The Sons of Ragnar become the central characters in Vikings after Ragnar's death - and even before that, his ability to have more sons, and to carry on his line, is a driving plot point. If it were not for his desire for more sons, the way his story with Aslaug and Lagertha (one pregnant, one unable to have more children) may have played out very differently. And even after his death, every character knew that his bloodline was powerful, and his Sons were a force to be reckoned with.
However, despite his multitude of children, his family line struggled to continue, with more than one of his children dying without having children at all (Gyda, who died young, and Sigurd, who died before marrying), one seemingly unable to have children (Ivar, although this turned out to be untrue), and one ending the series unmarried, without children, and converting to Christianity (Hvitserk). Really, only Ubbe and Bjorn gave Ragnar grandchildren, and even then, many died in childhood. So how many grandchildren did Ragnar officially have, and who fathered them?
7 Baldur Ivarsson (Left Outside To Die)
Technically, Ivar's first son Baldur wasn't Ragnar's grandchild at all, as Freydis and Ivar do not actually have sex. Instead, Freydis seems to convince Ivar that because he is a god (according to her), he is able to impregnate her through magic (when she actually just sleeps with another man, and then murders him so no one will know). However, Ivar did believe that Baldur was his, and therefore he would have been recognized as one of Ragnar's grandchildren. Unfortunately, Baldur was left out to die soon after birth, when Ivar realized that he would be unlikely to survive.
6 Bjorn & Gunnhild's Child (Stillborn)
Bjorn's final child was not given a name in the show, as it was stillborn - however, this would have been Gunnhild's first child with Bjorn, and (given the parentage) would have been an incredibly powerful warrior if it had lived. Sadly, however, Gunnhild went into early labor (suggested to be because of how much physical labor she was doing while pregnant), and was then seen burying her only child.
5 Ivar & Katia's Child (Alive, But Illegitimate)
One of the biggest shocks of the final season was that Ivar was actually capable of fathering a child - something that he had assumed was impossible, after being unable to have sex with Margrethe. However, with Katia while in Kiev, Ivar discovered that he was wrong, and the two had a relatively short affair. In the end, Katia revealed to Ivar that she was pregnant with his child, but she stayed with the Rus, and Ivar went on to die in Wessex. Presumably, this child survived, but would not be recognized as a grandson of Ragnar.
4 Siggy (Drowned)
Siggy was Bjorn's first child, with Thorunn. At first, it seemed as though Ragnar's first grandchild could have a long and happy life, but it was not to be. Instead, Siggy's mother became deeply unhappy, after a wound in battle left her with a scar across her entire face.
Thorunn ended up distancing herself from Bjorn, leaving her child with others, and eventually simply left Kattegat, never to be seen again. Bjorn, unhappy himself with how things turned out with Thorunn, seemed to ignore and neglect Siggy, leaving her to be cared for by Aslaug. However, Aslaug ignores the child, who is later found dead under a bridge. Her story is a sad one of neglect, and no one really seems concerned about her passing.
3 Hali (Killed In Battle)
Bjorn's only son, Hali, was one of two children that he had with Torvi - and after he lost interest in Hali's mother, he seemed largely uninterested in his children with her. Torvi and Ubbe still cared for Hali, though, and eventually sent the young boy to live with Lagertha on her retirement farm. Unfortunately, they were all wrong in their belief that this would be a quiet and safe life for the child, as raiders attacked Lagertha's home (and that of the other people nearby), and in the ensuing battle, Hali was killed, as he attempted to be a brave warrior.
2 Asa (Lost At Sea)
Bjorn's younger daughter, Asa, was also born to Torvi, and unfortunately, also died in childhood. Asa managed to survive the raiding and battles that killed her brother Hali, and Torvi and Ubbe ended up taking her back into their care, and bringing her with them to Iceland. However, Asa was one of the many settlers who did not survive the journey from Iceland to North America, as she was washed over the side of the ship in a storm, in front of Torvi and Ubbe.
1 Ragnar (Living)
Of the seven grandchildren Ragnar had, then, only one is still living and recognized as part of his family line at the end of the series: Torvi and Ubbe's son, also named Ragnar. The only one of Torvi's children who survives, Ragnar is still a baby in the final episodes of the show. As the series ends, baby Ragnar is with both his parents in North America, where they will presumably settle, and where he actually has a chance of surviving to adulthood (and fans may potentially find out what happens to him in the upcoming spin-off, Vikings: Valhalla).
It's also highly possible that Ragnar will have more grandchildren in the time after the series ends, that could also be referenced in the spin-off (although, as it takes place much further in the future, they would not actually appear). Ubbe and Torvi may well have more children, and Hvitserk is still alive, and living as a Christian in Wessex (although, with a new name, any future children would likely not be recognized as Ragnar's descendants). However, for a man so concerned with his lineage, the end of Vikings sees Ragnar with only one grandchild to bear his legacy into the future.
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April 24, 2021 at 05:30AM
