| “ | For a long time, father, I feel I have carried nothing else but memories. But now, here, in this place, with you, and with my mother, I feel... reborn. As if I have a life to lead. | ” |
–Bjorn to Ragnar, Eye For an Eye | ||
Björn Ironside is the son of Ragnar Lothbrok and Lagertha. Intelligent and determined, Björn had made a name for himself, following in his father's footsteps as a formidable warrior, leader, and explorer.
Biography
Season 1
Upon turning 12 and coming of age in Viking society, Björn received his arm ring from the then reigning Earl Haraldson. Björn had yearned to be a warrior like his father, desperate for recognition as a man and to fight in the raids with his father, but his youth and inexperience hold him back. Björn is a loyal and dutiful son to both parents, and showed no fear when he broke up a physical fight between his parents in Wrath of the Northmen.
Though obedient to his parents, Björn resented being put under the supervision of the young Northumbrian monk Athelstan who was captured as a slave from Lindisfarne.
Brought along by Ragnar on his trip to Gotaland for King Horik, Björn was witness to the beginning of his father's relationship with Aslaug. Disgusted, Björn confronted his father about his infidelity, making him swear that it will never happen again. While Ragnar did promise this and tried to keep it, Aslaug had already become pregnant with a son.
Season 2
Upon their return to Kattegat, Björn told Lagertha of Aslaug and his father's infidelity, though he did not say much out of loyalty to Ragnar. When Lagertha decided to leave Ragnar, Björn was torn. Though he initially decided to stay with Ragnar, through Torstein's urging, Björn eventually decided to go with his mother. Ragnar let them, telling Björn to look after his mother.
Even years after their departure, Ragnar continued to think of them. When he met with the Seer, the oracle told him that he had foreseen that his sons would become famous, possibly even more than him. His son, the Seer said, would marry the daughter of a king, or would sail across a sea without tides. Ragnar asked about Björn, whether he still lived, and whether he would ever see him again. The Seer told him that it was Björn about whom he had prophesied.
Meanwhile, under the thumb of his oppressive new stepfather, the 18-year-old Björn hoped to live alone in the mountains to test his strength and skills. His stepfather, Lagertha's new husband Earl Sigvard, who often sought to shame and humiliate him in front of his subjects, refused. Around this time, Björn discovered that Sigvard had been hitting Lagertha, much to his anger. Björn told his mother that if Sigvard continued to hurt her, Björn would kill him.
When Björn heard of the capture of Kattegat by Jarl Borg, he tried to get Lagertha to persuade Sigvard to assist Ragnar. Sigvard refused, spitefully, but Lagertha marshals a force anyway and rides to assist Ragnar. Locating Ragnar, Lagertha and Björn are a welcome sight. Ragnar particularly marvels at how tall and powerful Björn has grown.
After his performance in battle against the West Saxons in The Choice, Björn is given the epithet 'Ironside' by Ragnar.
On his return to Kattegat from England, Björn formed a relationship with a former slave-girl, Þorunn, who was freed by Aslaug because she realized Björn loved her.
Season 3
Bjorn was surprised when Þorunn told him that she was pregnant. After the battle of Mercia in The Wanderer He asked Þorunn to marry him and she said yes. He looked after her when her face was badly scarred in battle. Later, Þorunn gave birth to their child: a daughter they named Siggy. Bjorn sleeps with Torvi, Erlendur's wife, when Þorunn rejects his attempts to have sex with her and tells him to find someone else to be with, due to her feeling self conscious about her nasty scar. Right before he has sex with Torvi, he tells her that he loves his wife. He later finds Torvi and apologizes for taking advantage of her, and hands her a bracelet as a gift. She tells him that she's neither with child or a child herself, and apologizes too for taking advantage of him.
Ragnar finds Björn unconscious towards the end of the vikings' failed attempt to get into the city of Paris, with two crossbow bolts stuck in his back. Björn wakes later that night, and while still hurt, he tells his father that he should have never called him 'Ironside', doubtful that the gods are protecting him. His father rebuts and questions, "you're alive, aren't you?" to which Björn says nothing. Later, while still healing Bjorn is up and walking but holds his arm obviously still in pain. In the season 3 finale, Ragnar trusts only Bjorn with something secret, which later is shown to be that Ragnar is still alive as when he exits Paris Bjorn catches and holds him. He later defends himself and tells his mother, Rollo and Floki he only did what his father asked of him.
Personality
Björn was raised with the typical Northman conduct. He values his family and is devoted to both of his parents. Björn, since he was young, yearned to become a warrior like his parents; now old enough, Björn is more than ready to prove himself in battle.
Björn has Ragnar's lust for glory and fame, but also his father curiosity and respect for other cultures. He did not shun Athelstan, and remained loyal to his father even after his baptism.
Björn is as skilled a warrior, strong enough to match his uncle Rollo in a drunken brawl and fast enough to go through a battle and never be struck. He has also displayed good leadership qualities, as he lead men during the raid on Paris, assisted in strategizing with his father and mother, and assisted in his fathers plot to fake his own death. He has his fathers intellect, his mothers wisdom, and his uncles strength.
Bjorn has a strong respect for women, a trait he gained from living with his mother after his parents divorced. He refuses to rape women in raids, never rapes slaves, and did not sleep with Þorunn until she gave him permission. After Þorunn is injured in battle, she goes into a deep depression, refusing to let most look at her. Bjorn helps nurse her back to health, but she refuses to have sex with him. Eventually Þorunn gives him permission to sleep with Torvi, since she is still to self-conscious. Reluctantly, Björn and Torvi begin to have sex and he occasionally gives her gifts.
Trivia
- As a young adult in Season 2, Björn's status in Norse society appears to be that of a Drengr, who is a young man of fighting age, particularly from a middle to upper-class background. If he was granted land by his father, an earl, Björn could become a Thegn and be able to lead men into battle.
- As both his father and mother became the respective earls of Kattegatt and Hedeby as of the episode Blood Eagle, Björn could potentially inherit a strong powerbase for his future rise in Norse society.
- As of the Season 2 finale, and with the deposition of King Horik and his family from power, Björn along with his half-brothers, now hold the status of Budlungr or 'prince' in Norse society, now that his father is King of Denmark.
- The saga Tale of Ragnar's Sons states that Björn would come to rule over most of Sweden, including the centre of the Aesir religion in Gamla Uppsala, after the death of his father.
- In Norse society, you were not supposed to say the actual word for bear out of fear of summoning the creature, hence the word "björn" (bear) was used instead and eventually became the widely used word and the old name was forgotten. Likewise, ulf or ulfr, the Norse word for wolf was avoided and the word "vargr" was used instead. "Vargr" means outlaw.
- Ragnar's converted dead entrance in Paris was actually made by Bjorn years after his death in the city of Luna in Italy. A city that Bjorn believed was Rome.
Appearances
| Season One Appearances | ||||
| Rites of Passage | Wrath of the Northmen | Dispossessed | ||
| Trial | Raid | Burial of the Dead | ||
| A King's Ransom | Sacrifice | All Change | ||
| Season two appearances | ||||
| Brother's War | Invasion | Treachery | Eye For an Eye | Answers in Blood |
| Unforgiven | Blood Eagle | Boneless | The Choice | The Lord's Prayer |
| Season three appearances | ||||
| Mercenary | The Wanderer | Warrior's Fate | Scarred | The Usurper |
| Born Again | Paris | To the Gates! | Breaking Point | The Dead |