Bjorn Ironside (also spelt Björn Ironside; Old Norse Bjǫrn Járnsíða) is a legendary Viking who in the stories surrounding him raids alongside his brothers and his father, the Viking chieftain Ragnar Lothbrok. While the legends mentioning Bjorn are set in the 9th century CE, they are most extensively known from three sources, all from around the 13th century CE: The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok, The Tale of Ragnar's Sons and Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum. Here, he is the son of Ragnar and Aslaug (or Thora, in the Gesta), and his most frequently named and most famous brothers are Ivar the Boneless, Hvitserk and Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye.
More about: Bjorn IronsideDefinition
Timeline
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c. 790 - c. 1100The Viking Age.
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844A Viking attack occurs on Seville in present-day Spain; after conquering it and surrounding areas the Vikings are chased off by the resident Arabs.
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854 - 858Viking raids on West Francia allegedly led by Bjorn Ironside and Hastein (although this attribution is more likely legendary rather than historical).
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859A Viking fleet sailed from its base on the Loire river in France to Spain and, according to the tales, North Africa and areas of Italy and south-eastern France.
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867King Ælla of Northumbria dies in battle with Viking forces at York (as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle).
