Halfdan Ragnarsson (822 - 877)

Born 0822 in Scandinavia

Ancestors

Died 0877 at about age 55 in Strangford Lough, County Down, Ireland

Biography

Halfdan Ragnarsson was a Viking leader who took part in the invasions of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England. He is one of six sons of Ragnar Lodbrok named in Norse sagas. His brothers include Björn Ironside, Ivar the Boneless, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Ubba and Hvitserk. Some sources say that Halfdan and Hvitserk may be the same person; he is named Albann in the records of Ulster; and does not seem to be named in Norse sources. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

The brothers Ubba, Halfdan and Ivar the Boneless, were among the leaders of "the Great Heathen Army" that invaded England in 865. ^{[4] [5]}

About 875, with the return of the the Great Army to Northumbria after a long series of battles in East Anglia, Mercia and Wessex, Halfdan was nominally ruler of Northumbria, though only in fact exercised power in the trading town of Jorvik/York for a time. ^[6] He left soon after to become involved in a struggle for power in the more important trading centre of Dublin.

Halfdan campaigned in Ireland, the Annals of Ulster record that Oistín, son of Amlaíb, king of the Norsemen was deceitfully killed by Albann. ^[7]

He died near Strangford Lough in County Down, killed in the Battle of Strangford Lough, fought in 877 between two groups of Vikings, loosely identified in the Irish Annals as the "fair heathens" (Danes) and the "dark heathens" (Norse). The Annals of Ulster record this battle as 'a skirmish at Loch Cuan between the fair heathens and the dark heathens, in which Albann, king of the dark heathens, fell.' ^{[8] [9]}

Research Note

Relationships between historical figures could have been simplified or even fabricated in the text to give the impression that succession remained within the same family. Precise chronology is also difficult to assess from the Sagas. The conclusion must be that the tight family network described in the Sagas is unlikely to be correct and that the relationships shown below should be treated with considerable caution.

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia - Ragnar Lodbrok provides an overview of the sources naming Ragnar and his family
2. ↑ The six sons of Ragnar Lodbrok named as Eiríkr, Agnarr, Ívarr beinlausi, Björn járnsíða, Hvítserkr, Sigurðr - Þáttr af Ragnars Sonum / The Tale of Ragnar’s Sons in The Complete Fornaldarsögur Norðurlanda; Legendary Sagas of the Northland in English Translation - trans: Peter Tunstall 2005
3. ↑ The sons of Ragnar named as Fridleif, Radbard, Dunvat, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Björn Ironside, Agnar and Ivar the Boneless, Ubbe, Ragnvald, Eric Weatherhat and Hvitserk in the Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus; Internet Archive : The first nine books of the Danish history of Saxo Grammaticus pub: D. Nutt, London 1894.
4. ↑ "Ragnar Lodbroks söner Ivar, Ubbe och Halvdan erövrade i spetsen för en stor dansk vikingahär York år 866" Heimskringla - Anmärkningar: note: 9
5. ↑ 'This year came the army to Reading in Wessex ..... they had two heathen kings, Bagsac and Healfden' The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle : AD 871 trans: J.H. Ingram
6. ↑ 'The same year Healfden divided the land of the Northumbrians; so that they became afterwards their harrowers and plowers.' The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle : AD 876 trans: J.H. Ingram
7. ↑ Celt: Annals of Ulster : U875.4 'Oistin m. Amlaiph regis Norddmannorum ab Alband per dolum occisus est.'
8. ↑ " 'A battle at Loch Cuan between the fair heathens and the dark heathens, in which Albann, chief of the dark heathens, fell.' " Celt: Chronicon Scotorum : Annal CS877
9. ↑ 'Belliolum occ Loch Cuan eitir Finngenti & Dubgennti in quo Albann, dux na n-Dubgenti, cecidit.' Celt: Annals of Ulster : U877.5 'A skirmish at Loch Cuan between the fair heathens and the dark heathens, in which Albann, king of the dark heathens, fell.' Celt: Annuls of Ulster U877.5

• Viking Archaeology : Halfdan King of York

See also;

• Anglo Saxon Chronicle in The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (English) trans: J. A. Giles & J. Ingram; Release: Sept.1, 1996 [eBook #657] updated: January 1, 2021
• Wikipedia : Halfdan Ragnarsson