How (and When) Does Bjorn Ironside Dies in Vikings | Scandinavia Facts (2024)

Bjorn Ironside is one of the most interesting characters in the TV series Vikings, making him a fan favorite.

While viewers are captivated by his life, including his relationship with his father, Ragnar Lodbrok, and his different wives, they are also interested to know how and when he dies.

In the TV series “Vikings,” Bjorn Ironside dies in season 6. He’s fatally wounded battling the Rus forces of Ivar the Boneless.

Despite injuries, Bjorn reappears in battle, causing Ivar’s retreat. Post-battle, he dies from his wounds. The real Bjorn’s historical death details remains uncertain.

Who was Ivar the Boneless? What was the Rus Army? What is known about the real Bjorn Ironside and Ivar the Boneless? What are the major themes and storylines of Season 6 of Vikings?

Keep reading to learn more.

Also, see How Does Ragnar Die in Vikings? to learn more.

How (and When) Does Bjorn Ironside Dies in Vikings | Scandinavia Facts (1)

Bjorn Dies During Season Six of the TV Series

In the television series “Vikings,” Bjorn Ironside, the son of Ragnar Lothbrok, meets his end during the show’s sixth season.

At the time, he was married to his third wife, Gunnhild, a shield maiden and the former wife of Jarl Olavsonn. Bjorn had children with other women but none with Gunnhild.

Bjorn’s narrative arc in the series showcased his growth from an ambitious young man into a capable leader, following his father’s footsteps.

His complex character adds depth and intensity to the series.

Bjorn vs. Ivar the Boneless

During a major confrontation with Ivar the Boneless and the Rus army, Bjorn sustains life-threatening injuries.

Despite being on the brink of death, he mounts a horse and shows up on the battlefield, inciting fear in Ivar’s soldiers, who were under the impression that Bjorn was dead.

This significantly boosts the morale of his own troops and prompts a temporary withdrawal from Ivar’s forces.

However, after this event, Bjorn succumbs to his injuries.

Bjorn and Ivar’s conflict emerges from personal grudges and power struggles. Ivar, ousted from Kattegat, joins forces with Prince Oleg and the Rus army to reclaim his rule.

Bjorn, the current king of Kattegat, defends his realm from this threat.

Their battle symbolizes a political clash and a culmination of intense familial rivalry. It is during this fight that Bjorn sustains fatal injuries.

What was the Rus army?

The Rus army refers to the military force of the Rus people, hailing from what is now modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Led by Prince Oleg and later joined by Ivar the Boneless, the Rus army is depicted as a formidable force, rich in manpower and military might.

Their role in the TV series introduces a new dimension of conflict, significantly impacting the narrative arcs of central characters like Ivar and Bjorn.

What is known about the real Bjorn Ironside?

The real-life Bjorn is shrouded in historical uncertainty. He is considered a legendary Norse figure from the Viking Age, possibly a Swedish king.

Historical documents like sagas provide some information about him, but their accuracy is debated.

The lack of concrete historical evidence leads to many differences between the TV Bjorn and the historical figure, as the show takes creative liberties to fill in gaps and enhance the drama.

How (and When) Does Bjorn Ironside Dies in Vikings | Scandinavia Facts (2)

Who Was Ivar the Boneless in the TV Show?

Ivar the Boneless is depicted as a cunning and ruthless Viking chieftain.

Born with brittle bone disease, which gives him his moniker, Ivar compensates for his physical limitations with strategic brilliance and a ruthless demeanor.

Ivar’s story arc traverses his struggle for power, his conflicting relationship with his brothers, and his rise and fall as a ruler.

His character adds a layer of complexity and moral ambiguity to the series, making him one of the most intriguing characters.

What happens to Ivar in Vikings?

During a battle in Wessex, he is fatally wounded. Despite the opportunity to be carried off the battlefield, Ivar chooses to stay, facing his end in the heat of the conflict.

His brother, Hvitserk, stays with him until his last breath.

This conclusion to Ivar’s story arc underscores the series’ exploration of power, ambition, and the harsh realities of Viking warfare.

What is known about the real Ivar the Boneless?

The historical Ivar the Boneless is a figure largely known from Viking Age Old Norse sagas and poetry.

While he is believed to have been a significant Viking leader, details about his life, including his physical condition, remain vague and are subjects of much debate among historians.

The sagas and the series often diverge, as the show takes creative liberties to craft a more intricate and dramatic narrative.

So, while the TV character and the historical figure share a name and a vague outline, many details of their lives and personalities may differ significantly.

How (and When) Does Bjorn Ironside Dies in Vikings | Scandinavia Facts (3)

What Is Season 6 of Vikings About?

Season 6 of the TV show continues the story of Norse warriors during the Viking Age.

This final season of the series primarily focuses on the Lothbrok brothers as they grapple with power, leadership, and personal vendettas.

A major plotline involves Bjorn’s reign as King of Kattegat, facing challenges from rivals, including his brother, Ivar the Boneless, who aligns with the formidable Rus army.

The season explores the complex dynamics of power, legacy, and the toll of warfare, concluding the narrative threads of its central characters while maintaining the series’ themes of ambition, faith, and familial bonds.

How does the TV series end? (spoilers)

The final episodes focus on the fates of the remaining characters and the Viking exploration further west.

Ubbe, son of Ragnar Lothbrok, succeeds in his mission to find the “Golden Land,” now known as North America, signifying a new beginning for the Vikings.

He encounters native people and manages to foster a peaceful co-existence, breaking the cycle of violence.

The conflict between the Vikings and the Saxons reaches a bloody climax in England.

Ivar dies in the battle, while Hvitserk, his brother, who has fought beside him, survives and is ultimately accepted into the English society, converting to Christianity and adopting a new name, Athelstan.

The series ends on a note of transition, with the Viking era giving way to new societies and cultures.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that Vikings is a dramatized portrayal. The real-life details surrounding the death of the historical Bjorn Ironside are not entirely clear due to the sparse historical documents available from that era.

How (and When) Does Bjorn Ironside Dies in Vikings | Scandinavia Facts (2024)

FAQs

How (and When) Does Bjorn Ironside Dies in Vikings | Scandinavia Facts? ›

Manner of Death:

How does Bjorn Lothbrok die in Vikings? ›

Björn dies in Vikings season 6 after being stabbed by Ivar with a sword. He didn't die on the spot and managed to pull one final trick on his enemies. However, Björn's wounds were so severe he eventually passed away, but his legacy continued until the final episode of Vikings.

Who rules Kattegat after Bjorn dies? ›

Björn was the last known King of Kattegat in Vikings, and the sequel series Vikings: Valhalla introduced a new ruler: Jarl Haakon (Caroline Henderson).

Which of Ragnar's sons survived in Vikings? ›

As the oldest son of Ragnar and the only surviving child of Ragnar and the famous shield-maiden Lagertha, Bjorn already has the makings of a great warrior. Both of his parents are well-known for their actions during battle, and their leadership outside it.

How old was Bjorn Ironside when he died in real life? ›

bjorn (bjarni) ironside, Circa 780 - 859

bjorn married Unknown. They had one son: asleik (or hroald spine). His occupation was a occupation. bjorn passed away in After 859, at age 79 in death place.

Does Rollo die in Vikings? ›

Well the truth is that we just don't know, since Rollo didn't die in battle or fall victim to a gruesome demise – but merely succumbed to natural causes. Despite this, Clive revealed that Rollo's death was 'fascinating'.

Does Floki die in Vikings? ›

It was also heartwarming to have one final link to the original cast in the final episodes, as Vikings' Floki remained one of the last left alive. Surely, Floki dying in a cave next to a Christian cross wouldn't have done justice to the character, and the ending Hirst came up with for him was a lot more satisfying.

Who is Ragnar's successor? ›

The next king is Ragnar's son Ivar the Boneless, a real historical character.

What happens to Ubbe? ›

After the Vikings' defeat under the leadership of Rollo and the Franks, Ubbe returns to Kattegat with the remainder of the broken and defeated Viking Army. Ten years after Ragnar disappeared, Ubbe has grown into a strong, skillful, and proficient warrior, as have all of Ragnar's sons, except for Ivar.

What land did Ubbe discover? ›

Ubbe's expedition eventually finds land, but it's far from the "golden land" Othere described. As a joke, Kjetill names the new land "Greenland". The land is divided up between the settlers but tension rises as there is no food. In the morning, Frodi discovers that a whale has been beached on his and Kjetill's land.

Who is Ragnar's most powerful son? ›

He commanded armies, and his physical strength was unmatched, making Bjorn clearly the most powerful of Ragnar's sons and one of the strongest characters in Vikings.

Who is still alive at the end of Vikings? ›

Characters like Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), Athelstan (George Blagden), and Björn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) died before the series finale of Vikings, while others, like Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen), met their fate on the last episode of the series, but there are two main characters from season 1 that ...

What disease did Ragnar's son have? ›

Several of the sagas describe him as lacking legs/bones or having a skeletal condition such as osteogenesis imperfecta, while a passage in Ragnarssona þáttr (also known as the tale of Ragnar's sons) suggest it refers to male impotence.

Who is Bjorn's real father? ›

Rollo thinks it is his and Lagertha isn't really sure as she was sleeping with both of them at the time. The big “but” here is that Lagertha chose Ragnar to be Bjorn's father. There are no DNA tests in Vikings so as far as all are concerned, Bjorn is the son of Ragnar Lothbrok.

Who killed Bjorn Lothbrok? ›

You'd think that would be the end of all the strife, but in the final moments of Season 6, Bjorn was actually stabbed by Ivar, though there was a clip released after the season aired revealing that Season 6, Part 1 did not tell the end of Bjorn Lothbrok's story.

Why did Bjorn leave Vikings? ›

Ahead of 6B, Vikings creator Michael Hirst said that Bjorn's arc and journey to become king was perhaps what the show was all about. So, when it came time for him to die after that battle with Ivar the Boneless (Alex Høgh Andersen) and the Rus vikings, they let him go out in style.

What did they do to Bjorn's body? ›

According to sagas, after Bjorn died, he was buried in a large mound near the shore of Lake Malaren, in what is now Sweden. The mound was said to be so large that it could be seen from the other side of the lake, and it was filled with treasure and other riches that Bjorn had acquired during his lifetime.

Does Ubbe die? ›

878 - 6th January (Epiphany day) Ubbe/Ubba dies in North Devon trying to sneak an attack on King Alfred at the fortress of Arx Cinuit, while the other half of the Great Heathen Army under Guthrum are attacking the Royal Villa of Chippenham. He is buried at Ubbelawe, meaning Ubbe's Barrow.

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