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After all, everything that goes around, finally comes around.

– Sinric to Rollo, A Good Treason

Sinric is a polyglot wanderer who is fluent in Old Norse, Old English, Frankish, and Arabic.

Biography[]

Season 3[]

Ragnar first introduces Sinric to Athelstan in preparation for the journey to Paris. Sinric explains how to reach the Seine from the sea and warns about the river's hazards and obstructions.

Sinric's primary usefulness is as a guide and interpreter for the Vikings during their Paris campaign. He is not suited to actual fighting or combat. Nevertheless, during the second attack on Paris, Earl Siegfried forces Sinric to accompany them into battle, saying that Sinric is their "map of the city." Sinric is petrified at this and Siegfried has to drag him.

Though Sinric would prefer to avoid fighting, he is given a small axe, which he wields pitifully and ineffectually. When the Vikings retreat from the failed night attack, Sinric, Siegfried, and some others are cut off from the rest by the closed city gate. Sinric immediately surrenders to the surrounding Frankish soldiers and begs not to be killed, telling the Franks in their language that he is "different" from the rest. He also convinces the Franks not to kill Siegfried by pointing out that he is an Earl and therefore an "important man."

After being captured, Sinric and Siegfried are presented before Emperor Charles and Princess Gisla. The Emperor and Count Odo question Sinric and asks how he speaks the Frankish language and why he is assisting their enemies. Sinric answers that he has been to Frankia before. He insists that he is merely a "wanderer" who travels through many lands and that "no one is my enemy." Upon hearing this, Count Odo suggests that Sinric could be of use to the Franks. Consistent with his disavowal of allegiance to any one people or place, Sinric readily agrees to this and offers to assist the Franks however they wish. Though Sinric is spared, Earl Siegfried is condemned to death at the demand of Princess Gisla.

Sinric is present at Siegfried's execution. When Siegfried tricks the Franks into holding back his hair for his beheading and then causes a Frankish soldier to lose his hand, Sinric is visibly amused and tries to hide his laughter. The Franks later send a delegation to the Viking camp, taking along a bound Sinric to serve as interpreter. When the Frankish soldiers are leaving, Rollo seizes and cuts away Sinric's bonds, releasing him from the soldiers' custody. The next morning, Sinric accompanies Ragnar at his meeting with Count Odo and the Frankish delegation to negotiate an end to the siege. At the end of the talks, he witnesses Ragnar's baptism.

When the Franks deliver the promised payment, Sinric relays their demand that the Vikings leave immediately. After months of delay, Count Odo visits the Viking camp and asks why they have not left. Sinric translates Bjorn's explanation that they have not left because King Ragnar is dying and wants a Christian burial. Upon viewing Ragnar's condition, Count Odo is convinced that Ragnar is dying and agrees to permit him to have a funeral mass in the city cathedral.

Following Ragnar's faked death and the partial sacking of Paris, most of the Vikings depart for home. However, Ragnar decrees that the Viking camp outside of Paris should remain throughout winter and until next spring, when the Vikings plan to return and raid the city again. Sinric remains behind to serve as interpreter for Rollo, who volunteered to lead the Viking camp. Soon after the departure of Ragnar and most of the Vikings, the Emperor Charles sends a delegation to Rollo. It is Sinric who translates the terms of the offer, telling Rollo that the Emperor is offering to give him land in northern Frankia, make him a Duke, and marry him off to Princess Gisla, in return for Rollo defending Paris against Ragnar when he returns.

Sinric accompanies Rollo and his entourage when they enter the city to meet the Emperor and discuss terms. Before the Emperor can even begin the discussion, Princess Gisla furiously declares that she will not marry Rollo. While the Princess is insulting and denouncing Rollo, he looks to a flustered Sinric, who appears reluctant to translate what she is saying. Rollo then says "hello" to the Princess in French, suggesting that Sinric has taught him a few French words.

Season 4[]

Sinric accompanies Rollo at his wedding, guiding him through Christian matrimonial etiquette. Afterwards, Sinric tells Rollo that he is leaving because he is a wanderer and does not belong in Paris. Rollo objects to Sinric's departure, complaining that he does not speak the Frankish language or know the customs. Sinric suggests that they may meet again if he should ever wander around Paris.

Season 5[]

Somehow, Sinric has joined Bjorn and his followers on his expedition to the Mediterranean. Bjorn tells the group that he wants to go to Rome, but Sinric informs him that the Roman Empire is no more. Bjorn then asks where they should go. Sinric replies that the group should go to an island called Sicily. Sinric informs Bjorn that it would be better if their fleet of ships were seen as traders rather than raiders, and so he should send most of his fleet home, proceeding with only three ships. When Bjorn tells Sinric that if he does that he would feel naked, Sinric replies, "It's better to be naked than to be dead." Reluctantly Bjorn agrees and sends all but three ships home.

Upon arriving in Sicily, Bjorn, Halfdan, and Sinric are introduced to Commander Euphemius, who is in charge of the island. The Vikings tell him that they are traders, but Euphemius attacks them. Bjorn manages to disarm Euphemius and points his own blade at him. Euphemius then welcomes them to his city. Euphemius tells the Vikings that he wants them to be his bodyguards, and Bjorn agrees.

Later, Sinric discovers that Commander Euphemius is merely a client king to the Emir of Ifriqiya, Ziyadat Allah. Bjorn asks Euphemius if he can take their group to the Emir. Euphemius refuses but is persuaded to agree by Kassia, a famous nun, when she threatens to leave him if he doesn't take the Vikings to Ifriqiya. The group sets sail for Kairouan, Tunisia.

Bjorn and his group travel by caravan across the desert to meet Emir Ziyadat Allah. The Emir welcomes them and offers to trade. Commander Euphemius disappears. At a banquet that night, the Emir informs the group that the commander had defected to support the emperor and has been captured and executed. The Vikings and Sinric realize that Euphemius is the meal they are eating and that Kassia is more powerful than she seems. Sinric says that they should leave and return to their ships because Kassia s the one behind everything that has happened and that she is dangerous. Before they can escape, the trio are arrested and about to be executed on Kassia's orders when a sandstorm suddenly approaches. Sinric tells Halfdan and Bjorn that they can use the sandstorm to escape. They manage to fight off their captors, return to their ships, and sail back to Kattegat.

In History[]

Sinric is loosely based on the historical Norse chief Sinric who took part in the Siege of Paris in 885 to 886 AD.

Quotes[]

After all, everything that goes around, finally comes around.

– Sinric to Rollo, A Good Treason

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Season three appearances
Mercenary The Wanderer Warrior's Fate Scarred The Usurper
Born Again Paris To the Gates! Breaking Point The Dead
Season four appearances
A Good Treason Kill the Queen Mercy Yol Promised
What Might Have Been The Profit and the Loss Portage Death All 'Round The Last Ship
The Outsider The Vision Two Journeys In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning All His Angels
Crossings The Great Army Revenge On the Eve The Reckoning
Season five appearances
The Departed Part 1 The Departed Part 2 Homeland The Plan The Prisoner
The Message Full Moon The Joke A Simple Story Moments of Vision
The Revelation Murder Most Foul A New God The Lost Moment Hell
The Buddha The Most Terrible Thing Baldur What Happens in the Cave Ragnarok
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