Bjorn Ironside Ragnarsson Timeline d c865

Bjorn Ironside was born to the legendary Viking, Ragnar Lothbrok, and Aslaug Sigurdsdottir. He was known as Ironside due to his fearlessness in battle.

Bjorn and Haesten, a Danish Viking Chief, led a fleet of 60 ships to raid the coast of northern France.

Bjorn and Haesten, continued to the Mediterranean where they besieged and then sacked the town of Algeciras.

Bjorn and Haesten, began raiding the south coast of France and northern Italy. They captured Pisa and then marched inland as far as Luni, which they believed to be Rome. They lay siege to the city and then Bjorn sent a message to the bishop of the city stating that Bjorn had died but had converted to Christianity and wanted to be buried in consecrated ground. He put himself into a coffin and was carried inside the city. He then jumped out of the coffin, opened the city gates and let him men enter the city. He was disappointed to find that the city was not Rome.

Bjorn and Haesten raided Sicily before making a series of raids along the North African coast.

Bjorn and Haesten were defeated by a Muslim fleet in the Straits of Gibraltar. Although they suffered heavy losses both men survived and sailed to the Loire in France.

Bjorn Ironside returned home to Denmark.

Bjorn’s father, Ragnar Lothbrok was shipwrecked off the Northumbrian coast. King Aelle immediately marched to the coast, defeated the Viking army and took Ragnar prisoner.

Bjorn’s father, Ragnar Lothbrok, was killed by King Aelle of Northumbria. Legend states that he was thrown into a pit of vipers.

Bjorn Ironside succeeded his father as King of Sweden.

Bjorn’s brothers Ivar, Halfdan, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Ubba led a huge Viking force known by the Saxons as The Great Heathen Army to England. They landed in East Anglia and their purpose was to avenge the death of their father, Ragnar Lothbrok. It is unclear whether Bjorn was part of the invasion force or whether he remained in Sweden.

Bjorn Ironside died in Sweden. He is said to have been buried on the island of Munso in lake Malaren, Sweden.