Victorian Myths
We think we know the Vikings, but how well do we really know them? From the insignia we think they wear, to the names they call themselves and the way they spoke to each other, there's a lot to uncover. Joining Kate today is Dr. Caitlin Ellis, historian and Associate Professor at ... Show More
40m 34s
Jun 2024
The Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most famous, yet mysterious, objects mentioned in the Hebrew Bible. This special box that held the sacred 10 Commandments, written by God himself. But what exactly was it? What stories are told about it? And, most intriguingly of all, what ha ... Show More
47m 1s
Jun 2024
Heracles
Tristan Hughes continues the Greek Gods and Goddesses series with today’s deity; the most popular mythical hero of them all: Heracles, or Hercules. Same hero. His story has never faded, reimagined in various media formats from Hollywood and Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, to Disney, t ... Show More
52m 27s
Jul 2018
151 Viking Poetry - The Voluspa (with Noah Tetzner)
The Vikings! Sure, they had helmets and hammers, but did they also have... poetry? Indeed they did! In this episode, we talk to Noah Tetzner, host of The History of Vikings Podcast, about the collection of Old Norse verses called the Poetic Edda - and in particular, we look at th ... Show More
54m 45s
Jun 2024
History Daily: The Discovery of China’s Terracotta Army & The Execution of King Louis XVI
I'm on vacation, and I hope you'll get some time away soon, too! Our featured podcast today is one that you'll 100% want to listen to on your summer travels: History Daily. Each weekday on History Daily, host Lindsay Graham (not the senator) takes you back in time to explore a mo ... Show More
36m 7s