Who was Ivar the Boneless, the legendary Viking chieftain?


Who was Ivar the Boneless, the legendary Viking chieftain?
Who was Ivar the Boneless, the legendary Viking chieftain?
Questions and answers about Ivar the Boneless.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Transcript

Ivar the Boneless

Who was Ivar the Boneless?

Ivar the Boneless was a Viking chieftain who was said to be the son of the Danish king Ragnar Lothbrok. Ivar invaded England to conquer it. Much of what is known about his life is from legend.

What did Ivar the Boneless accomplish?

Ivar invaded England in 865 with a large Viking force and captured the city of York in 866.

How did Ivar the Boneless acquire his epithet?

The origin of the nickname “the Boneless” is unknown. It possibly refers to an inability to walk or to a skeletal condition—such as osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease.