Ragnar Hairy-Pants
Ragnar Hairy-Pants was a Viking leader and legendary hero in the 9th century. Much of what is written about him is a mixture of truth and fantasy about his life and exploits. The story behind his name is evidence that as he was called Ragnar Lodbrok, or Ragnar “Hairy Breeches” because of the pants he wore while battling either a poisonous serpent or a dragon.
Ragnar Lodbrok was the son of the Swedish King Sigurd Hring. He is also believed to be the father of famous Viking heroes Ivar the Boneless and Bjorn Ironside. While there is debate about who Ragnar Lodbrok really was, there are some reliable sources that suggest that he lived and that at least some of his legendary exploits were real.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which is considered to be a reliable source, confirms that Ragnar Lodbrok was a warlord who raided France and England. It also reported that his deeds significantly impacted the 9th century and that he ruled as King of Denmark due to being a relative of a Danish King. French accounts report how he raided the country with his sons and even attacked Paris.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says that Ragnar met his end after his ship washed ashore on the coast of the Kingdom of Northumbria, which had suffered many times at the hands of Ragnar. In retaliation, King Aella of Northumbria captured Ragnar Hairy Pants and threw him into a pit of snakes. Ragnar swore that his sons would avenge him and they did, killing King Aella in 866.