Vikings is a historical drama television series written and created by Michael Hirst for the television channel History. Filmed in Ireland, it premiered on 3 March 2013 in Canada, concluding on December 30, 2020. A standalone sequel series, Vikings: Valhalla, written and created by Jeb Stuart for Netflix, premiered on February 25, 2022, concluding on July 11, 2024.
Vikings is inspired by the sagas of Viking Ragnar Lothbrok, one of the best-known legendary Norse heroes and notorious as the scourge of England and France, while Vikings: Valhalla, set 100 years later, chronicles the beginning of the end of the Viking Age and the adventures of Leif Erikson, his sister Freydís Eiríksdóttir and Harald Sigurdsson. The broad historical narrative of both series are based on real events, with some of the principal characters representing real figures from history and/or legend.
Vikings portrays Ragnar as a former farmer who rises to fame by successful raids into England, and eventually becomes king, with the support of his family and fellow warriors: his brother Rollo, his son Björn Ironside, and his wives—the shieldmaiden Lagertha and the princess Aslaug. Vikings: Valhalla portrays Leif and Freydís as immigrants from Greenland to Norway, who are respectively pulled into the Viking campaign to conquer Great Britain and the growing religious divide between Christians and Pagans. The Seer (portrayed by John Kavanagh) is the only character to appear in both series, having appeared in at least one episode of every season.
Main characters The following is a list of series regulars who have appeared in one or more of the six seasons of Vikings or the three seasons of Vikings: Valhalla. The characters are listed in the order they were first credited.
Cast table = Main cast (credited) = Recurring cast (3+) = Guest cast (1-2) Character Actor Vikings Valhalla 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 Part 1 Part 2 Part 1 Part 2 Part 1 Part 2 Ragnar Lothbrok Travis Fimmel colspan="5" colspan="7" Lagertha Katheryn Winnick colspan="8" colspan="4" Rollo Clive Standen colspan="5" colspan="2" colspan="5" Siggy Jessalyn Gilsig colspan="3" colspan="9" Floki Gustaf Skarsgård colspan="7" colspan="3" Earl Haraldson Gabriel Byrne colspan="11" Athelstan George Blagden colspan="3" colspan="6" King Horik Donal Logue colspan="2" colspan="10" Aslaug Alyssa Sutherland colspan="5" colspan="7" King Ecbert Linus Roache colspan="4" colspan="2" colspan="5" Björn Ironside Alexander Ludwig colspan="8" colspan="3" Nathan O'Toole colspan="2" colspan="7" Kalf Ben Robson colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="8" Harbard Kevin Durand colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="8" Charles Lothaire Bluteau colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="8" The Seer John Kavanagh colspan="3" colspan="6" colspan="3" Harald Finehair Peter Franzén colspan="3" colspan="6" colspan="3" Halfdan the Black Jasper Pääkkönen colspan="3" colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="3" Ivar the Boneless Alex Høgh Andersen colspan="3" colspan="5" colspan="3" Hvitserk Marco Ilsø colspan="3" colspan="5" colspan="3" Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye David Lindström colspan="3" colspan="6" Ubbe Jordan Patrick Smith colspan="3" colspan="5" colspan="3" Aethelwulf Moe Dunford colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="6" Bishop Heahmund Jonathan Rhys Meyers colspan="4" colspan="3" colspan="5" Oleg the Prophet Danila Kozlovsky colspan="7" colspan="2" colspan="3" Erik Eric Johnson colspan="7" colspan="2" colspan="3" Torvi Georgia Hirst colspan="6" colspan="2" colspan="3" Gunnhild Ragga Ragnars colspan="6" colspan="2" colspan="3" Othere Ray Stevenson colspan="7" colspan="2" colspan="3" Leif Erikson Sam Corlett colspan="9" colspan="3" Freydís Eiríksdóttir Frida Gustavsson colspan="9" colspan="3" Harald Sigurdsson Leo Suter colspan="9" colspan="3" King Canute the Great Bradley Freegard colspan="9" colspan="3" Jarl Olaf Haraldsson Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson colspan="9" colspan="2" Jarl Estrid Haakon Caroline Henderson colspan="9" colspan="2" Queen Emma Laura Berlin colspan="9" colspan="3" Earl Godwin David Oakes colspan="9" colspan="3"
Cast notes
Vikings Ragnar Lothbrok
Played by Travis Fimmel (seasons 1–4) Originally a farmer, Viking Ragnar Lothbrok claims to be descended from the god Odin. He becomes Earl of Kattegat after he challenges and kills the ruthless Earl Haraldson. He is also a feared warrior, becomes a raider of undiscovered lands, and, eventually, King of Denmark. Despite his reputation for ruthlessness and brutality, he is a curious man eager to learn about other cultures. Based on the semi-legendary Ragnar Lodbrok.
Lagertha Played by Katheryn Winnick (seasons 1–6) and Mabel Hurley (season 5) Lagertha is Ragnar's first wife and a shieldmaiden. Following her separation from Ragnar, Lagertha rises to become Earl of Hedeby in her own right, going by the name Earl Ingstad. Following the deaths of Ragnar and Aslau.
Rollo Played by Clive Standen (seasons 1–5) Ragnar's brother. A ruthless and skilled warrior, but his life in his brother's shadow makes Rollo's feelings towards Ragnar change from love and admiration to hateful jealousy. Eventually, he defects to the Franks and is made Duke of Normandy. Based on the historical Rollo.
Siggy Played by Jessalyn Gilsig (seasons 1–3) Earl Haraldson's wife, and later the lover of Rollo. She possesses a strategic mind and an urge to regain her power and influence, but grows to care for Ragnar and his family. She drowns while attempting to save Ragnar's children from a similar fate as her own.
Floki Played by Gustaf Skarsgård (seasons 1–6) A gifted but eccentric shipbuilder and friend of Ragnar. His ships create a revolution in shipwright techniques. He considers himself descended from the trickster god Loki and is very devout in the Norse religion. Loosely based on the historical Hrafna-Flóki Vilgerðarson.
Earl Haraldson Played by Gabriel Byrne (season 1) Ragnar's predecessor as Earl of Kattegat and husband of Siggy. He grows to resent Ragnar's ambitions to raid the West, and sees Ragnar's growing popularity as a threat. He is killed by Ragnar during personal combat.
Athelstan Played by George Blagden (seasons 1–4) An Anglo-Saxon monk from the monastery of Lindisfarne in Northumbria. Captured by Ragnar on his first raid, Athelstan grows to appreciate Viking culture and thus is constantly torn between the customs of Christian England and the pagan ways of Scandinavia. Athelstan becomes a confidant of King Ecbert after he is captured by his army.
King Horik of Denmark Played by Donal Logue (seasons 1–2) A powerful king in Denmark who ends up being overthrown by Ragnar. Based on the historical Horik I.
Aslaug Played by Alyssa Sutherland (seasons 1–4) Ragnar's second wife, claiming to be the daughter of the shieldmaiden and valkyrie Brynhildr and the dragonslayer Sigurd. When Ragnar becomes King of Kattegat, she becomes its queen. She is killed and usurped by a vengeful Lagertha. Based on the legendary Aslaug.
King Ecbert of Wessex Played by Linus Roache (seasons 2–4) Ruler of the most powerful kingdom in England. He dreams of becoming Bretwalda and becomes an unlikely friend of Ragnar. Based on the historical Egbert of Wessex.
Björn Ironside Played by Nathan O'Toole (seasons 1–2, 4) and Alexander Ludwig (seasons 2–6) Ragnar and Lagertha's son, given his epithet by his father after his first battle with the Saxons. Based on the historical Björn Ironside.
Kalf Played by Ben Robson (seasons 3–4) A prominent and ambitious Hedeby villager who later betrays Lagertha and takes her earldom.
Harbard Played by Kevin Durand (seasons 3–4) A charismatic wanderer and storyteller who visits Kattegat.
Emperor Charles of West Francia Played by Lothaire Bluteau (seasons 3–4) Ruler in Paris, he witnesses Ragnar's attack on the city and later employs Rollo as a defender against Viking raids. Charles is a composite character drawing from the historical Charles the Bald (grandson of Charlemagne who first defended Paris from the Vikings), Charles the Fat (who commanded Odo) and Charles the Simple (who encountered Rollo, and may have had a daughter Gisela).
The Seer Played by John Kavanagh (seasons 1–6; Valhalla) Seiðr of Kattegat. A 200-year-old blind being who often provides mysterious predictions to the characters. He is murdered by Ivar after refusing to recognise Ivar as a god and predicting Ivar's fall. In Valhalla, the Seer returns as a spirit guide, who appears to Freydís Eiríksdóttir and Jarl Gorm throughout their lives.
King Harald Finehair Played by Peter Franzén (seasons 4–6) The ambitious king of Vestfold, who seeks to become king of all Norway and marry Ellisif. He allies with Ragnar during his second raid on Paris. He then conquers his neighbours' lands. He joins the Great Heathen Army and battles Aella and Aethelwulf. He fails to conquer Kattegat. He discovers Ellisif is married, and murders her husband, and then kidnaps and marries Astrid. She is killed in battle and he vows vengeance on Lagertha. He sails with Bjorn to retake Kattegat, but their fleet is damaged by a storm. Harald saves Bjorn's life but takes a serious battle wound. Olaf rescues Harald, but occupies Vestfold. Harald's men beg Bjorn for help, and Bjorn repays his debt. When Olaf tries to have Bjorn elected as over-king of Norway, Harald defeats Bjorn in the election, but Harald's men fail to kill Bjorn. Olaf refuses to recognise Harald, so Harald has him put away and sends warriors to secure his borders.
Based on the historical Harald Fairhair.
Halfdan the Black Played by Jasper Pääkkönen (seasons 4–6) Harald's violent younger brother. He hates Christians and tries to kill as many as possible. He grows tired of living in his brother's shadow and of Harald's war with other Norsemen, and joins Bjorn's expedition to the Mediterranean. They form a close friendship which leads Halfdan to join Lagertha's side when Ivar and Harald declare war. Faced by Harald in battle, he is killed. A composite character of the historical Hastein and historical Halfdan the Black, the father of Harald Fairhair.
Ivar the Boneless Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 2–3), James Quinn Markey (season 4) and Alex Høgh Andersen (seasons 4–6) Ragnar and Aslaug's fourth and most violent son. A birth defect has rendered his legs useless and left him impotent. Ivar is more unstable than his brothers, sadistic and seemingly narcissistic. While publicly boastful, he is insecure and feels unloved except by his mother Aslaug. When Lagertha kills Aslaug, Ivar vows vengeance and with the help of Harald and Rollo makes himself king of Kattegat. He is married to his former slave Freydis, who manipulates him. Based on the historical Ivar the Boneless.
Hvitserk Played by Cathal O'Hallin (seasons 2–3), Stephen Rockett (season 4) and Marco Ilsø (seasons 4–6) Ragnar and Aslaug's second son. He enjoys battle and adventure and sides with his younger brother Ivar when Ivar and Ubbe fall out. As Ivar's megalomania increases and Ivar becomes more abusive of him, Hvitserk starts to question his decision. A composite of the semi-historical or legendary Hvitserk, the historical Halfdan Ragnarsson and the historical warlord Guthrum.
Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye Played by an uncredited infant actor (seasons 2–3), Elijah O'Sullivan (season 4) and David Lindström (season 4) Ragnar and Aslaug's third son. Killed by his brother Ivar after years of bullying. Based on the historical Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.
Ubbe Played by Cormac Melia (seasons 2–3), Luke Shanahan (season 4) and Jordan Patrick Smith (seasons 4–6)