Famous Viking Sigurd Snake-In-The-Eye, Son Of Ragnar Lodbrok And The Mark Of Fafnir Prophecy

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Like most of Ragnar Lodbrok’s sons, Sigurd “Snake-In-The-Eye” was a unique individual. His fascinating story is about prophecy, love, honor, and vengeance.

Famous Viking hero Ragnar Lodbrok was a legendary and fearless Sea-King who became one of the most important Vikings in history. His life story is unusual, but the same can be said about his sons.

Left: Sigurd Snake in the Eye Played by David Lindström. Credit: History Channel. Right: Mark of Fanfir. Credit: Public Domain

Ragnar Lodbrok's Meeting With Aslaug, Daughter Of Hero Sigurd And Valkyrie Brynhildr

Lodbrok had several children with different women, and one of them was beautiful Queen Aslaug, the daughter of the legendary Norse hero Sigurd and famous shield-maiden Brynhildr.

Norse Sagas tell that Aslaug’s father, the Sigurd Fafnirsbane killed the fearsome dragon Fefnir with his magical sword.

It’s a famous event that has been depicted on several Norse runes.

Illustration by Hermann Hendrich 1906 - Read the story

Aslaug’s mother, Brynhildr, was a Valkyrie. In Norse mythology, the Valkyries were the choosers of the slain. The Valkyries were females riding on horses armed with helmets and spears. They would decide who would die in battle and drift over the battleground to find their prey.

Selecting among half of those who die in battle, the Valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the great god Odin.

Another article on Ancient Pages related to how shieldmaiden Brynhildr was punished by God Odin for some of her actions.

It is interesting to note that shield-maidens were long believed to be just fictional characters in the realm of Norse mythology. Still, archaeologists have found evidence of female Viking warriors. Mythical shield-maidens did exist.

Birth Of Sigurd Snake-In-The-Eye And The Mark Of Fafnir Prophecy

Brynhildr’s and Sigurd’s daughter Aslaug was a beautiful woman, and she caught Ragnar Lodbrok’s eye, and he asked her to marry him. Aslaug said yes, but only after accomplishing his mission in Norway.

While in Sweden, Lodbrok met with Östen Bele, the ruler who persuaded the Viking hero to reject Aslaug and marry Ingeborg, a Swedish princess.

Aslaug learned about his plans to reject her by “three birds.” When Lodbrok returned home, she told him it would be wrong of him to marry the Swedish princess. Aslaug revealed to Lodbrok her true, noble origins. Lodbrok was surprised to hear she was the daughter of the great hero Sigurd and the famous shieldmaiden Brynhildr. Ragnar Lodbrok considered himself a direct descendant of the God Odin and was naturally impressed by her parents, but could Aslaug be trusted?

Were these perhaps empty words to convince him to marry her?

Aslaug declared that she could prove that she was indeed the daughter of the daughter of hero Sigurd who had slain the dragon Fafnir. Aslaug said she would bear him a child whose eye would bear the serpent's image.

Aslaug was a Völva, a mighty female shaman and seer in Norse mythology. On one occasion, Lodbrok learned from a seer that he would have many famous sons and treated Aslaug’s prophecy seriously.

Aslaug’s first son was Ubbe, who was conceived whilе Rаgnаr wаѕ still mаrriеd to Lаgеrthа. His birth led to a split between Lodbrok and his first wife, Lаgеrthа.

Hvitserk was their second son, and the next child fulfilled Aslaug’s prophecy. She gave birth to a boy with the image of a snake encircling the pupil, named Sigurd “Snake-in-the-Eye.”

Then, Aslaug gave birth to Ragnar Lodbrok’s fourth son, who we today know as Ivar the Boneless. Ivar the Boneless was not like any ordinary child. Norse Sagas tell he was born with twisted, dеfоrmеd lеgѕ, and Lodbrok refused to accept the child.

As previously discussed on Ancient Pages, Lodbrok wanted to get rid of his disabled son, and he wanted to kill Ivar the Boneless against Aslaug’s wishes.

However, Ivar the Boneless survived, becoming one of the most famous and fearsome Vikings.

Ragnar Lodbrok's Sons Revenge For Killing Their Father

Ragnar Lodbrok, who participated in many raids, continued fighting even as an older man. It is unknown where he died, but according to Icelandic sagas and early English sources, Lodbrok was eventually captured by the Anglo-Saxon Christian king Aella of Northumbria.

Ragnar Lodbrok - Read more

King Aella of Northumbria executed Lodrok by throwing him into a pit filled with poisonous snakes. News of Lobdrok’s death reached his sons. Sigurd “Snake-in-the-Eye” who had been very close to his father, was devastated when he learned about his death. He was so affected that he cut himself to the bone with a knife he held in his hand.

He and his brothers swore they would avenge Ragnar Lodbrok’s death. Lodrok’s sons traveled to England to avenge him and kill King Aella.

Ivar the Boneless, who was in charge of the Great Heathen Army that occupied York, provoked King Aella, who the Vikings soon caught.

King Aella was brought before Ivar the Boneless, who ordered that the King of Northumbria must be subjected to the dreaded ‘blood-eagle’ as a sacrifice to Odin. The king was stripped to the waist and tied down to the ground. A Viking warrior hacked at his ribs, breaking them and cutting a deep incision down either side of the spine. The lungs were then pulled out through the wounds and allowed to quiver like a pair of blood-stained wings until the writhing king expired.

Sigurd “Snake-In-The-Eye” And The Daughter Of King Aella

After Lodbrok's death, Sigurd “Snake-In-The-Eye” inherited Zealand, Scania, Halland, the Danish islands, and Viken.

In about 877, he succeeded his brother Halfdan Ragnarsson as king of Denmark. As strange as it may sound, Sigurd “Snake-In-The-Eye later married Blaeja, the daughter of King Aella of Northumbria, and they had four children. It's a bit ironic that he married the daughter whose father had killed his beloved father, but in those days, there was another way of reasoning.

When Sigurd “Snake-In-The-Eye died is unknown.

Updated on June 16, 2024

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

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