With the return of Vikings on The History Channel only one week away, we are taking a look at the actors and history behind Ragnar’s grown-up sons who were introduced during the surprising mid-season finale time jump last spring.
Warning: Since we are talking about the history and lore, which the new characters are based on, there will be possible spoilers for the new episodes!
Ubbe played by Jordan Patrick
Jordan Patrick was born in 1989 in Scotland and later moved to Australia in 2003. While working as an actor staring in commercials and television shows H2O: Just Add Water, Mortified and Home and Away, he also worked as a laborer and was injured on the job landing him in the hospital just as he was offered a role as a series regular in the soap opera Neighbors. Since then, Patrick has stared in Angelina Jolie’s Unbroken and the BBC’s series Banished and now will be playing Ubbe in Vikings starting this season.
Historically, Ubbe is the first-born son of Ragnar and Aslaug and is best known as one of the leaders of The Great Heathen Army along with his brothers Ivar the Boneless, Hvitserk and Sigurd who in 865 AD invaded Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex.
Hvitserk played by Marco Ilsø
Marco Ilsø was born in 1994 in Denmark and is best known for his work in films The Model, The Absent One, Danny’s Doomsday, You And Me Forever, The Reunion and Rebounce and was cast to play Ragnar’s son Hvitserk in Vikings staring this season.
Historically, Ragnar and Aslaug’s son Hvitserk was one of the principle leaders of The Great Heathen Army alongside his brothers Ivar the Boneless, Ubbe and Sigurd, which invaded Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex in 865 AD. It is said that after the conquest he went pillaging in Gardarike, where he was outnumbered and captured. When he was given the choice of how to die, he decided to be burned alive.
Advertisement
Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye played by David Lindström
David Lindström is an actor known for his films Blue Eyes and The Yearning Room and will be playing Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye in this season of Vikings.
Historically, Ragnar and Aslaug’s son Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye was given his name due to being born with a mark in his left eye described as looking like Ouroboros, an image of a snake biting its own tail. It is said that Sigurd was close with his father and traveled with him on his explorations through Russia and Hellespont, fought with The Great Heathen Army with the rest of his brothers and later on in life spent time in Scotland and the Scottish Isles.
Advertisement
Ivar played by Alex Høgh Andersen
Alex Høgh Andersen is a Danish actor born in 1994 and starred in the reality show The Stage Is Yours, but was eliminated in the semi-finals. He studied at the Eventyrteatrets Drama School where he has lead roles in the play The Sword in the Stone. he made his television debut in 2012’s Outsider and has since been cast to play Ivar the Boneless in this season of Vikings.
Historically, Ragnar and Aslaug’s son Ivar the Boneless is one of the most famous Viking warlords known best for his cruelty and ferocity. It is said that when he was born the mother of Ragnar’s third wife put a curse on Ivar resulting in him lacking leg bones because Ragnar ignored her warning of waiting three nights before consummating their marriage. While Ivar cannot walk, he makes up for it in wisdom and becomes a master of strategics in battle.
Vikings returns on The History Channel Wednesday, November 30 at 9 p.m.
Advertisement
Advertisement