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Halfdan Ragnarsson
9th Century leader of the Great Heathen Army / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Halfdan Ragnarsson (Old Norse: Hálfdan; Old English: Halfdene or Healfdene; Old Irish: Albann; died 877) was a Viking leader and a commander of the Great Heathen Army which invaded the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England, starting in 865.
Halfdan Ragnarsson | |
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King of Northumbria | |
Reign | 876–877 |
Predecessor | Ricsige |
Successor | Guthfrith |
King of Dublin | |
Reign | 875–877 |
Predecessor | Eystein Olafsson |
Successor | Bárid |
Co-ruler of Denmark (possibly Jutland) | |
Reign | 871–877 |
Predecessor | Bagsecg |
Successor | Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye |
Died | 877 Strangford Lough |
Father | possibly Ragnar Lodbrok, or whoever was historical basis for the possibly legendary character |
Mother | possibly Aslaug, or historical basis for a legendary character |
One of six sons of Ragnar Lodbrok named in Norse sagas, Halfdan's brothers or half-brothers included Björn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Ubba and Hvitserk. Because Halfdan is not mentioned in any source that mentions Hvitserk, some scholars have suggested that they are the same individual – a possibility reinforced by the fact that Halfdan was a relatively common name among Vikings and Hvitserk "white shirt" may have been an epithet or nickname that distinguished Halfdan from other men by the same name.[1]
Halfdan was the first Viking King of Northumbria and a pretender to the throne of Kingdom of Dublin. It is also possible he was for a time co-ruler of Denmark with his brother Sigurd Snake-in-the-eye, because Frankish sources mention certain Sigfred and Halfdan as rulers in 873. He died at the Battle of Strangford Lough in 877 trying to press his Irish claim.