Ivars Beskostny is the leader of the Danish Vikings, son of Ragnar Lodbrock. Biography, history

The famous Viking Ivars the Boneless was the son of the even more legendary Ragnar Lodbrock. For revenge for the death of his father, this pagan gathered a huge army, which he landed in Britain. The result of his unprecedented campaign was the conquest of a part of the island by the Danes (the ancestors of the Danes), where for a century the power of the Scandinavians was established. Ivar himself was known as a fierce warrior, whose exploits were sung in many medieval sagas. His life, full of white spots, is surrounded by numerous legends and conjectures.

Son of the King

Danish king Ragnar Lodbroke could boast not only his military success, but also a great offspring. Ivar is only one of the many sons of the legendary hero. Because of the fragmentary and inaccurate documents of that time, historians still do not know when this Viking was born. Most of the reliable information about Ivar left behind him "The Saga of Ragnar and His Sons." But in it there are no facts about the childhood and youth of the future leader of the Danes.

There is no doubt that Ivar from the earliest years studied military craft. The father brought up from him a real Viking, for which nothing exists in life except hikes and plunder in Christian Europe. It was precisely the 9th century that became the epoch of the heyday of the bloody and ruinous raids of the Scandinavians. Most often they attacked France and Britain. It was to this adventurous business that Ivar Besostny devoted his whole life. He did not even start a family and left his own children.

Name Riddle

Researchers have not yet come to a single point of view, which meant the nickname that Ivars the Bessless worn (why is it Beskostny?). Opinions are the opposite. Perhaps Ivory was referred to as the Beskostnost for the unprecedented dexterity that he demonstrated on the battlefield. On the other hand, some historians suggest that the cause of the nickname could be an unknown disease.

Even if Ivar had some kind of ailment, he did not stop him from going on a long trip. In 865, his father Ragnar survived a shipwreck off the coast of Britain. King Northumbria Ella II, who hated the pagans, executed the legendary Viking. The massacre proved terrible. Ragnar was thrown into a pit full of poisonous snakes. I heard news of my father's death at home. At that moment, the history of Denmark made a sharp turn. The children of Ragnar went to a distant island in order to avenge their father.

Traveling Abroad

In the fall of 865, the Great Pagan army mounted its Drakkars and went to Britain. The first fleet Ivara saw the peasants who lived on the sea coast of Kent. The pagans have plundered Britain more than once, but none of the locals remembered so many sails on the horizon. According to various estimates, Ivars Beskostny collected a squadron of 300-400 ships, which were 5 thousand people. For the IX century, these were incredible figures. It seemed that the whole people had moved away, as it had already happened during the Great Migration of Nations, when the Anglo-Saxon ancestors left the mainland Europe and settled in Britain.

Together with Ivar, two more sons of Ragnar, Khalfdan and Ubba, took revenge for their father. After the first robberies in Kent and on the island of Tenet, the flotilla of the Vikings went further. The pagans chose their next goal East of England, which ruled King Edmund. It soon became clear that this was not a one-time raid of the Danes. The aliens were going to stay in England for a long time.

A huge fleet of Danes inspired a real horror. On the warships of the Drakkars were mounted wooden figures of dragons. The army of pagans attached great importance to all sorts of symbols. The ships of Ivar and his brothers were no exception. Vikings believed that wooden idols help drive away evil spirits and bring victory over the adversaries. The boats of the dans possessed a unique design for their time. The ships not only crossed the northern seas, but also moved fine in shallow water. This last feature was extremely important for the children of Ragnar. Even when I was in the British outback, Ivar along riverbeds was able to carry ships with stored supplies and loot.

Additional reasons for the invasion

All chroniclers of that time agreed that Ivar and his brothers went to Britain for revenge for the death of their father, and this idea is beyond doubt. But what made them follow a huge army and a large number of supporters joining in at a later stage of the invasion? What is the historical implication of that long campaign?

For example, Norwegians left their home country due to a deficit of fertile coastal land and overpopulation. But the children of Ragnar and their warriors were danas, so they were motivated by other motives. Speaking about the deep causes of the invasion of the Great Pagan Army (and not only about the beautiful plot about revenge for the death of Ragnar), it should be said that it was at that time (in the 9th century), after a long crisis, following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, in Europe saw a significant increase in trade. A huge stream of silver and all kinds of goods poured into this region. There were new merchant cities, including the British Lundenwick (London). Similar settlements were rich, but did not have strong fortifications (because of location on waterways or seashore). Thus, the Vikings faced a double temptation - not just a rich booty, but also poorly protected by rich prey.

The reasons for the emergence of a huge fleet off the British coast were not only economic, but also political. Throughout the IX century in Denmark, there was a struggle between the centralized royal power and the military leaders of the Vikings. Monarchs wanted to control the invasion. Ambitious and accustomed to freedom pirates resisted this desire. In 854, the military dealt with King Horik I. This monarch made peace with the king of France and prevented the campaigns of his compatriots. After the death of Horik Denmark for a long time remained without power, which could keep the Vikings who wished for adventurous campaigns. This opportunity was also used by Ragnar, and the same freedom played into the hands of his sons, who managed to rally around him a large number of supporters.

Parking in East Anglia

In the following year, in 866, the Vikings who plundered France learned that Ivars the Boston created a stronghold in East Anglia. There poured heat from all over Scandinavia. In East Anglia aspired and just finished raids in other European countries. Children Ragnar spent in Britain all winter. The number of the Scandinavian camps increased - the cloud over Edmund's head was getting bigger. Vikings did not leave even after they were joined by comrades who earned a colossal fortune in France - King Karl the Bald sold them 4,000 pounds of silver. For many soldiers this was the limit of dreams, however Ivars the Beskosty cherished far more far-reaching intentions.

Going to a foreign country, the military leader prepared a detailed plan. He decided to abandon the classic Scandinavians' walking strategy and make his army a horse. To this end, in Eastern England, strangers took a large number of horses from the locals. Cavalry was necessary for rapid movement on an unfamiliar edge. Getting to the place of battle, the Vikings dismounted and acted as a shield to the shield on foot. Each warrior defended his comrade - the army fought like a single organism.

Trekking in Northumbria

The pagans who invaded Britain benefited from the fact that there was no single authority on the island. England was divided into seven kingdoms. Their relationship was a tangled ball of contradictions. As a rule, they were at enmity, and with the arrival of strangers they tried to unite their efforts against the common enemy. This was not always the case.

The leader of the Danish Vikings, Ivar, also knew about all the political upheavals. First he decided to attack Northumbria. This kingdom suffered from internal strife. On the eve of his inhabitants drove his own monarch Osbert. In its place came Ella II. It was at his command that Ragnar Lodbrock was killed, who was thrown into a pit with snakes.

Thus, Ivar and his brothers chose Northumbria for their own revenge and for the reason that it was this kingdom that, most of all, suffered from internecine strife. The local nobility was split. One half of it supported the usurper. Another hoped for the return of Osbert, who belonged to the royal dynasty and had legitimate rights to the throne (as opposed to the artistic Ella II).

Blood vengeance

The Pagans invaded Northumbria on November 1, 866. The army of about 10 thousand people led the leader of the Danish Vikings Ivar. For Christians it was All Saints' Day - the date when they traditionally forgot about weapons and peacefully attended the church. The Vikings took them by surprise. In addition, disputes among the nobility also played a role. Until the last day, the Northumbrian lords did not take any serious measures to protect the fatherland, hoping that the storm would pass them and fall upon the neighboring Mercia.

As a result, the Anglo-Saxons could not provide any serious resistance. Both the king hastily fled. Ivar, along with his brothers and army, entered York. The city, once founded by the Romans, for a century passed to the dan. There the Vikings hibernated, repairing the ruined fortifications and preparing for a new confrontation with the Christians.

By the next spring (867), the exiles Osbert and Ella finally reconciled and decided to act together. They attacked York on March 23, on Palm Sunday. Suddenness guaranteed the Anglo-Saxons the first success. It seemed that the opponents exchanged roles. Now the enemies of the Vikings were on the brink of defeat. However, the army of the two kings fell into a trap. Through the gaps in the walls she broke into York and was surrounded by an even larger crowd of Vikings.

Terrible warrior Ivar was not only a wonderful warrior. In a difficult moment, he could use tactical cunning and defeat the enemy with his own mind. The Anglo-Saxons were routed. Ella and Osbert paid with their own lives. Separately it is worth noting the death of the murderer Ragnar. Ella was brought to Ivar and, in front of the revenge-seeking public, was subjected to a sophisticated pagan execution - the "bloody eagle". The victim was ripped open of the chest, pulled out the lungs, and "wings" were cut out on his back. "Bloody Eagle" was dedicated to Odin. The pagans thanked their god of war for an important and memorable victory.

War with Mercia

Becoming the actual master of Northumbria, the crafty Ivar Ragnarsson refused to occupy the throne. He made his puppet Egbert a puppet. Information about this person is sketchy. Most likely, he belonged to the Anglo-Saxon nobility, while having nothing to do with the former royal dynasty. Egbert obeyed the Viking in everything and gave a passage to their troops during subsequent campaigns.

Now it was Mercia's turn. It was there with the army moved Ivars Besostny. King Burgred began to hastily seek help in Wessex. Meanwhile, the Vikings stopped at the walls of Nottingham, where they broke a temporary camp. Finally, the army of King Wessex Ethelred came to the rescue of the army of Burroughd. However, the new union, just like the previous one, could not do anything with strangers. The Anglo-Saxons tried to take the Viking camp by storm, but this attempt failed.

Ragnar's son, Ivar the Boneless, achieved his goal. Mercia paid the Gentiles a large contribution, after which they retired. This time, Ivar used his father's favorite tactics - intimidation. He agreed to be peace-loving, but in return he demanded big ransoms. In 869, the Danes returned to York.

Victory over Edmund

After a long rest Ivar went to the starting point of his journey - East of England. This kingdom was famous for its rich by British standards monasteries. During individual raids the Scandinavians tried to rob precisely the temples, since they could find the richest prey (first of all gold). Ubba (whom Ivar put at the head of the army) chose as his goal the monastery of Potboro. All the ministers of this monastery (including the abbot) were killed. For the monks, the Vikings became a living embodiment of Jeremiah's biblical prophecy. Even in the Old Testament era, he predicted that the bloodthirsty aliens, who came from the northern parts, would carry destruction and rage on Christian land. It is not surprising that Catholics who lived in Britain treated the Vikings as an absolute exorbitant evil, who fell neither their heads in the form of God's punishment for their former sins.

Demonstrating the power of the dans, Ivar sent a message to the King of East Anglia, Edmund, urging him to become a vassal of the heathen, just as Egbert did in Northumbria. The monarch refused. It was clear that to speak out against Ivar meant a death sentence. However, Edmund was not afraid of the danger looming over him. Perhaps he understood that he would not be able to defeat the Danes, but he hoped to distract them until he himself enlisted the support of the allies.

No matter how the king imagined, his plans did not come true. Edmund decided to delay the time, agreeing to become a vassal of Ivar, if he accepts Christianity. The pagan did not appreciate the offer. A small army of East Anglia was defeated. Edmund was executed. This king became one of the most revered English saints. According to legend, the Vikings made him a target for arrows, betraying painful and slow death.

Voyage to Ireland

After the events in East Anglia and the massacre of Edmund, the life of Ivar again becomes a mystery. On the one hand, according to Ethelwerd's chronicle, this Viking died shortly after that campaign. However, historians have come to the conclusion that this evidence is erroneous. The second and more widespread point of view is that, having celebrated the victory in East Anglia, the Scandinavians split. One army remained in Britain and soon began a war against Wessex, and the other went to Ireland. This is the second army and was led by Ivars Beskostny.

The biography of the Viking is fragmented. And if much is known about his British campaign, then the next trip of his son Ragnar left much less reliable evidence. Leaving the army in England under the leadership of his brother Halfdan, Ivar opposed the indigenous inhabitants of Ireland Picts.

For a long time this island was an easy country for the Vikings. Scandinavians grabbed cattle, riches and slaves without much difficulty. If there were seven kings in England, then dozens of kings governed Ireland, whose possessions were even smaller in size. Such fragmentation was the key to successful raids. In addition, the local natives lived in a primitive system. There was no defensive army in Ireland. However, for several decades before the peaceful population mastered the weapons of foreigners and learned elementary military methods. Ivar had to face such an opponent. However, there is no detailed evidence of his stay in Ireland.

Ivar on the battlefield

Contemporaries and descendants included Ivars as berserks. So called the most fierce and insensitive to the wounds and pain of the Viking warriors. It was difficult to find the best comrade in battle. The roar with which he threw himself at the enemy inflicted horror on the enemy, and even more terrified inspired his reputation as a merciless adversary. The life of the berserks was surrounded by a veil of mystery. These warriors were said to be able to root out trees, swallow hot coals and cut a man in one blow of his sharp ax.

On the battlefield, Ivar went under the banner of his father Ragnar. On this canvas was depicted common among the Vikings symbol - black raven-scavenger. This sign was necessary both to strengthen the spirit of the comrades, and to frighten the enemies. The army of the Vikings Ivara often used the tactics of the "shield wall". This method was also used by the Romans with their famous "tortoise". The warriors were built in a circle and put together their shields. As a result, a mobile reinforcement was obtained. It was a point of concentration and a protective screen.

Death and the fate of the grave

According to medieval sources, Ivar died in 873. The circumstances of his departure from life remain unknown. Even if the warlord died in Ireland, he definitely bequeathed to bury himself in his new homeland - in Northumbria. The fate of Ivar's body remained a mystery for a long time. And only in the XVII century a farmer from the city of Repton came across an ancient burial, which later scientists identified as the grave of the famous Viking.

Scandinavian sagas preserved a curious legend about the relics of Ivar. The pagan wanted to be buried in Northumbria, believing that his grave would help the Danes to defeat all sorts of enemies. When King Harald invaded England, he was truly defeated and could not conquer the country. Knowing about the curse that the Ivar mound exudes, William the Conqueror, who sailed to Britain in the middle of the 11th century, first unearthed the grave. After this ritual the Norman managed to conquer all of England. It's true or a myth - you can not say exactly. Nevertheless, Ivar deservedly became a hero of many medieval legends. The history of Denmark knows few such amazing and bright military leaders.