List of Vikings characters

Cast of Vikings in Season 4, from left to right: Linus Roache (Ecbert), Jennie Jacques (Judith), Gustaf Skarsgård (Floki), James Quinn Markey (Ivar), Alyssa Sutherland (Aslaug), Travis Fimmel (Ragnar), Alexander Ludwig (Bjorn), Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha), Ben Robson (Kalf), Clive Standen (Rollo) and Morgane Polanski (Gisela)

Vikings is an Irish-Canadian historical drama television series written and created by Michael Hirst for the television channel History. Filmed in Ireland, it premiered on 3 March 2013 in Canada and the United States.^[1]

Vikings is inspired by the sagas of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of England and France. The show portrays Ragnar as a former farmer who rises to fame by successful raids into England, and eventually becomes king of Denmark, with the support of his family and fellow warriors: his brother Rollo, his son Bjorn Ironside, and his wives—the shieldmaiden Lagertha and the princess Aslaug.

The following is a list of characters that have appeared on the television series.

Main characters

The following is a list of series regulars who have appeared in one or more of the series' five seasons. The characters are listed in the order they were first credited in the series.

Cast notes

* ^1 In season 1, Bjorn Ironside is portrayed by recurring child actor Nathan O'Toole.
* ^2 In seasons 2 and 4, Bjorn Ironside is also portrayed by recurring child actor Nathan O'Toole.
* ^3 In seasons 2 and 3, Ivar the Boneless is portrayed by uncredited infant actors.
* ^4 In the first part of season 4, Ivar the Boneless is portrayed by recurring child actor James Quinn Markey and guest actor Alex Høgh. In the second part of season 4, Ivar the Boneless is portrayed by starring cast member Alex Høgh.
* ^5 In seasons 2 and 3, Hvitserk is portrayed by recurring infant actor Cathal O'Hallin.
* ^6 In the first part of season 4, Hvitserk is portrayed by recurring child actor Stephen Rockett and guest actor Marco Ilsø. In the second part of season 4, Hvitserk is portrayed by starring cast member Marco Ilsø.
* ^7 In seasons 2 and 3, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye is portrayed by uncredited infant actors.
* ^8 In the first part of season 4, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye is portrayed by recurring child actor Elijah O'Sullivan and guest actor David Lindström. In the second part of season 4, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye is portrayed by starring cast member David Lindström.
* ^9 In seasons 2 and 3, Ubbe is portrayed by recurring infant actor Cormac Melia.
* ^10 In the first part of season 4, Ubbe is portrayed by recurring child actor Luke Shanahan and guest actor Jordan Patrick Smith. In the second part of season 4, Ubbe is portrayed by starring cast member Jordan Patrick Smith.

Ragnar Lothbrok

• Played by Travis Fimmel (starring seasons: 1−present)

Travis Fimmel

Originally a farmer, legendary Viking Ragnar Lothbrok claims to be a descendant of the god Odin, and during the show's run he manages to rise to become a respected Earl of his home settlement Kattegat, as well as a feared warrior, a famed raider of undiscovered lands, and, finally, the King of Denmark.

In season one, Ragnar builds a new generation of faster longships with the help of his friend Floki and challenges the local ruler, Earl Haraldson, a man of little vision, to allow raids into unexplored North East England. He is supported by his brother Rollo and other men of Kattegat, the earldom controlled by Haraldson. Ragnar succeeds in carrying out the first Viking raids into the English kingdom of Northumbria, returning with rich loot and the monk Athelstan as a slave. This not only earns him the enmity of King Aelle, but triggers a series of increasingly violent confrontations at home with the autocratic Earl, ending with Ragnar killing and succeeding him. During an annual trip to the Temple at Uppsala where many Viking clans congregate in worship to the gods, Ragnar pledges fealty to King Horik. Ragnar then represents Horik in negotiations about a land dispute with Jarl Borg, a Geat from Götaland, in the course of which he is seduced by the princess Aslaug. Back in Ragnar's homeland, a mysterious plague ravages his village killing a portion of his people including his young daughter. During this time, envious and ambitious brother Rollo is manipulated by Jarl Borg to side with him against his brother and King Horik in order to forge his own glory.

In season two,

In season three,

In season four,

Lagertha

• Played by Katheryn Winnick (starring seasons: 1−present)

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.

Rollo

• Played by Clive Standen (starring seasons: 1−present)

Rollo is Ragnar's brother. Although a ruthless and skilled warrior, having spent his life in the shadow of his brother makes Rollo's feelings towards Ragnar constantly changing from loyal love and admiration, to hateful jealousy.

Siggy

• Played by Jessalyn Gilsig (starring seasons: 1−3)

Siggy is Earl Haraldson's wife, and later the love-interest of Rollo. She possesses a strategic mind and a tireless urge to retain (or regain) her power and influence.

Floki

• Played by Gustaf Skarsgård (starring seasons: 1−present)

Floki is a gifted, albeit eccentric, shipbuilder and friend of Ragnar. Acknowledging his peculiar character traits, Floki considers himself a descendant of the trickster god Loki.

Athelstan

• Played by George Blagden (starring seasons: 1−3; recurring season: 4)

Athelstan is an Anglo-Saxon monk originally serving at the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. Captured by Ragnar on his first raid in England, Athelstan is torn between the customs of the Christian England and the pagan ways of Scandinavia.

Earl Haraldson

• Played by Gabriel Byrne (starring season: 1)

Earl Haraldson is Ragnar's predecessor as Earl of Kattegat.

Aslaug

• Played by Alyssa Sutherland (starring seasons: 1−present)

Aslaug is Ragnar's second wife, claiming to be the daughter of the shieldmaiden and valkyrie Brynhildr and the dragonslayer Sigurd.

Horik

• Played by Donal Logue (starring seasons: 1−2)

King Horik of Denmark is a powerful king who ends being overthrown by Ragnar.

Bjorn Ironside

• Played by Nathan O'Toole (recurring seasons: 1−2, 4) and Alexander Ludwig (starring seasons: 2−present)

Bjorn Ironside is Ragnar and Lagertha's son, given his epithet by his father, following his first battle with the Saxons.

Ecbert

• Played by Linus Roache (starring seasons: 2−present)

King Ecbert of Wessex is the ruler of the most powerful kingdom in Britain.

Kalf

• Played by Ben Robson (starring seasons: 3−4)

Kalf is a prominent and ambitious Hedeby villager who later betrays Lagertha and takes her earldom.

Harbard

• Played by Kevin Durand (starring seasons: 3−present)

Harbard is a charismatic wanderer and storyteller arriving in Kattegat.

Charles

• Played by Lothaire Bluteau (starring seasons: 3−present)

Emperor Charles of West Francia, residing in Paris, witnesses Ragnar's attack to the city.

The Seer

• Played by John Kavanagh (recurring seasons: 1−3; starring seasons: 4−present)

He is the seiðr of Kattegat.

Harold Finehair

• Played by Peter Franzén (starring seasons: 4−present)

King Harold Finehair is an ambitious Viking who seeks to become the first King of Norway.

Halfdan the Black

• Played by Jasper Pääkkönen (starring seasons: 4−present)

Halfdan the Black is Harold's violent younger brother.

Ivar the Boneless

• Played by uncredited infant actors (recurring seasons: 2-3), James Quinn Markey (recurring season: 4) and Alex Høgh (starring seasons: 4−present)

Ivar the Boneless is Ragnar and Aslaug's fourth son.

Hvitserk

• Played by Cathal O'Hallin (recurring seasons: 2-3), Stephen Rockett (recurring season: 4) and Marco Ilsø (starring seasons: 4−present)

Hvitserk is Ragnar and Aslaug's second son.

Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye

• Played by uncredited infant actors (recurring seasons: 2-3), Elijah O'Sullivan (recurring season: 4) and David Lindström (starring seasons: 4−present)

Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye is Ragnar and Aslaug's third son.

Ubbe

• Played by Cormac Melia (recurring seasons: 2-3), Luke Shanahan (recurring season: 4) and Jordan Patrick Smith (starring seasons: 4−present)

Ubbe is Ragnar and Aslaug's first son.

Recurring characters

The following is a list of characters that are, or at one time were, a recurring guest on the series. They are listed in the order that they first appeared on the show.

Cast notes

* ^11 In season 2, Judith is portrayed by recurring actress Sarah Greene.
* ^12 In seasons 2 and 3, Angrboda is portrayed by uncredited infant actresses.
* ^13 In season 3 and in the first part of season 4, Guthrum is portrayed by uncredited infant actors.
* ^14 In season 3, Alfred is portrayed by uncredited infant actors.

Svein

• Played by David Pearse (recurring season: 1)

Svein is the loyal henchman of Earl Haraldson.

Gyda

• Played by Ruby O'Leary (recurring season: 1; guest season: 4)

Gyda is the daughter of Ragnar and Lagertha.

Erik

• Played by Vladimir Kulich (recurring season: 1)

Erik is an elderly Viking and one of Ragnar's warriors. He has a wife, Elisef, and a son, Leif.

Leif

• Played by Diarmaid Murtagh (recurring season: 1)

Leif is one of Ragnar's warriors and son of Erik and Elisef.

Arne

• Played by Tadhg Murphy (recurring season: 1; guest season: 2)

Arne is one of Ragnar's warriors; an archer with an eyepatch.

Torstein

• Played by Jefferson Hall (recurring seasons: 1–3)

Torstein is one of Ragnar's warriors and closest friends.

Elisef

• Played by Carrie Crowley (recurring seasons: 1–2)

Elisef is the wife of Erik and the mother of Leif.

King Aelle

• Played by Ivan Kaye (recurring seasons: 1–2, 4–present; guest season: 3)

King Aelle of Northumbria is the ruler of one of England's ancient kingdoms.

Thyri

• Played by Elinor Crawley (recurring season: 1; guest season: 3)

Thyri is the daughter of Earl Haraldson and Siggy.

Helga

• Played by Maude Hirst (recurring seasons: 1–present)

Helga is Floki's long-suffering lover and wife.

Jarl Borg

• Played by Thorbjørn Harr (guest season: 1; recurring season: 2)

Jarl Borg is the ruler of Götaland. He has a wife, Torvi, and a son, Guthrum.^[2][3]

Erlendur

• Played by Edvin Endre (recurring seasons: 2–4)

Prince Erlendur is King Horik's first son.

Earl Sigvard

• Played by Morten Suurballe (recurring season: 2)

Earl Sigvard is Lagertha's second husband and Earl of Hedeby.^[4]

Aethelwulf

• Played by Moe Dunford (recurring seasons: 2–present)

Prince Aethelwulf is the son of King Ecbert.

Torvi

• Played by Georgia Hirst (recurring seasons: 2–present)

Torvi is the wife of Jarl Borg.

Bishop Edmund

• Played by Philip O'Sullivan (recurring seasons: 2–present)

Bishop Edmund is an influential advisor at the court of King Ecbert.

Þórunn

• Played by Gaia Weiss (recurring seasons: 2–3)

Þórunn is Bjorn's love interest. She has a daughter, Siggy.^[5]

Einar

• Played by Steve Wall (recurring seasons: 2–3; guest season: 4)

Einar is a scheming troublemaker, and ally of Earl Sigvard of Hedeby.

Judith

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

Princess Judith of Northumbria is the daughter of King Aelle and the wife of Aethelwulf. She has a legitimate son with Aethelwulf, Aethelred, and an illegitimate one with Athelstan, Alfred.

Kwenthrith

• Played by Amy Bailey (recurring seasons: 2–4)

Princess Kwenthrith is the claimant to the throne of Mercia. She has a brother, Prince Burgred, and an illegitimate son with Ragnar, Magnus.

Angrboda

• Played by uncredited infant actresses (guest season: 2; recurring season: 3) and Rosalie Connerty (recurring season: 4)

Angrboda is Floki and Helga's daughter.

Burgred

• Played by Aaron Monaghan (recurring season: 3)

Prince Burgred is the rebellious brother of Kwenthrith.

Guthrum

• Played by uncredited infant actors (recurring seasons: 3–4) and Anton Giltrap (recurring seasons: 4–present)

Guthrum is Jarl Borg and Torvi's son.

Earl Siegfried

• Played by Greg Orvis (recurring season: 3)

Earl Siegfried is an ally of Earl Kalf and King Ragnar.

Sinric

• Played by Frankie McCafferty (recurring season: 3; guest season: 4)

Sinric is a wanderer.

Alfred

• Played by uncredited infant actors (recurring season: 3) and Conor O'Hanlon (recurring season: 4)

Prince Alfred of Wessex is the son of Judith and Athelstan.

Odo

• Played by Owen Roe (recurring seasons: 3–4)

Count Odo of Paris is in charge of defending the city from the Vikings.

Gisla

• Played by Morgane Polanski (recurring seasons: 3–present)

Princess Gisla is the daughter of Emperor Charles and is later wedded to Duke Rollo.

Roland

• Played by Huw Parmenter (recurring seasons: 3–4)

Roland is Count Odo's first-in-command. He has an incestuous relationship with his sister, Therese.

Therese

• Played by Karen Hassan (recurring seasons: 3–4)

Therese is a noblewoman, Roland's sister, and Count Odo's mistress.

Yidu

• Played by Dianne Doan (recurring season: 4)

Yidu is a Chinese slave belonging to Aslaug.

Prudentius

• Played by Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (recurring seasons: 4–present)

Father Prudentius serves at the court of King Ecbert.

Astrid

• Played by Josefin Asplund (recurring seasons: 4–present)

Astrid is a shield maiden and the lover of Lagertha.

Margrethe

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

Margrethe is one of Queen Aslaug's slaves in Kattegat.

Minor characters

The following is a list of named characters who have had a relatively relevant story arc on the series. They are listed in the order that they first appeared on the show.

• Eddie Drew as Odin, appearing in Ragnar's visions (season 1 and 3)
• Cathy White as Queen Ealhswith of Northumbria, King Aelle's wife (seasons 1–2)
• Carl Shaaban as Jesus, appearing in Ragnar's visions (seasons 2–3)
• Uncredited infant actors as Aethelred, Prince Aethelwulf and Princess Judith's son and heir to the throne of Wessex (season 3–present)
• Søren Pilmark as Stender, a farmer who escaped Wessex after Aethelwulf's raid (seasons 3–4)
• Uncredited infant actresses as Siggy, Þórunn and Bjorn's daughter (seasons 3–4)
• Laurence Foster (season 3), Barry McGovern (season 4) and Tom Hopkins (season 4–) as the Archbishop, serving in Paris
• Uncredited infant actors as Magnus, Ragnar and Kwenthrith's illegitimate son (season 3–present)

Season 1

• Conor Madden as Eric Trygvasson, a Viking who is prosecuted in Kattegat by Earl Haraldson
• Eddie Elks as Olafur, a Viking
• Jouko Ahola as Kauko, a Finnish Viking and one of Ragnar's warriors
• Eric Higgins as Knut Tjodolf, Earl Haraldson's half-brother
• Des Braiden as Father Cuthbert, in charge of the monastery of Lindisfarne
• Will Irvine as Brother Cenwulf, serving at the monastery of Lindisfarne
• Jonathon Kemp as Lord Wigea, officer of King Aelle
• Peter Gaynor as Lord Edgar, advisor of King Aelle
• Trevor Cooper as Earl Bjarni, Thyri's husband-to-be
• Angus MacInnes as Tostig, an old Viking warrior
• David Murray as Lord Aethelwulf, King Aelle's brother
• Gary Murphy as Bishop Unwan, serving at the court of King Aelle

Season 2

• Morgan C. Jones as The Law Giver, the lawspeaker of Kattegat
• Anna Aström as Hild, a servant in Kattegat
• Jay Duffy as Ari, King Horik's second son
• Duncan Lacroix as Ealdorman Werferth of Wessex
• Alan Devine as Ealdorman Eadric of Wessex
• Edmund Kente as Bishop Swithern of Winchester
• Richard Ashton as Thorvard, a Viking
• 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
• Mark Huberman as Louis, a soldier in Paris
• James Murphy as Ansgar, a monk who is trying to convert Vikings in Kattegat

Season 4

• Cillian O'Sullivan as Eirik, a Vikings warrior living in Rollo's settlement in Paris
• Des Carney as Waerferth the Scout, serving King Ecbert
• Niall Cusack as Abbot Lupus, Rollo's teacher in Paris
• Robban Follin as Berserker, an assassin recruited by Erlendur and Kalf
• Declan Conlon as Wigstan, a relative of Kwenthrith and the head of the Royal Family of Mercia
• Adam McNamara as Thorhall, a Danish Viking

Family trees

Ragnar's family

Ecbert and Aelle's family

Kwenthrith's family

References