History Characters / Vikings

** [[Characters/RagnarsFamily Ragnar's Family]]

* [[Characters/RagnarsFamily Ragnar's Family]]

Characters of the History Channel series ''Series/{{Vikings}}''.

For an index of the actors and actresses who have their own page on this wiki, see [[UsefulNotes/VikingsActors here]].

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Characters in the History Channel series ''Vikings''.

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* [[Characters/VikingsFranks The Mediterraneans]]

* Characters/VikingsNorsemen
* Characters/VikingsSaxons
* Characters/VikingsFranks

[[foldercontrol]]

!!Norsemen

* {{Badass}}: They're very skilled warriors, to say the least.
* BadassArmy: They're Vikings, and when they do partake in battles they ''really'' bring the pain.
* BadassBeard: There's no shortage of epic beardage in this show because they're Norsemen.
* BarbarianLonghair: If a Viking has long hair, it'll likely be this.
* BeardOfBarbarism: As Vikings, most of them have this style of beard.
* BloodKnight: Because being such will allow them to enter the Halls of Odin, [[Literature/TheThirteenthWarrior where the brave will live forever]].
* GeniusBruiser: They may not be book-smart, but watch any raid that happens over the course of the show, and it becomes clear that the Norsemen know what they're doing.
* GrimUpNorth: That cold and barren place up north? They call it home.
* LastOfHisKind: The Norse are the last Germanic pagans left in Europe during the era this show is set.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: ''Norse'' raiders.
* RatedMForManly: Par the course for Norsemen.
* YouCantFightFate: Vikings as a whole seem to have a very fatalistic outlook on life. Any misfortune in their lives is believed to have been predestined by the gods and the norns. This belief cuts both ways, positive and negative. Ragnar for example, uses it to bolster his courage in battle. Horik, on the other hand, uses it to dismiss criticism when he makes a tactically imprudent move or two.

[[AC:Ragnar’s Family]]

[[folder:King Ragnar 'Lodbrok' Sigurdsson]]
[[quoteright:236:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ragnar67988_4719.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Travis Fimmel

->''"Odin gave his eye to acquire knowledge. But I would give far more."''

Ragnar Lodbrok is perhaps the greatest Norseman of his generation. A great warrior who rose to become king of the Northmen, he is driven in ensuring a glorious future of conquest and prosperity for his people, no matter the cost. Ragnar is deeply devoted to Odin, god of war and the slain, and sees himself as a descendant of this mighty deity.

Ragnar earned his fame in Earl Haraldson's many raids in the Slavo-Baltic lands, but swiftly became disillusioned with the Earl's insistence in raiding the east when the far more plentiful lands of the west lay untouched and ripe for the taking. Ragnar slew the Earl in personal combat, thus becoming lord of Kattegat. His later raids on the Angle and Saxon kingdoms of Brittania proved wildly successful, gaining him the patronage of King Horik I of Denmark. However, the alliance between the two quickly soured as Horik began to fear Ragnar usurping him as king and began to plot against him. Ironically, this sealed his downfall, as Ragnar was able to outmaneuver him and slay him, thus becoming King of Denmark.
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* ActionDad: What is a viking man? Someone who fights and takes care of his family.
* AFatherToHisMen: Ragnar treats his closest warriors as well as his own family and makes it a point that all in his warband are to be seen as equals. This is the main quality that marks him out from the likes of Haraldson and Horik. Ragnar genuinely commands loyalty from his followers as a result of this approach, while they don't. TruthInTelevision as far Nordic and Germanic warbands went. These guys didn't get a wage like regular soldiers in say, Roman Legions did, they were paid in loot and gifts. If a leader wanted loyalty, he had to be generous.
* {{Ambadassador}}: He acts as King Horik I's emissary to Jarl Borg in "All Change". Apparently, he's the latest in a long line. Borg is initially dismissive of him, though he wises up after he realizes he is indeed speaking to the man who single-handedly defeated a king of England.
* AThreesomeIsManly: He and Lagertha invite Athelstan to join them in bed. At the moment it's unclear if Ragnar intended to have any sexual contact with Athelstan himself -- he doesn't make any personal advances, rather, he uses Lagertha to tempt the monk.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: To Athelstan, when he talks about how Christians give their wealth to the Church in order to save their souls; "What are their souls?".[[note]]While Norsemen had a concept which we today would call a soul it is rather different from the Christian idea.[[/note]]
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: He became the Earl and later, king, through KlingonPromotion.
* AmbiguousDisorder: It's not nearly as blatant as with Floki, but Ragnar has some very strange speech patterns and mannerisms and often seems to have trouble finding even simple words to express himself, accompanied by an assortment of facial tics. He's also probably the least articulate character on the show despite his undeniable charisma. If this is tied to a disorder then it casts his friendship with Loki in a new light.
* AnAxeToGrind: Favours an axe in battle.
* AnimalMotifs: Ravens. This is most likely symbolic of the god Odin, who was said to have raven familiars. More specifically, Odin in his capacity as the god of knowledge, which Ragnar seems to most closely identify with.
* AntiHero: [[UnscrupulousHero Out of all the pillaging and ransoming Vikings, he's the most heroic.]]
* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning:
** When he slays Haraldson and is hailed as the new Earl of Kattegat.
** Again when he headbutts Horik to death and is acclaimed king of the North, atop the Preikestolen, no less.[[note]]He doesn't actually kill Horik atop the Preikestolen, but he is seen atop it afterwards with Horik's sword in hand, which acclaims him as king[[/note]]
* {{Badass}}: The premier viking warrior in this setting.
%%* BadassBeard:
* BadassBaritone: A borderline example, but particularly noticeable when he raises his voice.
* BadassBoast: A surprisingly low key one after King Aella tries to double cross him, he has this exchange with the king's brother, whom he was holding hostage;
-->'''Ragnar:''' Why should I not just kill you now?\\
'''Athelwulf:''' Then you'd have nothing left to bargain with.\\
'''Ragnar:''' (lifts his axe) ''I have this''.
* BadassInCharge: Of much of Scandinavia, where exactly is never elaborated upon. There are some hints to suggest both Denmark and Sweden.
* BadassCape: Wears a big cloak of wolf-skin at times. Justified, since it's worn to ward off the cold.
* BadassFamily: Fathered one. Also claims descent from Odin, the king of Norse gods.
* BadassGrandpa: Not old enough to be a straight example, but he is a literal grandfather by the third season with Bjorn fathering a daughter. Also, he's pushing 40 now, which would have been quite advanced by the standards of the 8th century.
* BaldOfAwesome: After shaving his hair off in memory of Athelstan. It's also a callback to when the latter tried (and failed) to regain his tonsure in the first season.
* BarbarianHero: Very much so in the show, though quite a bit more cerebral and intellectually curious than the standard. He's still extremely savage and warlike regardless. [[note]]Historically speaking, Ragnar Lothbrok is attested in the sagas to have been a Geat, though he was born in Denmark after his father took the crown there. Legendary ancestors of Beowulf, the Geats display in history all the intrepid boldness and might of the famed hero[[/note]]
* BarbarianLonghair: A long, plaited scalp braid. Averted in Season 3, where his hair gets progressively shorter until he decides to go for a full-on BaldOfAwesome look after shaving his head in mourning for Athelstan.
* BerserkButton: You really don't want to threaten or endanger Ragnar's family in any way; just ask Borg or Horik. Oh wait you can't because they're both dead.
* BiTheWay: Offers to let Athelstan have ThreeWaySex with him and his wife, and is disappointed when he's turned down.
* BigBrotherInstinct: Same thing but he's the younger of the two. Ragnar is extremely protective of Rollo.
* BloodKnight: VIKING!
-->"We ''fight''. That is how we win, and that is how we die."
* BloodSplatteredWarrior: Every time he gets into battle, he swiftly becomes covered in blood. [[{{Badass}} None of it is ever his own, of course.]]
* TheBerserker: Restraint? In battle, you say? Hah! Ragnar doesn't know the MEANING of the words!
* CainAndAbel: The Abel to Rollo's Cain because he isn't treacherous.
* ChallengingTheChief: Becomes earl through a formal challenge to the death. Now, after slaying King Horik of Denmark, Ragnar's inherited that title as well.
* CompositeCharacter: To an extent, with Gurim, who was the real brother of Hrolfr Ganger (Rollo) in history.
* TheConqueror: One of the greatest Viking conquerors to ever live. Over the course of the series, he comes to rule the whole of Denmark and south Sweden, attains land in Wessex and is now poised to conquer the jewel of Frankia itself -- Paris.
* CoolSword: The Sword of Kings, taken from King Horik of Denmark who has no further need of it.
* DarkerAndEdgier: While he was never a softie, a series of personal hardships has led him to become progressively more ruthless and bloodthirsty. It culminates finally with Athelstan's murder, where Ragnar fully becomes a much darker and vengeful man.
-->'''Ragnar''': (''talking to Athelstan's corpse'') There is nothing to console me now. I am changed.
* DeadpanSnarker: He doesn't waste words, but he still has his moments of acerbic wit.
-->'''Ragnar:''' (after Rollo suggests they attack the Saxons) Attack, attack, attack. That's all he ever says.
* DecapitationPresentation: He does this to an unfortunate Saxon in "Invasion".
* DespairEventHorizon: Athelstan's murder hits him pretty hard.
-->"Forgive me, my friend. Not for what I have done, but for what I am about to do."
* {{Determinator}}: Ragnar is a very determined man, to say the least.
* DivineLineage: Claims descent from Odin.
* TheDreaded: Seriously, ''everyone'' knows not to fuck with Ragnar.
-->'''Kalf''': I have had a dream where Ragnar Lothbrok stands before me, ''eating'' my liver with my blood all over his mouth. I beg him to stop, telling him that the liver is the seat of all life but he does not. He only smiles, and keeps eating. [[...]] Who would not fear a farmer who rose to become a king?
* DotingParent: If there's one good thing that can be said of Ragnar, it's that his children mean all the world to him.
* DualWielding: Seems to favour this fighting style, though he can go for Sword-and-Board as well.
* DuelToTheDeath: His personal combat with Haraldson.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Destroying several Balto-Slavic warriors in rapid succession in the show's first episode, to drive home what a badass he is.
* EveryoneHasStandards: Much like Erik, he wasn't as gung-ho about killing the defenseless monks at Lindisfarne. While he doesn't seem to disapprove of some of the more brutal antics of his fellow Norsemen (ie: torturing the bishop at Winchester to death) he seems to prefer to abstain from such acts.
* FakingTheDead: He conquers Paris by pretending to be dead.
* TheFatalist: Played with. Ragnar embodies the ideal of a religious Norseman, and part of that is his complete submission to the will of the gods and his acceptance of how the skein of his life is already woven. Ragnar also believes that he can also influence how that skein unfolds through his actions.
-->'''Lagertha:''' Never fight unless you ''know'' the odds are in your favor. That is our way.\\
'''Ragnar:''' Who sets the odds? Our fates are already decided.\\
'''Lagertha:''' You don't believe that... and neither do I.\\
'''Ragnar:''' You are wrong. I do believe it.
* FauxAffablyEvil: If you piss off Ragnar in any way, expect his demeanor to remain icily cool, but do not take that as a sign of forgiveness. This man is hard and heathen and kills without conscience. Just ask the now dearly departed Jarl Borg and King Horik.
* {{Foil}}: He and King Ecbert are foils for each other; he is a Viking intrigued by Anglo-Saxon culture, while Ecbert is an Anglo-Saxon intrigued by the Vikings. Both are simultaneously more than willing to fight each other on the battlefield, but also to negotiate a pact that would be mutually beneficial.
* FourStarBadass: Ragnar more or less ended the Mercian civil war single-handedly, within a few days, something that not even King Ecbert and Princess Kwenthryth with all their resources and the aid of Norse mercenaries could do. Every engagement where he's personally in command inevitably results in a CurbStompBattle in the favour of the Vikings, with himself often accounting for at least half of the enemy's extensive casualties -- In fact, the only times where he was ever in a losing battle were almost directly due to him relinquishing command to a lesser general (ie: Horik or Floki). He single-handedly conquered the impregnable city of Paris, something that until that moment had never been accomplished. Not even by the Huns.
* FrontLineGeneral: Ragnar is always where the fighting is thickest. During the first siege of Paris he basically carries the walls by himself before being thrown off by ''ten other guys''.
* GeniusBruiser: Ragnar is likely the greatest warrior in all of Europe in the era the show is set, but in addition to that is a keen intellect and deep tactical understanding.
-->'''Ragnar:''' These are interesting times. The world is changing, and we must change with it.
* GenreSavvy: Exhibits a great deal of it in how he analyzes battles.
** Most prominently in his siege of Paris. He sees that Athelstan was right, it is nigh impregnable. What does he do? [[spoiler:Pretend to convert to Christianity and infiltrate the place from the inside of course!]]
* GlorySeeker: A rare positively depicted example, as renown was perhaps the most important thing to the Northmen.
* GoodIsNotSoft: He's closer to ''Morally Ambiguous'' Is Not Soft.
** Ragnar captures King Aelle's brother and holds him for ransom. Aelle agrees to pay, under several conditions, all of which Ragnar agrees to. Aelle ends up double crossing Ragnar, and Ragnar proceeds to kill Aelle's brother and send him the body to prove that he's not joking around.
** Once again when Jarl Borg invades his lands. Ragnar's response? [[CruelAndUnusualDeath Blood Eagle]].
** Then again in the Season 2 finale when Horik attempts to kill Ragnar's entire family and take over Kattegut for himself. Ragnar's response? Ruthlessly slaughter every man, woman, and child who was connected to Horik, including all of his children.
* GoodParents: To all his children. The death of his daughter absolutely devastates him, for one thing.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: He has scars on his face, and on the bridge of his nose. He also has several large gashes on his body.
* GuileHero: Has shades of this, tricking Haraldson into giving him Athelstan as a slave, tricking Athelstan into telling him about England and other lands to the west ripe for plunder, and using subterfuge to learn about his enemy's plan of attack. By the end of the second season, Ragnar's wholly willing to play politics and negotiate with the Saxons to ensure peace and much needed farmland for his people.
* GutturalGrowler: Veers into this when he's raising his voice or is angry.
* HardHead:
** In the Season 2 finale, Ragnar literally smashes Horik's face in with his own head. Repeatedly.
** By Season 3, although he doesn't use it for murder as much, he has kept the headbutt habit. A single headbutt from him is enough to knock someone down to the ground and give them a black eye.
* HeroicLineage: Much like his historical counterpart, Ragnar believes himself to be a son of Odin. This was actually a fairly common practice amongst nobility (and bastards, Odin had a 'lot' of bastards), but Ragnar does entreat Odin for aid at one point and seems to receive it, fighting his way free of a press of enemies in Season 1.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: The historical Ragnar Lodbrok is regarded as a hero in modern Scandinavia.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: More in the sense that the show attributes to him a lot of things the real Ragnar (if he existed at all) was never claimed as doing: Rediscovering England, entering deals with King Ecbert, stimulating good Pagan-Christian relations (or at least attempting to), killing the tyranic King Horik and so forth.
* ImAManICantHelpIt: His justification for sleeping with Aslaug. Word for word, this is what he says when Bjorn calls him out on it. He doesn't seem to think it compromises his relationship with his wife. It's justified in that fidelity to one's spouse (at least for men) is a mostly Abrahamic thing. Hell, what Ragnar did isn't even considered adultery by the laws of his time; for a man, adultery is defined under most versions of ancient Scandinavian law as sleeping with a ''married'' woman. Unmarried ones like Aslaug are fair game. Women don't get the same privilege though, even unmarried ones.
* InstantExpert: Becomes functionally bilingual impressively quickly. It's justified, as Old English and Old Norse are very similar languages, having both grown from the same source and being spoken by two people with the same cultural origin. Particularly, this is evident in how both languages share similar words, like the word for 'king'.[[note]]konungr in Old Norse, cyninga in Old English[[/note]] So Ragnar becoming fluent in Old English would have actually been pretty easy.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: With Tostig, a warrior old enough to be his father.
* InHarmsWay: Given how Ragnar is often the first into the fray when battle comes, one could say he fits.
* IcyBlueEyes: By itself, his gaze is fairly unique. When combined with BloodSplatteredWarrior, he's pretty frightening to look upon.
* KickTheDog: After his warband vanquishes the Northumbrian force, he teases one of the prisoners with the possibility of him being spared. Ragnar laughs and has Rollo cut his head off. He later tries to manipulate Athelstan into becoming a human sacrifice. Of course, this is also a major case of ValuesDissonance as well since becoming a sacrifice for the gods was considered an honour amongst pagan Scandinavians.
* LargeHam: Ragnar's a mostly reserved guy, but if a speech must be made, then it shall be a SPEECH!
-->'''Ragnar''': For it is always good to travel with hope and with courage, but better still TO TRAVEL WITH KNOWLEDGE!!! '''''GRAAAAAAGH!!!!'''''
* LivingLegend: Ragnar is considered in-universe to be something akin to an Icon. Hell, even a number of Anglo-Saxons are in awe of him if they aren't busy being terrified of him.
* LightningBruiser: While Ragnar isn't as big as some of the Vikings, he's shown to be capable of out-muscling his larger brother Rollo, and demonstrates both remarkable speed and resilience in battle.
* LickedByTheDog: One of the few indicators that Ragnar is more than a brutal warrior is how his wives and children utterly adore him. His ability to become close friends with a Christian monk while also accepting their religious and cultural differences says ''a lot'' about Ragnar's curious and forward-thinking personality, too.
* MadeOfIron: As evident in "Raid", where he sustains immeasurable wounds from fighting through a dozen of Haraldson's men and barely breaks his stride. The only thing that seems to faze him is an arrow impaling itself ''through'' his shoulder. Then he just tears it out and goes back to cutting down multitudes of foes.
* ManiacTongue: He did this when he shanked the archbishop of Paris inside a cathedral, in full view of a Frankish king and all the city's nobility.
* {{Mangst}}:
** He goes through this after Erik's untimely death. You get the feeling that the wood blocks he was chopping were supposed to be Haraldson's head. He then goes one further and spends a whole day brooding on a mountaintop making oaths to his father Odin. Goes through it again after Lagertha miscarries.
** Yet again when Lagertha leaves him.
** Then again when he's informed of Athelstan's supposed death at the hands of King Ecbert.
** Again when Athelstan truly does die.
* ManipulativeBastard:
** In the second half of Season 2. Ragnar weaves a web of deceit and spies all around Horik, whom he's come to despise due to his actions in Wessex, flagrant lies and abandonment of Athelstan, and growing threat to Ragnar's family. Blind to Ragnar's manipulations, it ultimately ends in the slaughter of Horik's forces, wife, children, and himself.
** What makes this even more awesome? This was during a full-on attack of Kattegat by Horik's men. His men are slaughtered as soon as they're within the town, his children are put to death at the same time, and by the time he staggers all the way to the great hall, he sees that all the people he had tried to manipulate into working for him had been playing him all along on Ragnar's orders where he is promptly massacred by Ragnar himself. In other words, Ragnar manipulated Horik into willfully walking into his own annihilation while still deluding him into thinking he had everything under control. Seriously, Ragnar must be [[Series/BreakingBad Walter White's]] distant Scandinavian ancestor or something.
* MarryThemAll: Rather than choose between Lagertha and Aslaug, Ragnar instead proposes a polygamous marriage, pointing out that such arrangements are not uncommon amongst Earls, which they aren't. Lagertha divorces him.
* ModestRoyalty: After ascending as Earl, Ragnar more or less continues to dress as he did when he was still a raider. Of course, [[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething that's because most Norse leaders of the time ''were'' also raiders and he still is one]]. It also contrasts the rich fur cloaks and fine clothes that Haraldson wore.
* MoralityChain: Athelstan was his for much of the series. With his death, it's completely shattered.
* MultiMeleeMaster: Ragnar exhibits masterful command of swords, axes, and spears. He often switches between weapons in the middle of combat with absolutely no loss of expertise.
* OddFriendship: With Athelstan; one does not expect a raider and a priest to get along so well, and much less so when they're from different countries and cultures. Ragnar reacts very emotionally when Athelstan suggests leaving Kattegat after having rediscovered his Christianity. And then he completely falls apart when Athelstan is murdered.
* OneManArmy: Ragnar regularly slaughters his way through clusters of Saxons and fellow Northmen without fail.
* PapaWolf: If you value your life, don't screw with his family. His children in particular.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Like the rest of the cast, he is a Viking. Unlike the rest of the cast, he believes himself to be Thor's brother. See also BloodKnight.
* PsychoticSmirk: Used as a form of psychological warfare. Particularly when negotiating with the Saxons. It works well.
** There's also that approving smile after the giant battle at the end of "A King's Ransom" when he watches Rollo slaughter the remaining Christians.
* RagsToRiches: Subverted in the sense that Ragnar was upper-middle class by the structure of his society, but his rise from raider to Jarl to ''King'' certainly counts as one of the biggest in history.
* RapePillageAndBurn: His occupation is to enter a town and taking everything of value.
* RatedMForManly: He's a Viking, and not just any Viking, one of the most significant Vikings in Scandinavian history.
* RealMenLoveJesus: He's a Norse pagan so it's more like Real Men Love ''Odin''. He identifies closely with Odin in his aspect as the god of wisdom and in how he represents the curiosity and thirst for knowledge that resides in men. It's worth noting that there's an element of ancestor worship in this since Ragnar believes Odin to be his grandfather.
* RedOniBlueOni: Generally he's the blue to Lagertha's and Rollo's red because he is more cool and strategic. Though when his blood is up he needs to be restrained by the former two.
* ReluctantRuler: ''"Power is always dangerous. It attracts the worst and corrupts the best. Power is only given to those who are prepared to lower themselves to pick it up."''
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech:
** He gave a massive one to Horik and Borg for wasting warriors in petty disputes over land when they could be conquering new worlds in the West.
** Bjorn, for letting his pregnant wife come with him to Wessex. It's especially poignant because Bjorn had essentially endangered his family because he couldn't put Thorunn in line. When Ragnar needed Lagertha to look after the children when he raided way back in the first season, he physically ''fought'' her. That Bjorn couldn't show the same backbone, especially when it could have cost him his child, is absolutely disgusting to him.
-->'''Ragnar''': She is with ''child'', and you still let her come? (slaps Bjorn harshly) She will most likely die, both her and your child inside her. Why? Because you have the strength of a man, but the will of a little girl! I cannot believe you are my son. (hits him again) I can't stand to even look at you.
** He gives an absolutely '''EPIC''' one to the rest of the Vikings, letting them know he's had it up to here with their disunity and jackassery. He's also takes this as an opportunity to intimidate the self-styled "leaders" of the thus far failed siege (Erlendr, Floki, Rollo, and Lagertha) into line.
-->"I have something to say. [[ReluctantRuler I did not become Earl because I aspired to be one.]] It came about because of ''other'' peoples' actions (''[[DeathGlare death glares at Lagertha]]''). And I did not become King out of ambition, but ''once again'' I had no choice, as a result of ''other'' peoples' actions (''turns to regard Erlendr, who flinches''). But nonetheless, '''[[AsskickingEqualsAuthority I am King.]]''' '''KING RAGNAR! THAT IS MY NAME!''' '''''[[RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething KING RAGNAR]]'''''. What does a king do, Bjorn? ((...)) '''''YES!''''' ''Good''. He rules. And as ruler (''turns to Lagertha again, who is silent'') '''I''' have the last say. '''[[SuddenlyShouting ME!!!]]''' (''turns to Lagertha, Rollo, Erlendr, and Floki in turn'') '''NOT YOU!''' '''NOT YOU!''' '''NOT YOU!''' '''AND NOT YOU!''' You have all had your ''"ideas"'' '''''[[SurroundedByIdiots AND THEY HAVE ALL FAILED!!!]]''''' '''[[BadassBoast I WILL NOT.]]''' (''StunnedSilence'') Now, with no more ''discussion'', we shall meet the Franks tomorrow.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: In a society that so closely equates warrior-skill with leadership as the Norse did, being one is practically a job requirement for Ragnar, especially as king. Not for nothing was the sword considered the symbol of a Germanic king's temporal power.
* SadlyMythtaken: Check out Ragnar's character quote. What he seems to be forgetting is that Odin ''did'' give far more than an eye. Specifically, he skewered himself on a spear and hung from a tree for a few days until he died so that he could gain knowledge. Ragnar, eat your heart out. [[note]]An interview shows that Travis Fimmel is aware of that legend and has joked that Ragnar may well do something even crazier when he gets the chance.[[/note]]
* ScreamingWarrior: He's managed to weaponise this as a form of psychological warfare. Also when he basically reduces King Horik into a fine, slightly runny paste on the meadhall floor.
* SelfMadeMan: He was a poor raider (an admittedly respected one) who by dint of determination and cunning manages to raid West and amass riches and wealth undreamed of, and who, by the same virtues, rises to the position of Earl and then ''king''.
* SocialClimber: Over the course of two seasons, he goes from a farmer, to an earl and finally to king.
* StepfordSmiler: Most evident in his talk with Athelstan shortly before the Earl raids their village. Athelstan knows that Ragnar is 'preparing himself' and has much on his head, but Ragnar pretends that nothing is going on until he is directly pressed.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork:
** It's quite obvious that he has nothing but distaste for the Anglo-Saxons (well, so long as they're not named Athelstan), but he goes along with them for the purposes of peace because he knows his people can't make enemies out of everyone they meet. He's visibly exasperated at Ecbert's attempts to get them to weigh in on Mercia's SuccessionCrisis and it's clear he doesn't trust him and has no respect for him as a man. He makes it very clear he only plays along for the sake of his people getting their land. Of course, when he finds out that Ecbert ordered the settlement destroyed, Ragnar makes it very clear that the kid's gloves come ''off''.
** He also doesn't think highly of Aethelwulf.
-->'''Athelwulf''': My friend-- (gets shoved backwards)
-->'''Ragnar''': (smiling) I don't like you.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Takes several from the beginning to the end of Season 3. In the first season, he is a HappilyMarried devoted husband. By Season 3, he is YourCheatingHeart to Aslaug, WouldHurtAChild, and WouldHitAGirl after murdering Horik's daughters.
* TragicKeepsake: He takes Athelstan's cross pendant as one after the latter's murder.
* TranquilFury: This is Ragnar's preferred form of blood-lusting rage. As he himself puts it, and quite succinctly too, "beware the fury of a patient man."
** When he explains the Blood Eagle to Jarl Borg, who of course already knows but Ragnar is just reminding him to be cruel. He very calmly outlined exactly what he is about to do.
-->'''Ragnar''': (seething with fury) Since you consort with eagles, I will carve a Blood Eagle on your back.
-->'''Borg''': [[LittleNo No...]] ''No''.
-->'''Ragnar''': (still seething) ''Yesss''. I will tear the meat from your back and tear your ribs outward, and rip out your very lungs and set from upon your shoulders... ''Like wings''...
** After being informed by Prince Aethelwulf through words and the tangible proof of his arm ring that Athelstan is alive, Ragnar reacts with an icy glare and grim face, all of it aimed at Horik, who Ragnar now knows was lying about what happened in Wessex. The anger continues to fester throughout the remainder of the season, and then it finally explodes in the season finale when Ragnar calmly deals with Horik's attack on Kattegut and his family... and then beats him to death with his own head and a shield. The fact he literally says not a word before the trap is sprung makes it all the more terrifying.[[note]]The scene in which Ragnar prays outside with Athelstan is his only dialogue in the entire episode.[[/note]]
** Also has this reaction when he finds out their settlement in Wessex was destroyed.
-->'''Ragnar''': (embracing the weeping SoleSurvivor) I tell you ''this'', Floki, both Ecbert and his son shall feel the wrath of the Gods.
** Once he discovers that Floki was responsible for Athelstan's murder, Ragnar begins to orchestrate Floki's downfall, all while watching him from afar with silent hatred. When speaking to Athelstan in "To The Gates", he wonders how Floki could even consider that Ragnar wouldn't have his own agenda and seek vengeance against him.
-->'''Ragnar:''' If I was him, I'd worry less about the Gods, and more about the the fury of a patient man. And as well you know, I can be ''very'' patient.
* TribalFacepaint:
** He has markings depicting Hunnin and Muginn on his the shaven parts of his head.
** There's also the markings that he and the Vikings make on their faces and beards before raiding the Lindisfarne monastery. Those were made with ''blood''.
* VillainProtagonist: It's possible to view him as this, depending on your view of Norse culture and Saxon culture, as well as schemking tendencies on Ragnar's part. As happens in a lot of Norse sagas, the farther along the story goes the farther onto the "villain" side of things he seems to slide, so far in Season 3 he has begun alienating his wife, son, and amicable ex-wife by doing things to consolidate his power and fame.
* WarriorPrince: Of his aett (clan). Bonus points for winning that role in battle with the old jarl. This is actually a qualification for being a leader in Germanic societies, as battle-prowess was considered the most valued quality in a leader. That and generosity.
* WarriorPoet: He recites the ''Runatal'' from the ''Havamal'' very epicly in "All Change".
* WeWait:
** Is more fond of using this tactic when raiding than you'd expect for a Viking. When attacking Hexam, he waits and reigns in his men until Sunday when the Christians will be attending Church and thus leaving the town more vulnerable. Then, he waits to see what Lord Athelwulf does when trying to deal with them, and then plans his strategy around that decision, attaining victory and torching Athelwulf's camp while he sleeps and takes him prisoner.
-->'''Ragnar:''' Well, we could charge in and end up losing half our man by being stupid. ''We wait'', until the odds are in our favor.
** By the end of Season 2, Ragnar's patience and willingness to negotiate or wait for his enemy to make the first move is contrasted with Horik's more gung-ho method of LeeroyJenkins attacks. The latter results in the Vikings being [[CurbStompBattle curb stomped]] by King Ecbert's cavalry in "The Choice", and it's only Ragnar's and Lagertha's desire to negotiate that saves them from leaving Wessex dead or empty-handed.
* WorfHadTheFlu:
** It's outright stated that if not for his wounds, he would have completely dominated Haraldson in their duel. Injured as he was, they were more of an even match.
-->'''Ragnar:''' He is old. What are you so frightened of?\\
'''Lagertha:''' You cannot fight. You're still too weak...\\
'''Ragnar:''' Perhaps that makes us equal.
* WorthyOpponent: To Haraldson and vice versa.
** Also to King Ecbert, both on the battlefield and diplomatically.
* YourCheatingHeart: With Asluag to Lagertha, before he married her and Lagertha walked out rather then be co-wives. It ought to be noted that according to Early Middle Ages Germanic Law (of which Viking Age Scandinavia laws are a descendant) sleeping around with an unmarried woman, even if you are married, is not considered adultery. [[note]] Lest anyone takes this as meaning that the Vikings were virulently sexist, it makes sense when you consider that sleeping with a married woman is an insult to her husband, and insults in early Germanic and medieval Scandinavian culture are taken extremely seriously which often leads to feuding between clans. Unmarried women have no such baggage to bring to bear should they get knocked up, which makes them fair game.[[/note]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Lagertha]]
[[quoteright:236:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lagertha698_8288.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/KatherynWinnick

->''"You couldn't kill me if you tried for a hundred years."''

First wife of Ragnar. Rises to become earl of Hedeby after leaving Kattegat. A fearless warrior and bold leader in her own right.
----
* ActionGirl: How DARE you even THINK of going adventuring without me!
* ActionMom: Whenever it is possible, Lagertha accompanies her husband and fellow Vikings on raids; Athelstan's eventual presence allows this to happen more often since he's left behind to watch over the children. After the second season's timeskip, she is an Earl herself and fights right alongside Bjorn in battle.
* AmicableExes: Even after leaving Ragnar, she's still shown to have great affection for him (possibly because her second husband was simultaneously abusive and pathetic) and while she isn't quite as forward thinking as Ragnar is, she backs his decisions up almost instantaneously. They're also willing to work together to co-parent Bjorn, are on the wavelength about safely retrieving Athelstan from Wessex, and she's openly affectionate with Ragnar's younger sons.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: She always kicked ass, but after Ragnar became Earl, she gained a measure of authority in her own right as well. Then she attained status as the Earl of Hedeby, effectively leading a corps of shield-maidens and raiders against western lands in Season 2.
* {{Badass}}: Like her first husband, she is fierce.
* BadassBoast: The page quote. Though it wasn't a boast, more like an objective statement of fact.
* BadassInCharge: When Ragnar's away, she calls the shots. By the end of Season 2, she's an Earl in her own right, has an army of shield-maidens, and fights alongside her men in battle. In the first half of Season 3 she is in charge of the Northmen settlement in Wessex.
* BarbarianHeroine: Just like her first husband; she was offended that he went raiding without her.
* BodyguardBabes: Lagertha's personal bodyguards are all female.
* CanonForeigner: Much like Gyda, she doesn't appear in the Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok. She seems to be only mentioned in Saxo Grammaticus' account of semi-mythological Danish history; the ''Literature/GestaDanorum''.
* DesignatedGirlFight: In the Season 2 finale, she is sent to kill Horrik's wife, who is a famous shieldmaiden in her own right.
* DotingParent: Also like Ragnar, but we see it more often because she's home more often. She continues to be very affectionate and motherly with Bjorn even after he reaches early adulthood in the second season.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Beating the crap single-handedly out of two would-be rapists.
* HannibalLecture: Lagertha gives one of these to a would-be rapist in the Season 2 episode "Boneless." He threatens her with a dagger while she has no weapon and is wearing only a towel. She verbally emasculates him and walks away completely unscathed.
* HappilyMarried: To Ragnar. She was very [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex excited]] when he came home in the first episode. Events in "Sacrifice" and "All Change" complicate it and eventually they divorce.
* HeroinesPreferSwords: Ragnar sometimes uses an axe but she always has a sword.
* TheHighQueen: Has the attitude; wise, reasonable, ''definitely not'' arm candy.
* HotBlooded:
** Deconstructed. Lagertha is a brave and ferocious warrior with an unbreakable code of honour, but she's also very impulsive and prone to poor decision making. Her knee-jerk reaction to Ragnar taking a second wife as a personal insult to her leads her to becoming trapped in an abusive relationship with Earl Sigvard, who was apparently insane. This eventually culminates in her murdering Sigvard in front of the entire hall, after one abuse too many. So far so good, she's Earl now and a power in her own right. However, whatever Sigvard was, Lagertha murdered Hedeby's chieftain, her lawful husband, in front of his oath-sworn warriors. Whatever she did afterwards, in an honour-bound society that takes fidelity to its lord quite seriously, Lagertha was always going to be unpopular after that. This eventually culminates in Season 3, where Lagertha is quite easily usurped as Earl of Hedeby and literally has nothing left to do but live with Ragnar anyway.
** It also came up in the first season, where Lagertha attempted to keep Knut from raping a Saxon woman. Leaving aside the fact that this was basically the most normal thing that could happen during a raid, Lagertha's murder of Earl Haraldson's man aboard their ship would have been viewed with great suspicion at best. Granted, Knut tried to rape her too, so she was ultimately justified in killing him, but that would have been hard to explain without at least one witness to the event. In fact, the first thing that Ragnar exasperatedly asks when she tells him is "did anyone else see it happen?". Come the return to Kattegat, Haraldson of course notes Knut's absence and Ragnar, in an attempt to spare his wife any punishment, takes the fall for it. He is then arrested and tries to argue before a court that he had to kill Knut for trying to rape his lawful wife, which seems to work out at first, before Lagertha is provoked by Haraldson into blurting out the truth, in an attempt to save Ragnar. In doing so, she basically ruins his case and makes them both look like liars. You can really see this in Ragnar's expression during the scene, he basically has a "What the hell, Lagertha?" look on his face. Had Rollo not come forward and corroborated Ragnar's version of events, they both likely would have been found guilty.
* KlingonPromotion: In Season 2, her second husband the Earl of Hedeby sends men into her bedchamber to beat her after she aids Ragnar without his permission. After that, the Earl of Hedeby tries to humiliate Lagertha by exposing her breasts to his entire royal court, but she finally snaps and stabs him in the eye with a dagger. The Earl is then beheaded by one of his own retainers. The next time we see Lagertha, ''she'' is the Earl.
* LadyOfWar: The barbarian variation of this trope. In other words, a heavy emphasis on the ''war''.
%%* LightFeminineDarkFeminine: The dark to Aslaug's light and the light to Siggy's dark causing Lagertha to be the grey area between the two.
* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Fights primarily with a shield.
* MamaBear:
-->''If any harm befalls my children, I will tear the lungs out of your body, priest.''
* ModestRoyalty: Wears the same clothing she did before becoming an Earl's wife. At the very least, she was far less ostentatious than Siggy.
* MyBiologicalClockIsTicking: It's implied that she became barren. The miscarriage of Ragnar's unborn son seems to convince him that Lagertha can no longer bear children.
-->"Frey, lord of lords, fill me with seed, give me a child. And then do whatever it is you want with me; make me deaf or blind if you want to. But ''please'', give me a son before it's too late."
** Frey was asleep that day. More wackiness ensued as a result.
* OddFriendship: Although not as strong as Ragnar's, Lagertha is consistently shown to have a good friendship with Athelstan and unlike the other Vikings, never displays any disdain for him after the first season. When Athelstan's survival is revealed in "The Choice", she doesn't hesitate to follow Ragnar in retrieving him.
* PrettyInMink: On few occasions, she makes an appearance wearing a snow-white wolf fur on her shoulders, which reminds of her ascension from a humble farmer to high social position.
* RagsToRiches: As a by-product of Ragnar's success. However, after the timeskip and death of her second husband, Lagertha proves that she is fully capable of this trope all by herself, too. Then she went back to rags, since she was usurped by her steward Kalf in Season 3.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Once Ragnar becomes Earl, she stands in as the local authority figure in his absence. Then, several years later, Lagertha becomes an Earl in her own right, which firmly establishes her into this position.
* ScreamingWarrior: She yells more often than others in battle.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: When Ragnar not only tells her that he won't cast Aslaug out but insists that Lagertha will have to simply put up with Aslaug's presence because she's carrying Ragnar's child, Lagertha chooses to leave him rather than live in such an environment.
* WomanScorned: Her second husband, the Earl of Hedeby, sends out several of his men to beat her. So she kills him at the dinner table, surrounded by his warriors. When we next see her, ''she's'' the Earl of Hedeby now.
* WomenPreferStrongMen: Lagertha fell madly in love with Ragnar after she watched as he killed a bear with his spear and strangled a hound to death with his bare hands. This is taken almost word-for-word from the ''Literature/GestaDanorum'' of Saxo Grammaticus.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Duke Rollo Sigurdsson]]
[[quoteright:265:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rollo79896_4241.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Clive Standen

->''"Your death is on its way!"''

No Norseman is more desperate to be his own men, to forge his own legend than Rollo, whose very name means 'Famous Wolf'. Trapped in the long shadow of Ragnar's greatness and longing for escape, the spirit of the wolf has claimed him. He was born to kill, yet without Ragnar's presence what light is there for him? Rollo's days are bloody. His nights bleak. But let us see if the berserker can beat back the tides of despair.
----
* AnimalMotifs: The Bear. In the script for the first episode, he is initially referred to as "Bear Man" and the Seer even says "the bear will marry a princess" or something along those lines in Season 3.
* TheAtoner: He betrays Ragnar in the Season 1 finale, and the first episode of Season 2, but realizes his mistake after four years as a drunkard, and is now looking 'to be wise'.
* ArmourPiercingQuestion: When Ragnar ascends to the status of Earl;
-->"How will we ever be equal now, my brother?"
* AttackAttackAttack: Prefers offensive strategies.
-->'''Rollo:''' We should attack while they are weak. How long will it take for them to raise another army?\\
'''Ragnar:''' Attack! Attack! Attack! That's all he ever says.
* AxeCrazy: When he gets [[UnstoppableRage angry]]... You can only hope to outrun him.
* AnAxeToGrind: Uses a Daneaxe, the {{BFS}} of axes.
* {{Badass}}: He accords himself well in battle, and Lagertha notes that he is a great warrior. He fights off several of the Earl's men unarmed, only being taken down due to both being out numbered and his enemies using weapons against them, and it still takes them a while. Once captured, he withstands Haraldson's tortures without giving up his brother's location. In every single battle he's effectively [[OneManArmy an army in his own right]], and it's safe to assume that he and Ragnar on par with each other, and are the two best fighters on the show, bar none.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBaritone: Speaks in a low growl.
* BadassBeard: In a similar vein to his brother; thick and long.
* BadassCape: A fur cloak, when it's cold.
* BadassCreed: Chants one during the pitched battle on the Northumbrian shore in "Trial".
* BarbarianHero: He's more stereotypical 'attack attack pillage rape ARRGHH!' in the first season than his brother because he's more into it and lacks a desire for knowledge. CharacterDevelopment in the second turns him into a more philosophical character. He still loves his killing, but the same could be said of everyone on this show.
* BarbarianLonghair: Managed more conventionally than Ragnar's.
* TheBerserker: His state in battle. Particularly noticeable in the battle with the Northumbrians Saxons when they double-cross the Norsemen.
* TheBrute: If one is of the opinion that Ragnar and the other Vikings are [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]], then Rollo is the intimidating thug that follows his leader around.
* BloodKnight:
-->"I want to raid and fight. It's what I was born to do."
* BodyPaint: Has some knotwork designs tattooed on his body depicting two snarling wolves on either arm chasing after a sun and a moon. They're probably meant to be representations of Sköll and Hati.
* ByronicHero: He's cynical and jaded, intensely passionate and ambitious, driven by his perceived inferiority to his brother, and is quite charismatic.
* CainAndAbel: Subverted. All the potential is there, Rollo is envious of Ragnar's fame and glory as well as lusting after his wife. He has the anger issues combined with an impulsive nature that say he was going to turn, but in the end he stays loyal to Ragnar even after being offered a handsome reward or tortured.
* CharacterDevelopment: He began the series as an impetuous warrior of dubious allegiance. By the middle of Season 2, he's ditched his HeelFaceRevolvingDoor tendencies, goes out of his way to ensure the safety of his brother's family, and counsels caution to Ragnar when the latter wanted to immediately attack Borg's numerically superior forces.
* CoolUncle: He and Bjorn have a good relationship; in many ways it's better than Bjorn's relationship with Ragnar.
* ComfortingTheWidow: After Haraldson's death, he starts comforting Siggy who is receptive to his advances.
* ConflictingLoyalty: He's torn between his need to realize his own ambitious and potential and his love for his brother.
* DontYouDarePityMe: When he steps up to swear allegiance to his brother, Ragnar tells him he doesn't have to in light of everything he's already suffered for his loyalty. Rollo swats his hand away and swears, anyway.
-->'''Ragnar:''' There's no need for you to swear. You've already paid a great price for your loyalty to me...\\
'''Rollo:''' Nevertheless, I will swear, brother.
* DrowningMySorrows: Hits the bottle hard after [[spoiler:Siggy's]] death.
* FaceHeelRevolvingDoor: Went over to the side of Jarl Borg, then surrendered when he realized he couldn't bear to fight Ragnar and his old friends. Has staunchly been in his brother's camp ever since.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Throwing Ragnar his battle-axe when he's disarmed and then annihilating a heavily armoured enemy warrior with nothing but a ''hunting knife''. The former emphasizes his love for his brother, the latter gives a taste of his incredible badassery.
* GlorySeeker: Primarily out of a desire to move out of his sibling's shadow. Haraldson tries to tempt him with this.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Get some nasty facial scars from Haraldson's torture.
* GreenEyedMonster: While a mighty warrior in his own right, he is overshadowed by the exploits of his brother. Both Haraldson and Borg try to play on his resentment and jealousy in order to turn him against Ragnar. [[spoiler: Borg succeeds, or so it appears]].
* HeroAntagonist: His job as Duke of Normandy is to defend Paris from his brother's hordes.
* HeroicBSOD: Suffers quite a few, though notable ones thus far are the one he suffers after Ragnar becomes Earl and the one after [[spoiler:he receives news of Siggy's death]].
* HeroicLineage: Assuming he shares Ragnar's belief that they are descendants of Odin.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo Yes. He's that Rollo.]] Fun fact, the current English royal family owes its existence to him, since he not only founded (rather, carved out) Normandy, but was also the great-great-great grandfather of William the Conqueror.
* HotBlooded: On the battlefield, it's what makes him into one of the most fearsome warriors in Ragnar's warband. Off the battlefield, it infuriates him to no end because it leads him to try to and play his hand in matters where he has only surface level knowledge; like political negotiation. It's worth noting that that this need comes primarily out of a desire to prove himself as equally gifted as his brother, thereby overcompensating.
* {{Hypocrite}}: In "The Choice", he calls Athelstan a traitor and says that he'd kill him if he had the strength. This is coming from ''[[TheStarscream Rollo]]'' of all people.
* InHarmsWay: One can tell he loves being in the thick of battle.
* ItsAllMyFault: Says so word-for-word after [[spoiler:Siggy dies]].
* KickTheDog: He takes this almost to its literal conclusion in "Wrath of the Northmen", when he pulls a cowering monk out of his hiding place at Lindisfarne and curbstomps him to death.
** The massacre of the other Norsemen staying in Frankia, including Eirik, who actually warned him about the discontent, and all the people who seemed to have no problem with Rollo working with the Franks. Season 1 Rollo is making a comeback.
* TheLancer: To Ragnar; [[SiblingYinYang being brothers makes contrast between the scholarly warrior and the bloodthirsty warrior all the more striking.]]
* LargeHam: Has his moments like that glorious bellowing at the end of "A King's Ransom".
* LightningBruiser: For being as tall and muscular as he is, Rollo can move ''very'' fast when he puts his mind to it, even rivaling his shorter and leaner brother on several occasions.
* MadeOfIron: Survives being beaten by half of a dozen men at once as well as horrific torture; is still hale and healthy afterwards.
** [[spoiler: In "The Choice", Rollo is cut with a sword and then trampled by a LOT of horses. While he is really badly injured, Ragnar is only mildly surprised when word that he survived makes it back to the Viking's camp.]]
* MultiMeleeMaster: A master of swords, axes, and ''hunting knives''.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:He gets hit with this hard after he kills Arne. You can see it in his eyes as the adrenaline wears off and he realizes that he's just butchered his own people and, more than that, a close friend.]] Afterward, he just loses all self-respect, and he even gives up the hope of entering Valhalla.
** Has another moment after [[spoiler:he learns that Siggy died.]] It finally dawns on him how horribly he treated her during their entire time together, and blames himself for [[spoiler:her death]].
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Rollo takes a lot of damage throughout the series, but being slashed across the chest and then being trampled by several horses definitely takes the cake. He manages to [[MadeOfIron survive it]], of course.
* NotAfraidToDie: He doesn't seek it, but nor will he fear it when it comes.
-->"Death was on its way to take Kauko. Do not pity him -- envy him. For where he is now; Valkyries have taken him home to Valhalla. At this very moment, he's drinking ale with the gods."
* OneHandedZweihander: Often wields that two handed battle-axe in a single hand and a shield in the other. Which gives an indication beforehand of how strong this guy is.
* OneManArmy: Like his brother.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Again like his brother, but he isn't claiming to be Thor's brother.
* PragmaticVillainy:
** Rollo loves battle for the sake of it as much as the next Northman, but even he can see raiding the East is a waste of time.
--->"Where do you think the Earl will send us next? Those bastards in the East are as poor as we are."
** He later volunteers to convert to Christianity in order to broker the ransom of King Aelle's brother. As much as he loves battle, he's not about to argue with being handed two thousand pounds of gold and silver for one man without a fight. It is worth noting that he didn't mean any of it. Hell, he couldn't even understand what the priest was saying!
* PetTheDog:
** He gives an ill, old Saxon man a drink of water in "Trial". He then steals the pitcher and glass, but still.
** There's also the cute moments he shares with his nephew.
** He also takes the time to pull Bjorn and Gyda out of the way before joining the fray himself when the Earl's men storm Ragnar's house.
** After Thorunn is wounded in battle and Ragnar gives Bjorn a vicious WhatTheHellHero over letting her come on a raid when he thought she was with child, Rollo is the one who reassures Bjorn that Thorunn will live and that he must be strong for her.
* RapePillageAndBurn: His modus operandi.
* RedOniBlueOni: Red to Ragnar's blue.
* RedRightHand: He has Hati and Sköll tattoed on him. The wolves in Norse Mythology that one day will ''eat the sun and the moon''. Any Norseman carrying such a tattoo should not be trusted. [[FridgeBrilliance Sköll means Traitor.]]
* ReallyGetsAround: He has absolutely no trouble getting dozens of eager women into his bed. When Siggy joins up with him, she takes issue with it.
* TheResenter: Somewhat towards Ragnar but not enough to turn against him or to sour their relationship, which is pretty awesome.
* [[RealMenLoveJesus Real Men Love Odin]]:
** In a similar vein to his brother -- but he instead venerates Odin solely in his aspect of a bloodthirsty war-god, while Ragnar balances both.
--->"You have ''your'' Odin, and I have mine."
** He later converts to Christianity in order to broker a deal between Ragnar and King Aelle. After Floki accuses him of turning his back on Odin, he slaughters more Christians than any other warrior during the following battle to prove the shipwright wrong. He was actually pretty angry that Floki would dare accuse him of forsaking the Northern gods, and looked ready to kill him for such an accusation.
*** "''How many Christians did I kill?!! Is Odin still angry with me?!!''"
* TheStarscream: Once again in "Burial of the Dead" is teased with a possible FaceHeelTurn now that Ragnar is the new Earl and he also wants the throne for himself. It doesn't stick, though.
* ThickerThanWater: Unbreakable loyalty to his brother despite jealousy. Even after accepting Jarl Borg's offer to join him against Ragnar and Horik, he finds himself incapable of actually striking a blow against his brother in the ensuing battle.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Rollo is teased as this. He supports and follows Ragnar, but he's a rapist, hits on his brother's wife (even after she rebuffs him multiple times), and resents Ragnar's successes. His most redeeming quality is his UndyingLoyalty through multiple opportunities to betray Ragnar.
* UnstoppableRage: Goes into this state in battle.
* WeAllDieSomeday: "''ALL MUST DIE SOMEDAY!''"
* YourCheatingHeart: Being with Siggy doesn't stop Rollo from sleeping with as many women as he feels like, when he feels like it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bjorn "Ironside" Ragnarsson]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bjorn_5857.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Nathan O'Toole (Season 1), and Alexander Ludwig (Season 2)

->''"What would Ragnar say?"''

Ragnar Lothbrok's firstborn son and a great warrior in all respects, just as his father before him. Is given the kenning "Ironside" by his father, in light of his seeming invincibility in battle. Is poised to succeed his father as King of the Northmen.
----
!!As a child this character exhibits the following:
* AdorablyPrecociousChild: For starters, he tries to keep his parents from fighting at one point. At another time, when Siggy tries to pledge her service to Lagertha, he's apprehensive and states that Earl Haraldson tried to kill his father. Lagertha uses the latter opportunity as a teaching experience. This combined with TroublingUnchildLikeBehavior is meant to show how hard he's trying to become a real man by Norse standards. However, he's held back solely because he's 12.
-->'''Athelstan:''' My lady Lagertha, I would ask if you could take some time out to speak with the wife of the late Earl.\\
'''Lagertha:''' Of course. Hello Siggy, please, sit down and join us.\\
'''Bjorn:''' Wait! Earl Haraldson tried to kill my father.\\
'''Lagertha:''' I know. And if he had succeeded, I would be standing where Siggy is standing now. So, what would you like me to say to her?\\
'''Bjorn:''' I... I would ask her to sit down.
* AffectionateNickname: Ragnar and Erik used to call him 'Little Man' when he was younger.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Norse society adheres to this belief, and so Bjorn is eager for the chance to fight to prove his own manhood. It's also evident in how when he's asked what a man does, his first answer is 'he fights'. Ragnar approves, but nevertheless reminds him that they do more as well.
-->'''Ragnar:''' Are you ready to receive your arm-ring and become a man?\\
'''Bjorn:''' Yes.\\
'''Ragnar:''' And what does a man do?\\
'''Bjorn:''' He fights.\\
'''Ragnar:''' Good. And...?\\
'''Bjorn:''' And he looks after his family.
* BrattyHalfPint[=/=]MouthyKid: Has his moments, though ''especially'' around Athelstan. Like most of Norse society, Bjorn holds him in scorn for being a Christian and a slave. Thankfully, [[CharacterDevelopment he grows out of it]].
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first time he's seen is in combat training with Ragnar.
* MommasBoy: After his parent's divorce, he ultimately decides to go with his mother. Post-time skip, he decides he wants to live with his father.
* MoralityChain: For Ragnar when he goes with the group to visit Jarl Borg, especially when Ragnar sleeps with Aslaug. Ragnar then swears never to let it happen again, and his efforts indicate that this is more for Bjorn's sake than Lagertha's.
* WiseBeyondTheirYears:
** At times, Bjorn seems to be the reasonable one in the family; a 'little pig' teaching the boar how to listen. Unlike his father, he appears to be much more in-tune with the emotions of those around him, which becomes even more apparent after the timeskip. See CharacterDevelopment above.
** He can go into very philosophical tangents regarding the gods and fate at times. Rollo occasionally pokes fun at these tendencies.
-->'''Rollo:''' How do you know so much about the gods?\\
'''Bjorn:''' Because we're related to them. You, me, my father, all descendants of Odin!
!!As an adult this character exhibits the following:
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: His father's most trusted lieutenant and right-hand man, and just as able as him to kick asses.
* AnAxeToGrind: Post-timeskip, he is almost exclusively seen wielding an axe thus far.
* AngerBornOfWorry: Post-timeskip, he is very happy when in Kattegat, but when in his stepfather's hall he is in a state of constant anger out of worry for Lagertha. With good reason, as her new husband does go in for some AttemptedRape and beats her.
* {{Badass}}: After the timeskip, he has firmly joined his parents and uncle in this trope because he is officially a warrior.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BloodKnight: Like father, like son, like warrior culture.
* CharacterDevelopment: In the first season, he is shown to be indifferent or even cruel towards Athelstan and his status as a slave. Post-timeskip, Bjorn displays kindness and love towards a slave girl and openly laments Athelstan's supposed death, thoroughly rebuking Horik's cruel words about the priest being a traitor and worthless individual.
-->'''Bjorn:''' Poor Athelstan... My sister and I grew to love him when we were children.
* TheDutifulSon: Absolutely adores his father and Ragnar adores him in return. Also evident in how he refuses to leave Ragnar when the Earl surrounds their home.
* FutureBadass: He becomes Bjorn Ironside. In Season 2 after the timeskip, we see that he's had quite a start.
* GlorySeeker: Just like his father and most other Vikings, Bjorn yearns for glory on the battlefield and a place in Valhalla upon the time of his death.
* LoveAtFirstSight: He becomes instantly smitten with Porunn from the moment he first laid eyes on her. [[OedipusComplex Considering who she resembles]], this is not too surprising.
* MadeOfIron: He receives the nickname "Ironside" due to the fact that during a battle he was in the thick of fighting and received no wounds.
* OedipusComplex: Adores his mother and his girlfriend is her spitting image. He's quite conscious about it.
* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: Rollo asks Lagertha if Bjorn is his son instead of Ragnar's. Lagertha's answer is that there is no way to answer that or something along those lines.
* RatedMForManly: He tries.
-->'''Rollo:''' You still can't grow a beard.
* RedBaron: After fighting a pitched battle without sustaining any wounds, he becomes Bjorn "Ironside", which is the name history will remember him by.
* SoProudOfYou: At the first encounter after the time skip, it is very clear how pleased Ragnar is with how his son turned out.
* TookALevelInKindness: He's noticeably much more mellow and agreeable as an adult than as a child, when he had some serious BrattyHalfPint moments. He's especially much nicer to Athelstan, and, like his father, seems to hold both Christians and slaves in much higher regard than his fellow Norsemen.
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Gives one of these to Ragnar, after he sleeps with Aslaug.
** Ragnar gives him a MASSIVE one in "Warrior's Fate" for [[spoiler:allowing his girlfriend Porunn to join the fights against Princess Kwenthrith's uncle and brother, resulting in a massive head injury that leaves her unconscious at the conclusion of the battle. What pisses Ragnar off is the fact that Bjorn let Porunn fight AT ALL with the knowledge she may be pregnant with their child without much resistance on Bjorn's part]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Queen Aslaug]]
-> '''Played By''' Alyssa Sutherland

->''Thank you for your good advice -- but I would rather die myself than take it.''

In any other story, Aslaug would be the protagonist, but don't think she's unimportant. Sweet and gentle she may be, but the daughter of Sigurd and Brynhildr has a wit to match Ragnar's, something Lagertha is incapable of doing since her primary expertise is in combat.
----
* BullyingADragon: In "Kill the Queen", Aslaug very unwisely taunts an already furious Ragnar about Athelstan's death, saying that he deserved to die at Floki's hand because he was a Christian. Ragnar slaps her across the face for it.
* TheCassandra: Supposedly, had Ragnar heeded her warning, Ivar would be able to walk.
** Same for most of their children, really. On their first meeting they sleep together once, Aslaug tells Ragnar she's carrying his son, he doesn't believe her, then she turns up several months later heavily pregnant and indeed bears his son. Post time-skip, he laughs off her claim that she can sense his interest in other women, so she vows that her next son will be born with a "snake in the eye," and sure enough... When they're reunited after a long absence she warns him not to sleep with her for the next three days or she'll bear a "monster," he doesn't believe her, and sure enough: her next son is born with malformed legs. You would think that Ragnar would learn to listen when Aslaug makes a prophecy.
* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike: After Jarl Borg attacks Kattegut and Rollo and Siggy lead Aslaug to safety, she objects to taking refuge in a small village because it doesn't provide the wealthy lifestyle she's used to.
* TheFundamentalist: Almost to the same extent as Floki. In her capacity as regent, she has a christian missionary go through a trial by fire to prove his faith, smirking softly when he fails. [[spoiler:When Ragnar is angry about Athelstan's death, she said that his killer had done nothing wrong, as Athelstan was a christian.]]
* HeroicLineage: Like her husband, Aslaug is also descended from Odin. Unlike Ragnar, who is supposedly a son of Odin, Aslaug is a great-great-great-great granddaughter of Odin; thus, making Ragnar supposedly her great-great-great-great uncle. Her father was Sigurd the Dragon Slayer and her mother Brynhildr the Shield-maiden and Valkyrie.
* TheHighQueen: More of a Helen and a Penelope than a Clytemnestra.
* LightFeminineDarkFeminine: The light to Lagertha's dark.
* MamaBear: While Ragnar wanted to abandon Ivar the Boneless to die[[note]]because he was born with malformed legs, and Ragnar wanted to perform a MercyKill because he felt letting their son grow up handicapped in an able-bodied warrior culture would be a FateWorseThanDeath[[/note]], Aslaug brought their son back from the wilderness, insisting that he be allowed to live. She even stands up to Ragnar, who by this point is one of the most powerful and feared leaders of the Norsemen.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Aslaug makes an ''awful'' lot of prophecies that wind up coming true (even if just FromACertainPointOfView). They could just be lucky guesses, but then again...
* RealityWarper[=/=]SelfFulfillingProphecy: Implied, at least with her children. She declares that her third son will be born with a "snake in the eye" and the fourth one will be a "monster" during both pregnancies, and both sons turn out at least partially so. She makes the former prophecy out of spite when Ragnar doesn't take her powers seriously, and confides in Siggy on the latter that she doesn't know why she said she would bear such a child, but now that the words have left her lips, the Gods have decided to run with them. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane It's implied]] in both cases that her words might have influenced her sons' development, rather than just predicting it after their fates were set in motion.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Upon Aslaug's introduction, she was witty and intelligent enough to match Ragnar. Come Season 2, all that had changed, from her utter lack of social awareness and skill (her hamhanded and unsuccessful attempts to connect with both Lagertha and Bjorn come to mind) to her lack of common sense (unlike Rollo and Siggy, she didn't seem to realize that, being refugees wanted by a powerful warlord like Jarl Borg, keeping a low profile was necessary to survive).
* WaifProphet: She is very tall, thin, and waif-like, and has an unnerving habit of making prophecies that [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane seem to]] end up coming true ([[FromACertainPointOfView in one way or another]]).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gyda Ragnarsdottir]]
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e6b12775e52d63b4eeb59033d10b7993_2790.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Ruby O'Leary

->''"Pray to the Gods for him."''

The daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok. Alone a voice of calm and harmony amidst furious, clashing hearts. Her death during the plague which grips Kattegat, Ragnar's Earldom, serves to exacerbate tensions within the already fraying unity of her family, causing father and mother to eventually part ways.
----
* AdorablyPrecociousChild: Like her brother she is mature for her age.
* DiesWideOpen: After she succumbs to plague.
* CanonForeigner: There's nothing to say that Ragnar ''didn't'' have any daughters, but she's the only one of Ragnar's family not to be named after someone from his real life family in history.
* CharacterDeath: Dies in a wave of the plague that sweeps through the village while her father is away.
* DoomedByCanon: She is the only one of Ragnar's family to die in the season finale. In fact, it's probably her lack of historical base that made her easy to kill off without disrupting canon.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Lagertha asks to hold Gyda one last time when Gyda announces she has her period, and Lagertha is unable to do so again because Gyda succumbs to the plague that sweeps the village.
* TheHeart: Of the family, she is the only one to be genuinely nice to Athelstan from the moment she meets him and everyone is a lot nicer to her than they are to each other. This makes it all the more heartbreaking when she dies in the Season 1 finale.
* AllPeriodsArePMS: Averted. She's as calm as always and goes to her mother when her period comes, and she dies the episode after from something completely unrelated to her menstrual cycle.
* NiceGirl: See TheHeart.
* TheQuietOne: She doesn't talk as much as her family members.
* SatelliteCharacter: Other than to prove that Ragnar, Lagertha, and Bjorn are capable of showing affection without weapons or fighting, and that Athelstan has someone he gets along with in the family, she has nothing on her own.
* SiblingYinYang: She and Bjorn have nothing in common in temperament, though they do share the same moral responsibility that slips from their parents every so often.
* TheStoic: She's definitely the least hot-headed of Ragnar's home.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: The most unambigiously good member of Ragnar's family dies due to plague.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Princes]]

These are the younger sons of the union between Aslaug and Ragnar.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Hvitserk, Ubbe, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Ivar the Boneless... not to mention Bjorn Ironside, mentioned elsewhere on this page.
* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Ivar the Boneless]] straight up murders another child with an ax over a disagreement during a ballgame.
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Just barely averted. Ubbe and Hvitserk walk out onto a frozen lake, and the ice cracks from under them. Had it not been for [[HeroicSacrifice Siggy]], they'd have died.]]
* TagalongKid: Played with; they barely have any screen time and don't slow down the main characters when on raids, but their family dotes on them, and they are just little kids running in the wake of Ragnar, Lagertha, and Rollo.
[[/folder]]

[[AC:Aristocracy]]

[[folder:King Horik Gøtriksson]]
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/horik79798_1660.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/DonalLogue

->''"I share your appetite for adventure, Ragnar Lodbrok, and I will gladly join forces with you. Since as King, I'm naturally not in favour of individual enterprise!"''

The people of Denmark benefit from his just rule, and Skalds are well favoured at his court. When his family was killed by his treacherous uncles, Horik rose up to challenge them to battle and drive them away from his land. Enamored of Ragnar's legend, he is quick to join his strength to that of the rising Earl in order to gain the upper hand against his adversary, Jarl Borg of Gotland. And yet, though a Norseman born and at one with their ways, Horik's true agenda remains as double-edged as the sword by his side. Knowing that Ragnar's strength has already undone two kings, the son of Gøtrik awaits the time to reveal his true cunning.
----
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: In order to become King, he defeated his six uncles in combat one by one.
* BackstabBackfire: His scheme to betray Ragnar and slaughter his family hinges on the aid of Floki and Siggy. [[spoiler: They were actually loyal to Ragnar all along, which ultimately costs Horik and most of his family their lives]].
* {{Badass}}: He essentially won his throne through single-combat against six opponents, and has shown incredible fighting ability on the field of battle as well.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBeard: Viking.
* BadassInCharge: Of all of Denmark (historically, he was the sole King of Denmark).
* BarbarianLonghair: Long hair was a sign of manliness in Old Germanic societies.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo[=/=]YouCantFightFate: When Ragnar, who had suspected a trap and wanted to wait, challenges him on this, Horrik declares that the outcome of the battle was fated and that he cannot be held responsible for their defeat, as it was the will of the gods.
* BerserkButton: Given his devotion to the Norse gods, he is absolutely incensed by Christianity's denial of their existence. [[AcceptableTargets Any Christian who falls into his clutches]] can only pray for a relatively quick death.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He tends to come off as rather jovial and carefree, and the first time we see him, he's playing a prank on the local priests. Beneath that he is shown to be a very ruthless and cruel man, who does more harm than help to his allies.
* BigGood: He's the King of Denmark and Ragnar pledges his loyalty to him. [[DownplayedTrope Thus, he's the highest authority among marauding warriors.]]
* ColdBloodedTorture: Has the bishop of Winchester tortured to death by tying him down and shooting him full of arrows. TruthInTelevision to an extent, as the Vikings allegedly did this to King Edmund of East Anglia.
* CompositeCharacter: With Harald Greycloak and Sigurd Hring, as Ragnar's predecessor as King of Denmark. Some historians and academic minded audiences have pointed out Horik and Ragnar are possibly the same person in the same place, with Ragnar being a more badass identity invented by Horik's descendants.
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: In real life, he outlived Ragnar by a decade. Specifically, he outlived someone called "Reginherus", who is believed by historians to possibly have been one of the candidates for the historical Ragnar. There are even some historians who posit that Horik I and Ragnar might have even been the same person.]]
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: When Ragnar and his men have him surrounded, Horik calmly resigns himself to his fate, and only asks Ragnar to spare his son, before serenely walking up to Ragnar and embracing death]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: He truly loved his son.
* GeneralFailure: Horik's lack of attentiveness at his camp in the first raid of Wessex (As in his men freely going hunting and him drinking and feasting in camp) and his LeeroyJenkins attitude in the second raid leads him to being squashed by Ecbert twice. Especially irking, for both Ragnar and the viewers, is that on account of his fatalist attitude, Horik refuses to take responsibility for any of his fuckups. According to him, his men lost not because of his terrible tactics, but because the gods had fated them to lose.
* TheGoodKing: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]]. Ragnar remarks on how his people appreciate his just rule. However, this is likely because he pays skalds to make sure his reputation ''stays'' good; the man himself isn't exactly everything the songs portray him as.
* HeroicLineage: Horik I was a Scylding, and a descendant of motherfucking Harald Wartooth -- the ultimate Viking badass (aside from Ragnar and Egil Skallagrimsson).
* HiddenDepths: Exhibits knowledge enough of Norse legends to impress even Floki.
-->'''Horik:''' Of course, I do. These things interest me.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horik_I Yeah, that Horik]]. Loosely.
* HistoricalInJoke: Of course, he would know about Christians! Historically, Horik I's predecessor converted to Christianity and Horik himself historically resisted attempts to proselytize the Danes by Ansgar of Hamburg-Bremen.
* KillEmAll: Tries to pull this on Ragnar's family. [[spoiler: It backfires. ''Hard'']].
* LargeHam: Shows himself to be a bit theatrical.
-->'''Horik:''' I have heard about Christians! And their god! And... are you ''still'' Christian?\\
'''Athelstan:''' No.\\
'''Horik:''' OF COURSE NOT! How could you be a Christian and walk among our gods?!
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Believes that Floki and Siggy can be trusted to help him bring down Ragnar. [[spoiler: They can't]].
* LeeroyJenkins: His approach to battle is essentially to say "To [[{{Pun}} Hel]] with planning, [[AttackAttackAttack let's just charge straight at the enemy]]!"
* AManIsNotAVirgin: Most Vikings believe in this, but Horik takes it to new levels. While his son had already had some sexual experience with slaves, the king believes that he'd have to sleep with a free woman to be a ''real'' man, and enlists Siggy to help him do this.
* NotSoDifferent:
** He essentially is to Floki what Jarl Borg was to Rollo.
** He is also very similar to Haraldson, in his occasionally petty decision making, and in that he's an established ruler who grows paranoid of the upstart Ragnar's growing fame and power, [[spoiler: a paranoia that drives him to actions which lead to his death at Ragnar's hand.]]
* PapaWolf: He gets ''pissed'' when one of his sons die in the raid on Wessex.
* PetTheDog: Any intereactions with his sons show the kinder side of his personality. [[spoiler: He even dies begging for his son to be spared]].
* PoisonousFriend: He has a highly negative influence on Floki, attempting to convince him to murder Bjorn.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Viking.
-->"Do not despair. Meet everything head on. Whether we live or die this day is already in the hands of the gods! They know whether we sup with tonight so fear not! Fight well. And should you die, surely Odin will take you to Valhalla!"
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Unless he sees you as a potential threat to his power, he's fair and affable.
* RousingSpeech: See Proud Warrior Race Guy above.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: In addition to his exploits that won him the throne, Horik also fights in the shieldwall alongside his men.
* SupportingLeader: Ragnar is TheProtagonist and pledges loyalty to him at the end of first season.
* SmartPeoplePlayChess: Plays hnefatafl with Ragnar to pass the time. They both use it as an opportunity to suss each other out.
* WhatTheHellHero: Ragnar gives both him and Borg one of these after their battle, chiding them for wasting lives against each other when they could be conquering new lands in the West.
* WouldHurtAChild: Sensing that Ragnar has a weakness for his family, he tries to get Floki and Siggy to murder Ragnar's children.
* YouKilledMyFather: Towards his uncles. His mother and siblings were also thrown into the mix.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:King Harald Hairfair]]
->'''Played By:''' Peter Franzén

A Norweigan king who wishes to become king of all of Norway, which would require him to anex Kattegat.
----
* AmbitionIsEvil
* BadassBoast: He claims his goal to become king of all of Norway is so he will win the heart of a girl he likes.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He really did exist.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Earl Haraldson]]
[[quoteright:216:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/earl-normal_vikings-promo-13_1051.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Gabriel Byrne

->''"A man lives or dies by his honour"''

Once he was as Ragnar is now -- Restless, ambitious and eager for battle. Now the years of grief since the death of his sons has made a ruin of a once mighty man. Stern and patriarchal, he sees daggers drawn in the shadows around every corner, true or otherwise. Holding only dwindling faith in the gods, he claws and struggles to retain his temporal power, yet deep down he is a dead man who desires only peace from the world.

When his struggle with Ragnar's rising power comes to head, the two face each other in holmgang, the preferred protocol for such rivalries. Ragnar defeats the Earl in single combat, thus allowing him to at last enter Valhalla and be reunited with his sons, and also takes the fallen warrior's role as chieftain of Kattegat.
----
* ArchEnemy: To Ragnar, and vice versa. Ragnar was even described as his nemesis by Gabriel Byrne.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Downplayed. We don't see him fight until his duel with Ragnar (who was injured at the time).
* BadBoss: Due to Earl Haraldson's greed and paranoia, it can be just as dangerous to be one of his loyal followers as being one of his enemies. He goes as far as to give one of his men the permission to sleep with the Earl's wife and then have the man executed when he takes the Earl up on the offer.
* {{Badass}}: He may be a conniving bastard, but fighting Ragnar as he did takes both balls and skill. Also, he had to have been pretty badass in the first place to become a Jarl.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBoast: Gives an ''epic'' one when he invades Ragnar's village.
-->"Let the man who believes himself to be descended from the gods learn he is but ''human'' after all."
* BadassGrandpa: He is much older than Ragnar and still fights him in a duel. [[WorfHadTheFlu Granted, Ragnar was injured]], but even lasting as long as he did puts Haraldson in a high echelon of badassery.
* BadassInCharge: Of the Norse tribe before Ragnar succeeds him.
* BarbarianLonghair: He's the Earl of the Norsemen of Kattegat, and has shoulder-length hair. Though rather well managed, given his status as a noble.
* BigBad: He is the source of the initial conflict and Ragnar's direct antagonist.
* BloodKnight: Going so far as to deliberately disadvantage himself to draw out the fight with Ragnar - casting aside his first shield and letting him destroy the second after Ragnar breaks his sword.
* ColdBloodedTorture: Dishes some of this out to Rollo, resulting in his permanent scarring.
* ConspiracyTheorist: Sees enemies behind every corner.
* ControlFreak: Because of his paranoia he needs to be in control of everything. Someone uncontrolable like Ragnar drove him up the wall.
* CrisisOfFaith: Expresses some doubts about the gods, which furthers the contrast between him and the deeply religious Ragnar. However, he seems to overcome them in the throes of death because he believes that he will finally see his sons again in the halls of Odin. His return of faith prior to death has been confirmed by WordOfGod.
* DeadpanSnarker: A few times.
-->"Oh yes, yes, choice, yes. I have heard these rumors, these stories, that if we sail westward we will ''somehow'' find a land that is rich, and plentiful."
-->"You want to eat in my hall, sail on my ships, is there anything else you want from me?"
-->(upon hearing that Ragnar wants to face him in single-combat) "Well, he ''is'' a descendant of Odin!"
-->(at the trial) "Well, it's unfortunate we can't find out who did it because they both take credit for it."
* DiscOneFinalBoss: [[spoiler:Ragnar defeats him midway through the first season]].
* DisproportionateRetribution: The Seer tells him that he and Ragnar are destined to face each other and only one will survive that battle. Haraldson decides to take care of that, but he decides to do so by not only trying to kill Ragnar but also by ''torching'' an entire village.
* DuelToTheDeath: With Ragnar.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: His two dead sons, primarily, because of his mourning for them. To a lesser extent, his wife and daughter. He wasn't happy about the arranged marriage either, but viewed it as necessary for his ambitions.
* EvilOverlord: Far less outright ''evil'' than other examples but he's still a jarl with a fair amount of corruption in him.
* EvilIsPetty: As described by Gabriel Byrne, he's a man who believes deeply in temporal power and will fight to the death to hold on to it.
* EvilPlan: He sees a threat to his powerbase, (I.E. Ragnar) and wants to snuff it out.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: He was perfectly composed when he lost his duel with Ragnar. He even asked Ragnar to deal the finishing blow.
* FallenHero: According to him, he was similar to Ragnar in his youth, being a fearsome raider.
* FauxAffablyEvil: He tries to play a BenevolentBoss, but does a very, very bad job of it.
* FreudianExcuse: The murder of his sons and desecration of their bodies. We don't really get a look at what he was like before their deaths, but his wife's attitude seems to suggest he wasn't nearly so bad.
* {{Foil}}: To Ragnar. He's conservative, irreligious, paranoid, and dominating. Ragnar is forward-thinking, deeply religious, is blinded to his brother's less than noble characteristics out of love for him, and treats his warriors as equals. In spite of this, it is said that they were not so different in other respects. Generally, neither man despises each other at all, instead possessing mutual admiration for one another. It goes one further when Haraldson says that Ragnar is basically what he was when he was young. Indeed, it is because of their similarities, rather than their differences that they come into battle with each other.
* GoOutWithASmile: The first time in the series where he seems in any way happy is when Ragnar kills him. He's happy because at long last he'll be in Valhalla with his sons.
-->'''Ragnar:''' Lord Odin is here... He is waiting to see which one of us he will take to his Great Hall.\\
'''Haraldson:''' Then... then I shall dine after all at the high table of the Aesir... ''[[to his grieving wife]]'' Tonight, I will be drinking with our boys...
* HeartbrokenBadass: He had ''nightmares'' about finding his son's dead bodies.
-->'''Siggy:''' You need to rest to sleep.\\
'''Haraldson:''' I know. I will. There's always time to sleep. I was thinking about our boys... what they would look like now...
* IAmXSonOfY: Historically, the Norse and other Germanics were among the first to use patronomyics from which modern names like 'Johnson' and so on are derived. Such is the case with Haraldson. Of course, in the Norse usage, his name should be 'Haralds''s''on'. This patronoymic also would not have served as a surname, and he should be called 'Earl First Name'. Then again, we never ever learn his first name in any case. So you could say that he fits this trope half-way.
* ItsPersonal: Always had the intent to one day kill Ragnar and take his means of navigating the open seas, but when his illegitimate brother Canute was killed by Lagertha (to his knowledge, Ragnar), it became this for him.
* {{Jerkass}}: See BadBoss above.
* JerkassHasAPoint: The man who he had executed and then cursed? Had been on trial for killing ''three times''. By modern standards,that is a serial killer.
* KangarooCourt: Is found of using this procedure to destroy his enemies.
* KickTheDog: The first instance is when he shamed a man who had been executed. He had nothing to gain from it and Ragnar calls it excessive.
* ManipulativeBastard: Which he uses to find 'traitor's in his midst'; of course, most of these threats are imagined ones. Also towards Rollo, his method of playing to his insecurities and strained relationship with his brother was pretty good but he didn't count on Rollo's ultimate loyalty being so great, which truthfully, came out of the blue for everyone. [[spoiler:On the other hand, if you instead believe that Rollo did it solely for ''Lagertha's'' sake...]]
* MiseryPoker: When Siggy objects to him marrying their daughter off to an old, fat, ugly Swedish noble, Haraldson counters that not only had he found their sons' corpses after a battle, but found their heads cut off and placed against their buttocks' as an insult. Compared to that, he argues, marriage to an old man isn't so bad. (This ignores how his daughter is still trapped in a loveless marriage with a man who regularly exercises his MaritalRapeLicense, orders her around, then threatens to beat her if she doesn't obey.)
* MultiMeleeMaster: Shows himself to be highly proficient with swords and axes. Switching comfortably between them during th duel with Ragnar.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: He is essentially a Viking Gille Coemgain of Moray story wise. Ragner is the equivalent to Macbeth, Haraldson to Gille Coemgain and Horik to Duncan.
* NobleDemon: He's a vengeful, sadistic man but he has his principles, such as personal honour, bravery, loyalty and love for his children.
* OldSoldier: According to [[BadassGrandpa Tostig]], Haraldson personally lead many raids into the Baltic lands (perhaps even the Turkic ones as well). Given that Tostig also says that Haraldson fought alongside him, we can determine that he must have been an even better warrior in his youth if he was able to keep up with a guy like him.
* ParentalFavoritism: While his son's deaths were genuinely traumatic, Haraldson spends so much time mourning them that he barely seems to remember his daughter exists, except as chattel he can marry off for a good price.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Say what you will of Earl Haraldson, but the man doesn't shy from taking on a man half his age in single combat. The fact that he fearlessly fights Ragnar despite seeing his battle prowess first hand also contributes to his already extensive badass credentials.
* ScrewDestiny: Tries to get out of fighting Ragnar personally as the Seer foretells by zerg-rushing him with troops, it fails and he faces Ragnar in a holmgang anyway.
* StarterVillain: He is Ragnar's first opponent and many more follow.
* TragicVillain: Ultimately revealed to be like Ragnar +20 or so years that was done in by paranoia and heartbreak.
* VikingFuneral: A full episode is centered around his funeral, including setting him in a boat which they push off and torch.
* [[WarriorPrince Warrior Earl]]: As his battle with Ragnar proves.
* WouldHurtAChild: Orders a child (legally a child because he didn't have an arm ring) killed so he would protect his treasure in the afterlife.
* WorthyOpponent: He privately reveals to his wife that he holds Ragnar in the utmost respect, that he always knew in his heart that Ragnar was right about the lands to the west, and that he sees much of his younger self in Ragnar. Indeed, it's for these very reasons he saw Ragnar as a threat, and feared that if he supported Ragnar, the men would turn to him and his own power would erode.
-->'''Siggy:''' Don't think about [[our sons]], think about tomorrow...\\
'''Haraldson:''' Where I must kill a man for whom I have the utmost respect for?\\
'''Siggy:''' Respect? (scoffs) You ''respect'' Ragnar Lodbrok?\\
'''Haraldson:''' Why not. He is what I used to be: restless, ambitious.
** Ragnar shows that the feeling is reciprocated, hence why he honoured him with a Viking funeral.
--->'''Athelstan:''' I don't understand... why have you given Earl Haraldson such a big funeral? Was he not your enemy?\\
'''Ragnar:''' He was also a great man and warrior. He earned his renown in this life and now in death, he deserves such a funeral.
* YouCantFightFate: Tried to kill Ragnar without facing him in battle, failed to do so, and [[spoiler: ended fighting him face to face like the Seer prophesied.]] He was remarkably calm about this.
-->"It's true our fates have brought us together. And maybe he's opened the western lands... for ''me''... That is my hope, after I kill him."
* YouRemindMeOfX: As mentioned above, Haraldson is reminded of his glory days when he sees Ragnar.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Jarl Borg]]
[[quoteright:185:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jarl_c164466_3750.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Thorbjørn Harr

->''At the moment, my price is the King's head.''

A fearsome warrior, a cunning tactician, and a powerful Jarl, Borg is a force to be reckoned with. Rival to King Horik for the lands of Götaland. Jarl Borg intensely hates King Horik (a feeling that is reciprocrated) and seeks to better his kingdom's position, whatever the cost.
----
* AffablyEvil: Perhaps closer to "affably morally ambiguous". He is a rather civil guy, overall.
* AlasPoorVillain: His death scene is shot very emotionally and respectfully to the character, and he even gets to GoOutWithASmile.
* AnAxeToGrind: His WeaponOfChoice.
* AnimalMotifs: He takes the eagle as his symbol.
* AntiVillain: Borg is only a villain in that he opposes the protagonists. Also, his invasion of Kattegat was caused by Horik's last-minute breaking of their agreement.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Jarl and fearsome warrior.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: "What is it that you ''want'', Rollo? What is it that you ''want''?"
* ASinisterClue: Jarl Borg sometimes fights left-handed.
* TheAtoner: After Ragnar "forgives" him he realizes his mistakes and sets to make amends. [[spoiler: Sadly it does not end well for him.]]
* {{Badass}}: Makes short work of many men who come to fight him.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBoast: "His vanity will destroy him (Ragnar)...No, not his vanity. [[SuddenlyShouting I WILL DESTROY HIM]]!"
* BadassMustache: His distinctive trait is the fact his moustache is thicker and longer than his beard (and also braided), unlike most Vikings.
* BerserkButton: Oath-breaking. Not that it stops him from getting Rollo to break his oaths to Ragnar or to attempt to do it a second time when Ragnar doesn't execute Rollo for the first betrayal.
* BreakingSpeech: Efficiently breaks Rollo's mind with one.
* BrutalHonesty: With himself. He freely admits that Ragnar is a better man than him, and that he doesn't deserve a second chance. [[ReformedButRejected Little does he know]]...
* CanonForeigner: Jarl Borg is neither historical nor mythical, being created specially for the show.
* CharacterDevelopment: After being defeated (and subsequently forgiven), Borg tries to rekindle his friendship with Ragnar and forgets the crimes of the past.
* CharacterFilibuster: His long speech about brothers (quoted below) in "FreudianExcuse".
* ConsultingMisterPuppet: He speaks to the skull of his first wife.
* DeadpanSnarker: Very much so.
-->'''Ragnar:''' You continue to humiliate him.\\
'''Borg:''' If I invade and conquer, will he not be humiliated more? (''his friends chuckle'')
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Averted. While he agrees to join forces with Ragnar and Horik after an unsuccessful battle against them, it's clear that there is still a great deal of mutual dislike, particularly between him and Horik. Ultimately, the differences between the two men cause the fragile truce to fall apart, and the violence resumes.
* DefiantToTheEnd: He never asks to be spared or tries to make his captors sympathize with him. Jarl Borg pretty much faces his execution ''headfront''.
* DualWielding: Dual-wieldes axes.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: It's hinted he did not scream in his execution, meaning he went to Valhalla for his bravery in the face of death.
* [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes Even Morally Ambiguous Has Loved Ones]]: He seems to love his second wife pretty dearly, and if his speeches are any indication, he loved his first one even more.
* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler: His face when he sees Ragnar has betrayed him for a second time is of genuine betrayal, and he can only repeat futilely "[[LittleNo No]]". This may be as much because of what Ragnar was telling him his eventual fate would be: [[FateWorseThanDeath Blood Eagle.]]]]
* EveryoneHasStandards: He does ''not'' look kindly upon oath-breaking.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Despite the absolutely horrific manner of his death, he rises to the occasion when the time for his execution finally comes. It's ambiguous whether or not he screamed at the end, but he still took it one hell of a lot better than most would. It could even be interpreted that when he and Ragnar saw the eagle, he ''laughed.''
* FoeTossingCharge: When he raids Kattergat, Borg sees Rollo in the other side of the battlefield. Then he does a UnflinchingWalk as he cuts down some twelve people in his path.
** When Ragnar and his warband ambush he and his men, he has his men do a literal version of this by ordering a flank of his men to fall back, then suddenly charge forward again.
* FreudianExcuse: His brother murdered his wife and most of his guests, making him a lot less trustful of people. He even has a ''long'' CharacterFilibuster on it:
-->'''Borg:''' ''Not all brothers get along so well, I know that by personal experience. I too had a brother, and I loved him. We were very close, as befit of all brothers, we fought together in the shield walls, shared the same women. When my father was killed there was fierce competition to replace him as Jarl, and although I was the eldest son, I was not sure I was going to succeed. However, I was elected, and we had a feast to celebrate...My wife was there, my young beautiful wife. We'd just gotten married. And all the others who stood in the election against me. My brother poisoned them...[[KillEmAll all]]. I only survived because my wife took the cup I was about to drink in celebration. I will never forget the screams. It's my wives screams that will haunt me for the rest of my life. My brother denied responsibility, but his guilt was too obvious, so I blinded him with my own hands and then I burned him alive. That is what I know of the love between brothers.''
* GeniusBruiser: He is a fine warrior, but also a great tactician and politician.
* GoOutWithASmile: As he takes his last breath, Jarl Borg grins as he stares into a nearby eagle (with the [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane implication]] he may have become one with the eagle).
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: He gladly accepts Ragnar's forgiveness, and appears to be wholeheartedly committed to joining forces with him. However, this merciful act was only a ruse to draw Borg back to Kattegat, where Ragnar plans to carve ''the blood-eagle'' on him.
* HeelRealization: Remorse hits him after his defeat at Ragnar's hands.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: As he dies, a suspiciously apropos eagle appears (given The Seer told Borg he'd become an eagle) and the way the scene proceeds indicates a hint of supernatural link between the eagle and Borg, but it's never really shown either way.
* NotAfraidToDie: On the contrary he seems quite eager to see how a Blood Eagle works. Even if he's the subject of it.
* OptOut: In the battle with Ragnar, he realizes his army is going to lose, so he orders a tactical retreat and flees to fight another day.
* ProphecyTwist: [[spoiler: He learns a little too late the Eagle the Seer spoke of is a Blood Eagle, a nordic method of execution.]]
* ReformedButRejected: He tries becoming an ally of Ragnar once again. Ragnar is on a very unforgiving mood, however.
* SanitySlippage: Jarl Borg starts consulting with his first wife's skull and starts having hallucinations.
* ShirtlessScene: He fights the battle against Horik's forces bare-chested, much like Rollo.
* TragicVillain: His wife's death and his brother's betrayal make him quite a tragic figure.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Earl Kalf]]
->'''Played By:''' Ben Robson

Lagertha’s second-in-command at Hedeby, he is left in charge when she goes to England in Season 3.
----
* AThreesomeIsManly: He is seen sleeping with two beautiful women.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: He pretends to be loyal and supportive of Lagertha, while planning to usurp her all along.
* GenreSavvy: When [[spoiler:the gates of Paris are breached and there's nobody in the corridor leading to the inner gates]] he is the only one to realize it's a trap.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: In comparison to Borg, Horik, Ragnar, and Lagertha, each of whom while good rulers are often blinded by vengeance, pride, jealousy, ambition, and anger, Kalf seems to be the only ruler who truly has his role in perspective with the bigger picture (well, aside from Ragnar) and his logic on his being a better claim to the earldom due to actually being a son of Hedeby is pretty much unassailable. [[spoiler:He also cold-cocks Lagertha in order to save her during one of her LeeroyJenkins modes, having correctly anticipated the Franks leading them into a trap.]]
-->"Title is only an excuse to do good things for the people here. I want to do that."
* UngratefulBastard: Lagertha raised him to a position of authority over Hedeby. He repays her by stealing her fief. [[SubvertedTrope That being said, he does emphasise that he shares the world's admiration for her and does save her life during the siege of Paris]].
* TheUsurper: He takes over Hebedy while Lagertha is away, crowning himself Earl.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Erlendur]]
->'''Played By:''' Edvin Endre

The [[spoiler: last surviving]] child of king Horik. He is married to Torvi, the widow of Jarl Borg.
----
* BloodKnight
* CanonForeigner: We know nothing about the possible children of king Horik I. Erlendur is completely invented for the show.
* DomesticAbuse
* EvilMakesYouUgly: An interesting variation. Erlendur starts out as a attractive youngster in his mid teens. As the story progresses his beard starts to grow, but is uneven and not impressive at all compared to the other Norsmen and is scared in battle. This coincides with his increasingly jerkass behaviour
* TheDragon: To king Horik, especially after his older brother's death.
* {{Jerkass}}: He is literally a mix between King Joffrey and Viserys.
* TheQuietOne: Save one line, Erlendur never spoke in season 2. This was because all his dialoge got cut.
* [[spoiler: YouKilledMyFather]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Siggy]]
[[quoteright:242:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/siggy_c1_7208.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Jessalyn Gilsig

->''"You are all power. All authority."''

Once the gods had favoured her well, but now with the death of her husband, Earl Haraldson, Siggy has found herself cast from the light. With the ascension of Ragnar, she finds her only path back to comfort lies with the brutal and impulsive Rollo. Yet nonetheless, despite her love for the late Earl and now for the great warrior, Siggy is driven alone by her desire to reclaim that which she once had, and will go to any lengths to escape the darkness and make her way back to the light.
----
* ActionGirl: Tries to pull this when Jarl Borg attacks Kattegat, but Rollo sends her away before she can do any actual fighting.
* GoodParents: Implied to be to her late sons and currently to her daughter, Thyri. All the more tragic when Thyri dies of the plague in the finale.
* GracefulLoser: Though she is shattered after Haraldson's death, she is nonetheless the first resident of Kattegat to hail Ragnar as the new Earl.
* HappilyMarried: She loved Haraldson deeply, but his depression and cruelty often drove her away. She ''tries'' to make something like this possible with Rollo, but his unfaithfulness makes it difficult.
* LadyMacBeth: [[DownplayedTrope Somewhat.]] She encouraged Haraldson's paranoia and cruelty, but mostly as a result of her efforts to give him confidence and make him feel positive. Though once she gets together with Rollo, she starts playing on his envy and insecurity to manipulate him, showing maybe she hasn't changed that much after all, though she also genuinely loves and comforts Rollo, and when he is brought back to Kattegat in chains, she convinces him to stay and continue his rise to power. After Rollo's disgrace, she ingratiates herself with none other than King Horik.
** [[spoiler: And in the Season 2 finale, she turns against Horik when he asks her to kill Ragnar's young sons and the rest of his family. It turns out that she was on Ragnar's side the entire time while also setting up Horik and his family for capture/murder.]]
* MamaBear: To rival Lagertha. As soon as Haraldson is dead, she stabs the Earl he married their daughter off to in the stomach, killing him.
** This also extends to children that aren't hers. Asking her to [[spoiler: kill Ragnar's young sons was a stupid move, Horik.]]
** Siggy also saves Hvitserk and Ubbe from drowning when they fall into a frozen lake, [[spoiler: which ultimately costs her her life]].
* TheMole: As part of Horik's covert efforts to check Ragnar's growing power, he has Siggy feed him secrets and information about his supposed ally. [[spoiler: And she's secretly feeding it right back to Ragnar the whole time.]]
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: Gives one of these to Rollo after he blatantly cheats on her several times at a festival, telling him that Ragnar's meeting with the king while he's nursing a hangover.
* UndyingLoyalty: Like Floki and Rollo, she's not always 100% happy with Ragnar. Nevertheless, like them, she is unwaveringly loyal to him. [[spoiler: To the point that she only pretends to defect to Horik so she can be TheMole for Ragnar. In Season 3, she gives her life saving his sons from drowning in a frozen lake.]]
[[/folder]]


[[AC:Commoners]]

[[folder:Floki]]
[[quoteright:232:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/floki79769898_138.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Gustaf Skarsgård

->''"I can tell which trees are going to make the best planks just by looking at them. I can look ''inside'' the trees!"''

Thought by some as a madmen, Floki sees more clearly than most. He is the adviser and confidant to Ragnar, freely offering his knowledge and skills to the warrior. His loyalty to the Ynglinga is unquestioned, but even the Trickster shall be buffeted by the coming storm. For just as Heimdall is foreseen to be the first to witness Ragnarok, the great battle upon the plain of Vigrid that marks the end of the world, Floki must bear the weight of alone knowing a vision so dark, it threatens to ruin Ragnar.
----
* ActionDad: As of the Season 2 finale.
* AmbiguouslyBi: He invites Torstein to bed with him and Helga. However, Torstein and Helga had been making googly eyes at each other earlier, and Floki might just be doing it for her sake. As the show isn't very explicit with the sex scenes, it's up to the viewer's imagination as to just how the threesome was consummated.
** Whether he is only platonic for Ragnar is up to debate.
* AmbiguousDisorder: He definitely has ''some'' sort of undiagnosed mental illness -- on some level he's aware of it, at one point fearing that any children he fathers will be like him.
* AnAxeToGrind: Wields a small hatchet.
* AxCrazy: When he goes into battle, comes off as this.
* {{Badass}}: Possible ADHD aside, he's still a Viking. Taken UpToEleven during the battle between King Horik and Jarl Borg, when he fights both Borg and ''Rollo'' simultaneously.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBeard: Kind of a theme by now, don't you think?
* BewareTheSillyOnes: Should you ever; this guy says he can talk with trees and jumps out from hiding to scare people but he is also a Viking warrior and a shipwright.
* BigEater: Seems so.
-->'''Jarl Borg:''' So. What has King Horik told you? What compromises is he willing to make?\\
'''Floki:''' Can't I eat dinner first?
* TheBully: Even after Athelstan had lived among the Norsemen for years and proved his usefulness to them, Floki continues to harrass and insult him, convinced that he hasn't completely given up Christianity. [[spoiler: However, it's unclear how much of this reflected Floki's genuine feelings, and how much of it was simply part of the ruse to ingratiate himself with Horik]].
** [[spoiler: Season 3 makes it clear that he does hate Athelstan for being a Christian, and thinks that allowing a Christian among them will bring doom to them all.]]
* BunnyEarsLawyer: Floki is... weird and a brilliant shipwright
* AsYouKnow[=/=]CaptainObvious[=/=]MrExposition: Explaining [[Myth/NorseMythology Viking mythology]] to a ship full of Vikings. To be fair, he was being dramatic at the time and it isn't ''that'' gratuitous.
* CloudCuckoolander: A weird dude, to say the least.
* DanceBattler: When not locked in the shieldwall, his fighting style tends to be very quick and agile, making up for a lack of a shield by sheer evasion.
* DualWielding: Wields a hatchet and a dagger to deadly effect. After his wedding, he trades the dagger for a sword.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Leaping out of the bushes with a mask on and shrieking.
* FakeDefector: Convinces King Horik [[spoiler: that he is going to betray Ragnar and kill his son]] only to reveal that [[spoiler: he is playing him and has always been loyal to Ragnar]].
* FauxAffablyEvil: It is only because the story is largely told from the Viking point of view that he is a protagonist. He is a violent psychopath, more than happy to murder anyone with smile on his face. Imagine The Joker as a Viking, and you've got quite lot of his personality down.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: In Season 2, he freely admits that he can't keep a secret. [[spoiler: Horik will eventually learn this the hard way]].
* TheFundamentalist: See Religious Bruiser, below.
%%* FunPersonified
* GreenEyedMonster: As Season 2 progresses, he becomes increasingly jealous and resentful of Ragnar's success. And when Bjorn openly laments Athelstan's supposed death, Floki cruelly badmouths the priest and accuses him of being a traitor, all of which seems to stem from jealousy and resentment. In the Season 2 finale, [[spoiler: it's revealed that he was playing up this trope all along to win Horik's favor and trust, purposely making himself look resentful of Ragnar's decisions and Athelstan's presence. In reality, he was acting as TheMole and feeding information back to Ragnar the whole time.]]
-->'''Horik:''' You have betrayed the gods.\\
'''Floki:''' No, I have only betrayed you.
** [[spoiler: Although Season 3 does make it abundantly clear that he does resent Athelstan and is uncomfortable with how much faith Ragnar has in him, primarily because of Athelstan's religion.]]
* HiddenDepths: You'd think that he was a crazy madman by looking at him (Skarsgård does play him as though Floki has severe bipolar disorder, according to interviews) but he is in fact an excellent shipwright and warrior. As well as knowledgable of medecine. He is a very generous man, and a loyal and great friend to Ragnar and his family, and dotes on his woman (later wife), Helga.
** He's also almost fanatically religious.
* TheHyena: Laughs quite a bit, especially after playing a trick on someone. But when in the thick of battle...
* KnifeNut: Wields a dagger to lethal effective alongside his axe in battle. He upgrades to a sword after he gets married.
* LargeHam: ''The Gods love my boat!''
* LetsGetDangerous: Out of battle, it's kind of hard to remember this guy is a hardened warrior. In battle however, all joviality goes out of him and he becomes driven only to kill his enemies.
* LeanAndMean: He's notably lankier than the other Vikings, but is rather tall, he just tends to hunch a lot. As for the "mean" part, BewareTheSillyOnes.
* TheMedic: Possesses medical knowledge of how to clean and treat wounds. It's advanced enough that Lagertha refers to it as magic.
* MythologyGag: Floki has many parallels to Loki, but the most easily overlooked is that they are both [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naglfar shipbuilders]].
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Whenever he's not acting crazy, it's an indicator that shit's about to hit the fan.
** The most notable instance is after being told by Helga that she is carrying his child. He has a literal [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone "Odin, what have I done,"]] moment upon realizing he is too much of a loony to be a good father, but she manages to convince him otherwise.
* {{Pyromaniac}}: Floki exhibits a fascination with fire. He's positively ''giddy'' when he ignites the writings of Lindisfarne and uses them to burn down the monastery and then he dances in place in anticipation for the burning of the ship bearing Haraldson's body.
** This fits with the constant allusions to Loki, his namesake. Loki is a God of Fire, after all.
* QuizzicalTilt: Does this sometimes.
* TheReliableOne: He could not show it, but his loyalty to Ragnar is out of doubt.
* ReligiousBruiser: He seems to take the Viking faith more seriously than any other character matching even Ragnar.[[note]] WordOfDante is that Floki believes himself to be a descendant of Loki, just as Ragnar believes himself a descendant of Odin.[[/note]]
** He holds open disdain for Christianity, where as most other Vikings are shown to be either amused or dismissive of it. When Rollo agrees to be converted, Floki spits on his baptism and later accuses him of abandoning the gods and inviting Odin's wrath, and seems fully prepared to fight Rollo over the matter.
** He is the first to try to offer himself up as a human sacrifice in "Sacrifice", which is a tremendous honour to the Norse. It's only the pleading of Helga that keeps him from doing it.
** He mocks and scorns (a supposedly dead) Athelstan for never fully abandoning his Christian faith, calling him a traitor right in front of the visibly upset Ragnar and Bjorn and his Earl's most dangerous rival.
** Throughout Season 3, he continually tries to convince Ragnar to stop taking Athelstan's counsel so seriously, in fear that Athelstan is not loyal to the other Northmen and that the gods will rain down punishment on them for being so accepting of a Christian.
* TheSmartGuy: He's a brilliant shipwright and an excellent medic.
* SpitefulSpit: His reaction to Rollo's baptism scene. In contrast to the other Vikings who mockingly laugh at it, and Ragnar who watches with silent but smoldering disapproval.
* TricksterArchetype: When introduced, it was pointedly mentioned his name bears a strong resemblance to that of a certain trickster deity.
-->'''Bjorn:''' ''Floki''? Like ''Loki''? The god?\\
'''Ragnar:''' Yes. Only different.\\
'''Bjorn:''' How is he different?\\
'''Ragnar:''' He's not a god.
* UndyingLoyalty: To the gods. As he explains, while some men lust for women or treasure, he only has lust to please the gods. As a case in point, this exposition is spoken to his wife.
* VillainousBreakdown: He undergoes one during the siege of Paris when his wooden towers end up failing.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Seer]]
[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/seer_c156546_8810.png]]
->'''Played By:''' John Kavanagh

->''The laws of men are far below the workings and shapings of the gods.''

A mysterious and eerie figure, the village's seer is their link with the supernatural and outwordly. His (often cryptic) warnings and words provide guidance for many, both good and evil.
----
* AboveGoodAndEvil: As per his quote, he considers the gods as this. This is also possibly why he never interferes in any of the show's main conflict.
* AmbiguousGender: Referred to as "Ancient Woman" in the script for the first episode yet is played by male actor John Kavanagh.
* BlessedWithSuck: He laments how he is forced to see all the sorrow in people's destinies.
* BlindSeer: See BodyHorror.
* BodyHorror: His eyes were either sewn shut or ''skin grew over his eyes'', in either case quite disturbing.
* CreepyGood: Not a bad guy, but he looks nightmarish.
* CrypticConversation: Making sense of his prophecies is quite a task.
* DarkIsNotEvil: He wears a dark cloak and usually hangs around in enviroments with very poor light, but he does not seem to be an evil figure (if mildly terrifying).
* DeadpanSnarker: Oh yeah.
-->'''Earl Haraldson:''' Do the gods speak?\\
'''The Seer:''' Do they ever stop?
* ExactWords: As par the course with his VaguenessIsComing warnings. [[spoiler: He tells Jarl Borg he will become an eagle. It is only too late that he learns this refers to the Nordic punishment of the Blood ''Eagle'']]
* TheFundamentalist: For Norse religion.
* LargeHam: He can get pretty hammy when he predicts things (mainly related to Ragnarok).
* MadOracle: Gives this feelings sometimes.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: It's ambiguous whether he posesses actual magic powers, but the accuracy of his predictions is remarkable.
** Example: Ragnar asks if Athelstan resides in Valhalla or Hel. The Seer states that he is in neither, but is actually alive. Cue Athelstan working in Wessex and noticing that a raven is apparently watching him from the window. If that is a coincidence, it's a Hel of one!
** A DeletedScene in "Mercenary" has him correctly identify that Björn will not be harmed easily in battle.
* OlderThanTheyLook: [[spoiler: Ambiguous. It is difficult to tell his age by appearance because of his various deformities, but he implies that he may be "hundreds of years old."]] Or maybe he doesn't, see VaguenessIsComing below.
* OnlyKnownByHisNickname: Always called "The Seer" or "The Ancient one".
* SmallRoleBigImpact: The Seer is not really a main character, but every dialogue of his is crucial to driving the actions of the majority of the cast.
* StaffOfAuthority: Signifies his role as the respected town seer. And indeed, virtually all characters treat him with reverence and respect.
* VaguenessIsComing: The Seer has a knack for being unclear with his warnings. Lampshaded by a few people he talks with.
* YouDidntAsk: Frequently, much to the annoyance of his subjects.
[[/folder]]



[[folder:Erik Marteinn]]
[[quoteright:251:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/erik_c1_1386.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Vladimir Kulich

->''"If this is their god, and he's dead, nailed to a cross, what use is he, then?"''

A great warrior, dwarfing all but a few in battle, long haired and long bearded, his might and wisdom is plain to see. An old friend of Ragnar, who gathers men to aid his cause, his dishonourable death by the hands of Haraldson's thugs drives Ragnar to seek vengeance upon the Earl.
----
* AnAxeToGrind: There's a lot of axe-grinding in this show, you know.
* AnyoneCanDie: If there's anyone who can symbolize this trope as far as ''Vikings'' is concerned, it's Erik.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Seems to have his share of authority, given that he more or less gathered everyone who took part in Ragnar's initial voyage.
* {{Badass}}: He's one of the most powerful fighters in the ''hird'', as indicated by how he easily he chews apart Saxons in "Dispossessed" and "Trial". A shield bash from this guy sends Saxons flying, too. It's also notable that while everyone else scurries in battle, Erik strides slowly and confidently like a god of war.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassCape: Wears one when he and Ragnar raid Lindisfarne. It's rather reminiscent of a longcoat.
* BadassBeard: Truly so! His is tied into two separate plaits!
* BadassBaritone: As one would expect from Vladimir Kulich.
* BadassInCharge: Was a second-in-command to Ragnar.
* BadassLongcoat: His cloak resembles one.
* BadassBoast: "Even so, he was my kinsman. We must avenge his death. It was done in the name of King Aelle, and King Aelle must suffer for it." To put this in perspective, he's talking about going up to the King of Northumbria and killing him himself to avenge the death of his brother.
* BarbarianHero: Like Ragnar.
* BarbarianLonghair: Easily has the longest, most Death-Metal looking hair-do of all the Vikings.
* TheBigGuy: He towers over every other man in Kattegat, is built like a tank, and is a OneManArmy.
* BloodKnight: Though he prefers it against worthy adversaries.
* BraidsOfBarbarism: His beard is tied into two forks, most prominently.
* CoDragons: Could essentially be seen as Ragnar's Dragon alongside Rollo before his death.
* [[EvenEvilHasStandards Even Raiders Have Standards]]: He doesn't approve when Rollo and the other raiders start hacking apart defenseless monks.
* HappilyMarried: As seen in "Dispossessed". It only makes his death all the more heart-wrenching.
* IcyBlueEyes: As striking as Ragnar's.
* TheLancer: To Ragnar, similar to Rollo but less bloodthirsty.
* LargeAndInCharge: The tallest and most powerfully built of the Vikings (which is saying something). Also seems to be Ragnar's second.
** In real life, Vladimir Kullich is 6'5 and a bodybuilder.
* LightningBruiser: Erik is towering, a single hit from him is like ten from anyone else, and he usually kills his enemies before they can even raise their swords.
* MauveShirt: His death is what really sets off the Ragnar/Haraldson conflict, as Ragnar hadn't intended to move against Haraldson directly until the Earl had Erik murdered.
* MurderIsTheBestSolution: Downplayed, for all he and the others knew the Saxons may have been leading them into a trap (we, as viewers, know this isn't the case), so murder really was the most rational solution to their problem.
-->"Let's just kill them all and be done."
* OldFriend: Of Ragnar, who is old enough to be in another generation.
* OneManArmy: More effective then Ragnar in this capacity.
* RatedMForManly: Everything about him symoblizes the manliness of the Vikings.
* SacrificialLion: He was introduced as TheBigGuy of Ragnar's [[TheTeam Raiding Party]], but dies early in the series.
* TranquilFury: His state in battle is like a focused, cold berserker rage.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tostig]]
[[quoteright:255:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/photo_tostig_01_8955.png]]
->'''Played By:''' [=Angus MacInnes=]

-> ''"Give me the chance to die with honour in battle, and join my friends in Valhalla!"''

Death is of no fear for a Northman, and in none is this more clearly embodied than in Tostig. Many years did this hoary bearded warrior sail eastwards at the side of Earl Haraldson, fighting countless battles with the easterners. In those many raids, he bore witness to the deaths of his companions, and though he fought with him in the shield-wall, never once was he touched by a blade. Forsaken, he appeals to Ragnar that he be given one last chance to die with honour in battle, his sword red with blood, and thus be found worthy to feast at Odin's side in Valhalla.
----
* '''{{BADASS}}''': ''One of the the most badass warriors to ever raise a sword''.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassGrandpa: He has more combat experience than Ragnar and any five men put together.
* BadassBeard: It's so big, he has to tie it into a massive braid.
* BadassBaritone: One assumes that decades of battle cries and berserker screams only made his voice deeper and more intimidating instead of hoarse.
* BadassCape: Wears one when raiding.
* BadassBoast: "Yes, I am old. But I have been a warrior all my life!", which means, "the mere fact that I am an old man in spite of being a warrior means I can kick all of your asses".
* BaldOfAwesome: The first thing a viewer will notice is his lack of hair. The next is his blood thirst.
* BattleCry: He screams the name of Odin in battle, as if to let him know he'll be coming soon.
* TheBerserker: He's like a raging wildfire in battle. Even ''Ragnar'' is in awe of him.
* TheBigGuy: A tall man ([=Angus MacInnes=] is 6'2), but also big, broad, powerful, and imposing.
* BraidsOfBarbarism: That plait he's tied his beard into.
* BloodKnight: He has to be, he wants to die an honourable death and enter the gates of Valhalla.
-->'''Rollo:''' When do you think they'll come?\\
'''Ragnar:''' Soon enough.\\
'''Tostig:''' I hope they do. I can't wait for Valhalla.
* CoolOldGuy: The other Vikings think being old makes him useless, i.e. uncool. He soon proves otherwise.
* DeathSeeker: After the night raid on the Saxon camp, he kills many enemy soldiers and fights in the thickest of the battle. The next day, he's sitting sullenly on a tree stump and lamenting that none of them can give him a worthy death.
-->'''Ragnar:''' What ails you, my friend?\\
'''Tostig:''' The gods won't lift my curse. I'm fated to live forever on this miserable earth...
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: If there's ANY justice in the One-Eyed God, he'll stand at the doors of Valhalla and welcome him personally, for there was no greater warrior who walked the land.
* AGoodWayToDie: He longs after an honourable death with blade in hand and the corpses of his enemies around him; an end to make both gods and forefathers proud.
* GoOutWithASmile: Dies with a smile, knowing that he will experience the glory of Valhalla that has been too long delayed.
* InHarmsWay: There's only one way for a Northman to live and to die: in glorious battle.
* HeroesPreferSwords: In contrast to the other Vikings. Given that swords were relatively expensive in that era, it means he must have been a very wealthy man from his prior raiding.
* IntergenerationalFriendship: He's old enough to be Ragnar's father.
* MauveShirt: He gets a lot of characterization in his introduction and quickly dies. This is why he joined so he's happy about that.
* LightningBruiser: In battle, Tostig exhibits incredible strength, a great deal of stamina, and ferocious speed that all belies his extreme old age.
* NotAfraidToDie: See DeathSeeker.
* OldMaster: When the other Vikings see his fighting skill, they realize that the position of baddest motherfucker is already filled.
* OldSoldier: Such a superlative warrior, that the only way he could have been killed was from behind.
* OneManArmy: He gets a body count of half a dozen at the end of "A King's Ransom".
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Of all the Vikings he's the most eager for battle and a glorious death.
* RetiredBadass: Ragnar wisely brings him out of it when Tostig asks to come along.
* ReluctantRetiree: Oh, what's that? You think you can keep him from the battlefield? Get between him and the fight. See how long you last.
* ScreamingWarrior: See TheBerserker.
* UnstoppableRage: See TheBerserker.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Leif]]
[[quoteright:244:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_mloqyrn1co1s6cq0po1_r1_500_1195.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Diarmaid Murtagh

->''"Lord Ragnar, I come to offer my allegiance and fealty - to you and to your family."''

The son of Erik Marteinn, and a loyal ally to Ragnar. He fights at his lord's side valiantly until he is called upon to sacrifice himself at the Temple of Uppsala, lest the gods punish the world of men for their faithlessness. Accepting the honour gladly, Leif gives up his life for the sake of his friends and all the men of Midgard.
----
* AnAxeToGrind: This is the weapon he carries but is plently powerful without it.
* {{Badass}}: His reaction to losing his axe in the thick of a battle is to roar and start {{NeckSnap}}ing Saxons.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBaritone: Has a deep, grunting voice.
* BadassBeard: Notable even amongst his fellow Northmen for its length and girth.
* BarbarianHero: Again like Ragnar.
* TheBerserker: Goes into a rage in battle, roaring and snapping the necks of Saxons.
* BraidsOfBarbarism: Has his beard braided ''thrice''.
* CharacterDeath: In "Sacrifice".
* DiesWideOpen: At his sacrifice.
* TheDragon: To Ragnar, after "Burial of the Dead" to replace Erik.
* CoDragons: With Rollo.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: The sacrifice scene was hauntingly magnificent.
* GoOutWithASmile: He gives his friends one last smile before he is sacrificed. Ragnar and Athelstan shed ''tears'' at this.
* HeroicSacrifice: He offers himself for sacrifice at Uppsala in order to appease the wrath of the gods and does so gladly and bravely.
-->"Before anyone else can claim this honour, I desire to be sacrificed. For my family, for you, my friends, and more importantly; for the sake of all the humans in Midgard. And, with the knowledge that the gods will find my sacrifice pleasing, I look forward to it gladly."
* LightningBruiser: He swings that several lb axe of his like it was stick.
* NeckSnap: Does this to armed and armoured Saxons in the thick of battle after losing his axe.
* ScreamingWarrior: During the battle at the climax of "A King's Ransom".
* UndyingLoyalty: To Ragnar.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Svein]]
[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/svein_c1_5183.png]]
->'''Played By:''' David Pearse

-> ''"I'd advise you all against such rash action. There is no way you could prevail."''

Bondsman to the late Earl Haraldson, Svein seems devoted to the failing lord in all ways. Cruel and sadistic by nature, he nonetheless falls quickly beside his lord when Haraldson is slain.
----
* TheArcher: The one time he participates in battle. He's the one to deal Ragnar his most severe wounds during the Earl's raid.
* BaldOfEvil: All the other Vikings have full heads of hair. [[note]] Except for Tostig, but he's old enough to be everyone's father. [[/note]]
* BeardOfEvil: Because he's an unrepentant child-murderer.
* CharacterDeath: Just a few seconds after Haraldson.
* DeadpanSnarker: Perhaps as a result of being around Haraldson for extended periods of time. They make a pretty good team.
-->'''Floki:''' (to Haraldson) Ragnar Lothbrok challenges you to personal combat.\\
'''Svein:''' Ragnar Lothbrok has a very high opinion of himself.\\
'''Haraldson:''' Well, he ''is'' a descendant of Odin.
* TheDragon: To Earl Haraldson he's the NumberTwo in his evil doings.
* DragonTheirFeet: Defied. After Ragnar kills Haraldson in the holmgang he calls upon the assembled to kill him (technically justifiable in that later holmgangs were not meant to be fatal confrontations, so Ragnar may have possibly overstepped himself there). He gets an axe buried in his chest courtesy of Rollo for his trouble.
* NonActionGuy: In contrast to everyone whose not Athelstan or a child, Svein seems content with his administrative role as Haraldson's servant, instead of actively seeking glory on the battlefield like a regular Norseman. Whenever Haraldson orders violence upon anyone with the ability to resist, Svein delegates those tasks.
* PunchClockVillain: Astoundingly for a man who has no qualms about killing children, Svein never seems to have an emotional connection to what he's doing, and approaches murder and torture with a clinical efficiency; like a butcher preparing an animal for slaughter. Even when he's about to kill a man on the verge of tears on his Earl's orders, his face betrays absolutely no hint of emotion. He just sees it as work. In fact, the only time he shows any high emotion whatsoever is when Haraldson is killed, implying that his coldness towards murder may be solely due to his loyalty to him.
* SmugSnake: A lot of his behavior comes from his elevated posiiton in the earldom.
* SoftSpokenSadist: Chillingly polite and mild mannered while carrying out brutal murders remorselessly and without emotion.
* TheStoic: A very cold man [[NotSoStoic but he roars and screeches for retribution when his earl is killed.]]
* TortureTechnician: Dishes out long and painful torture to Rollo before Haraldson steps in to take over.
* UndyingLoyalty: His loyalty to Haraldson was genuine, as was his shock when the Earl was slain.
* WouldHurtAChild: The Earl commands and he is nothing if not loyal to the Earl.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Sinric]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/FrankieMcCafferty

A wanderer who told Ragnar about England and led him to the Seine, and onto Paris.
----

* AmbiguouslyGay: Acts the most campily effeminate among vikings and likes to dress himself up. Nothing really indicates whether he is CampGay or CampStraight.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: There is someone named Sinric along with a Jarl Siegfried in history who invaded Paris in the 9th century, though he is known as the second in charge.
* MeaningfulName[=/=]OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: The modern Swedish word for being clever is "sinnrik". Because of how little modern people know about him, this might be his nickname instead of real name.
* NonActionGuy: He is not suited to actual fighting or combat. Nevertheless, during the second attack on Paris, Earl Siegfried forces Sinric to accompany them into battle, saying that Sinric is their "map of the city." Sinric is petrified at this and Siegfried has to drag him.
* TrueNeutral: Has nothing against leading people to sack places he enjoyed visiting.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Harbard]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/KevinDurand

A mysterious storyteller, dreamed of by Helga, Aslaug and Siggy before he arrives at Kattegat.
----

* BlueAndOrangeMorality: [[spoiler: Let's Siggy drown when he could have easily saved her. It's implied he's letting her reunite with her dead family.]]
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: His arrival comes after the three main women left in Kattegat all share a repeated dream of a man that might be him. Also, if he is being honest when he says that he saw the tale of Utgard-Loke with his own eyes, that means he may be one of two people: [[spoiler: Thor's retainer Thjalfi or Loki himself.]] Assuming, of course, he is not a liar. Floki seems to believe he is actually [[spoiler: Odin, despite him having both of his eyes.]]
* MeaningfulName[=/=]ShoutOut: In ''The Lay of Harbardr'', a poem in the ''Poetic Edda'', Thor encounters a ferryman named Harbard, who is really Odin in disguise, and enters a ''flyting'' contest -- a contest in insults -- with him. It remains to be seen, if Harbard is the same person, or just someone who is [[StealthPun very funny]]. For this reason, Floki believes him to be Odin in disguise.
* YourCheatingHeart: Seduces Aslaug with his "God In Disguise" attitude. [[spoiler: Which may be true. This is notable because Ragnar is supposed to be Odin's son and he's effectively seducing his son's wife.]]

[[/folder]]


[[folder:Torstein]]
->'''Played By:''' Jefferson Hall
----
* AmbiguouslyBi: He has a threesome with Floki and his future wife Helga.
* AnArmAndALeg: Loses his arm in combat. Causes his HeroicSacrifice.
* BadAss: He is quite Badass, just OvershadowedByAwesome.
* HeroicSacrifice: He goes out that way after losing his arm.
* MrFanService: He is quite often shown with his impressive abs visible.
* ReallyGetsAround. Like Rollo, he has no problem finding willing women.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Helga]]
->'''Played By:''' Maude Hirst

Floki's devouted and tormented wife.
----
* AThreesomeIsHot: She has one with her future husband Floki and Torstein.
* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Subverted. She faces lots of opposition from Floki over the matter of settling down.
* {{Expy}}: The Signy to Floki's Loki.
* HappilyMarried: So much so to Floki as it causes tension between them.
* LoveMartyr: Her love for Flo
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Angerboda]]
->'''Played By:''' Rosalie Connerty

The daughter of Floki & Helga's daughter.
----
* ChildrenAreInnocent: Angerboda seems to have no idea what is happening to Floki in season 4 and her parents are painfully aware of this.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth
[[/folder]]


[[AC: Foreign Slaves]]

[[folder:Athelstan]]
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zvfsqz0qwky_6472.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' George Blagden

->''"Where are you, Lord? Tell me. Is it Your will that I’m here with these ''heathens?'' How does it serve You? I don’t understand."''

Athelstan of Northumbria looks to the skies, but which god hears his pleas? Taken from the doomed monastery of Lindisfarne at sword-point and dragged across the seas, he finds himself thrust into a place where the ideals he has lived his life by protect him no longer. A cross in his left palm and a blade in his right, torn between the life of a humble Christian scholar and the need to become savage in order to survive in this new world, he faces a grave choice that threatens to tear him away from all that he once was.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: A former monk of Lindisfarne.
* AudienceSurrogate: He zigzags on this trope. During Season 1, he possessed a moral outlook broadly compatible with 21st century television viewers. In Season 2, he's embraced Norse culture and accepted Odin as his god. Then he becomes even more of a surrogate later in the season, as he is now shown to have a wider religious outlook than previously, and while still predominantly Christian, he is starting to appreciate other cultures and their religions in a way that resembles modern multiculturalism. King Ecbert puts his Roman relics in Athelstan's care because unlike his other subjects, he wouldn't consider them unholy.
* {{Badass}}: Jumping into a river without a second thought and saving Ragnar's life earns him that title.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBeard: Has grown one in "Sacrifice" as a sign of how close he is to GoingNative.
* BadassBookworm: If there's one thing that Athelstan appreciates, it's books and anything that involves writing or painting. Unlike the Vikings, he's capable of reading and writing in multiple languages.
* BadassPreacher: The Vikings tend to shoot him down whenever he tries to lecture on his faith, but he's still a holyman with guts.
* BadassLongrobe: His priest habit has a BadassPacifist vibe.
* BirthDeathJuxtaposition: [[spoiler: Somewhat. At the beginning of the episode, his son (he doesn't know of) is born. At the end of the episode, he dies.]]
* CelibateHero: Being a monk, he has a vow of celibacy, but he may have had sex in "Sacrifice". It's ambiguous if he did or not.
* CharacterDeath: [[spoiler: Killed by Floki, who believed he needed to be sacrificed for turning against the old gods.]]
* TheChewToy: His home is burnt and all of his friends are either murdered or enslaved by the Vikings. He's then thrust into a foreign culture where many of the people dislike and mistrust him. He then finds out that Ragnar, one of the few Norsemen who had showed him kindness, intended to use him as a human sacrifice. After succumbing to StockholmSyndrome, going pagan, and joining the Vikings on their raids, he gets captured and crucified by the English.
* ChristianityIsCatholic: TruthInTelevision for the time period. [[note]]In the late 8th century, the Great Schism between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches had yet to be formalised, and the Protestant Reformation won't be happening for a while.[[/note]]
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: He's thought by many of the Vikings, specifically Floki and King Horik, to suffer from this considering his GoingNative after finding himself in Scandinavia and then his switching teams again during his return to England. In this case, he was kidnapped in the first instance and essentially [[StockholmSyndrome held hostage]] in the second with no viable means of escape. One shudders to imagine what they'll think of him after his [[UpToEleven returning to the Vikings]] in the penultimate episode.
* TheConscience: To Ragnar. He's one of the few people who Ragnar truly listens to and with his death, almost all moral restraints placed on Ragnar [[DespairEventHorizon disappear with him.]]
-->"Forgive me, my friend. Not for what I have done, but for what I am about to do."
* CrucifiedHeroShot: After going apostate and getting captured by the Saxon soldiers, he gets one of these in the most literal sense possible.
* CulturedBadass: He's the only member of the warrior cast that can read and write, and has a deep appreciation for the Roman texts and relics that King Ecbert has in his possession.
* DecompositeCharacter: Aethelwulf's historical role of biological father of Alfred the Great is given to this here fictional Northumbrian turned Norseman.
* DoomedHometown: The monastery of Lindisfarne, as depicted, went down in history as the first recorded Viking raid in England.
* EvenTheGuysWantHim: Maybe; some guys at the Ritual Sacrifice might have been interested in him.
* {{Expy}}: He shares some noticeable similarities to Uhtred of Bebbanburg from ''TheSaxonStories''. Both are Northumbrians by birth who were abducted by Vikings, both convert to paganism and embrace Norse culture, and both find themselves torn between their Saxon and Norse identities.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: He calmly lets Floki drive an axe into his skull, with a simple "Lord receive my soul."]]
* GoingNative: He comes pretty close to doing this in "Sacrifice", adopting the Norse dress and hairstyle, taking part in a pagan festival, and even denying his Christianity (though he wasn't completely sincere about the latter). Fully cemented in "Invasion", when he goes on his first raid. [[spoiler: Then again in "The Choice" when he decides once and for all that his home is in Kattegat with Ragnar and his family.]]
* GoodShepherd: Athelstan takes his vocation seriously; his "greatest treasure" is an unadorned Bible, and he refuses to join a threesome with Ragnar and Lagertha because of his vow of celibacy. Ragnar is so impressed with his character he puts him in charge of the family farm while he's gone. With the encouragement of Ragnar and his family, Athelstan continues to retain these ideals and philosophy throughout the series, even after GoingNative with the Vikings.
* GuileHero: Athelstan ''very'' rarely encounters physical confrontations and only attacks in defense of his friends or himself. He instead overcomes challenges using a combination of his natural intelligence, chameleon-like survival instincts, and cultural knowledge of both Christian and Norse values.
* HappinessInSlavery:
** Downplayed. He doesn't have much interest in escaping, but would very much like to be a free man. Ragnar leaves it ambigous whether or not he's a slave and he isn't really treated as one either, in fact, he's shown eating at Ragnar's table.
** To a lesser extent, he had this in effect as a brother in his Church, but this was more like happiness in servitude.
--->"I remember very well how I served the father of my Church, and it did me no harm. In fact, in service I found a great freedom and honour. Once I accepted that I should forget about myself and serve Father Cuthbert, well, then I became happy."
** Averted as of "Invasion", Ragnar gives him an arm-ring and thus declares him a free man. Then in "The Choice", Ragnar ''asks'' Athelstan to come back to Kattegut, clearly showing that he's free to live and practice where he pleases.
* HearingVoices: In Season 2, the internal conflict between his Christian and Norse beliefs leads to him having hallucinations, especially in regards to his crucifixion scars.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: This door has a HeelFaithTurn set of hindges. Athelstan begins the series as a Christian monk, but after spending a prolonged period of time among the Vikings, he claims that Odin is his god. Later, he's captured by the English of Wessex and taken into the court of King Ecbert, where he seems to at least nominally re-convert to Christianity. In "The Choice", Athelstan finally admits to Ragnar that he's torn between the Norse gods and Christianity, both of which speak to him and his spiritual side. After Ragnar assures him that this isn't a problem, Athelstan ''willingly'' returns to Kattegut with the Vikings.
-->'''Athelstan:''' In the gentle fall of the rain from Heaven, I hear my God. But in the thunder, I still hear Thor. That is my agony.\\
'''Ragnar:''' I hope that someday our Gods can become friends.
* ImpaledPalm: Athelstan bears the scars and aches of crucifixion upon his palms and feet, the former of which Ragnar notices when he returns his arm ring in "The Choice". They still pain him by the end of Season 2, but writing and painting appears to have reduced the stiffness somewhat in his dominant hand.
* ImportantHaircut: Or more like important hair growth. The longer Athelstan lives with the Vikings, the longer he allows his hair and beard to grow, including the tonsure atop his head. Even after being captured by King Ecbert in Wessex, he still doesn't cut his hair or beard into the traditional style of a Christian monk.
* MadeASlave: When his monastary is raided but is treated substantially better than most other examples.
* AManIsNotAVirgin: Averted, as he's a celibate monk. The Vikings all think he's weird. He might have lost his virginity in "Sacrifice", but it's ambiguous.
* MassiveNumberedSiblings: The original reason why he was placed in the Lindisfarne monastery. Athelstan's parents already had four sons and a daughter when he was born and couldn't afford yet another child in their home.
* MercyKill: He stops the brutal torture of the bishop of Winchester by slitting his throat before the Norsemen can put any more arrows in him.
* MoralityChain: Like Bjorn, he has become this more and more to Ragnar as the series progresses, especially in regards to religion and attempts at negotiation instead of charging straight into battle. It completely shatters with Athelstan's death, unleashing a vengeful Ragnar on Paris and even some of his friends.
-->'''Ragnar:''' "Forgive me, my friend. Not for what I have done, but for what I am about to do."
* MyMasterRightOrWrong: Doesn't necessarily agree with everything Ragnar does, but he'll not gainsay him.
* NiceGuy: He's a monk for a religion based around love and forgiveness and is living with Vikings.
* NonActionGuy: Put in charge of taking care of Ragnar and Lagertha's household despite having demonstrated no capacity for violence. He can still grip an axe when the need arises, and saves Ragnar from drowning at one point.
* OddFriendship: With Ragnar, despite their radically different countries, cultures, and religions. One does not expect a raider and a priest to get along so well. After Athelstan's death, [[DespairEventHorizon Ragnar completely falls apart.]]
-->'''Ragnar:''' I hope that someday our Gods can become friends.
* {{Omniglot}}: Due to his background as a Catholic monk and scribe, Athelstan has a fluent or working knowledge of several languages, including Old English, Latin, Greek, Old Norse, and probably High German because of his time in Charlemagne's court. He's also shown to have a natural gift for picking up dialects. It was this demonstrated ability that initially caught Ragnar's attention and resulted in him sparing Athelstan's life.
* ParentalSubstitute: He acted as this to Bjorn and Gyda whenever their parents were away on raids. Since Ragnar became Earl of Kattegat, Athelstan appears to have been exercising the duties of a Stivardur, or steward, in Ragnar's household.
* ThePhilosopher: He can be quite poetic and philosophical at times, which probably comes from his background as a Christian monk. It's most evident when he's speaking with Ragnar or King Ecbert.
* SecurityBlanket: A Bible that he saved from Lindisfarne is the only reminder that Athelstan has of his old life. He's understandably upset when it's destroyed.
* ShipperOnDeck: He provides translation between Lagertha and a besotted King Ecbert, and judging from his reactions, is on board with the idea of them getting together.
* TheSmartGuy: Of a more academical shade than Floki. Due to his upbringing as a monk, Athelstan is the most well-educated character on the show. Unlike the Vikings, he can read and write multiple languages as well as speak them, spent time in Charlemagne's court, and displays a great deal of knowledge on cultures and religions outside of his own, including Ancient Rome and its predecessors. By the time of Athelstan's capture in Wessex, he has also become the foremost expert of Saxon blood on the Norsemen, their culture, and paganism in general. He continues to exhibit a thirst for knowledge of all kinds as the show progresses.
* StockholmSyndrome: Appears to be falling into it, under Ragnar. It's intentionally left ambiguous by Ragnar whether or not he's still a slave. Lagertha also contributes to this as her wisdom and kindness clearly has earned Athelstan's admiration.
-->'''Ragnar:''' Perhaps you'd prefer to stay here and worship your own God?\\
'''Athelstan:''' No. I'll gladly go with you.
* TookALevelInBadass: After years of gradually assimilating into Norse culture, he decides to take up arms and fight in the shieldwall along with the rest of the Vikings.
* UndyingLoyalty: To Ragnar. However, Athelstan also makes it clear that if he thinks Ragnar is making a stupid or irrational decision, he'll tell him about it.
* UnwittingPawn: Ragnar manipulates him into telling him more about England and other possible raiding targets.
* WhiteSheep: Athelstan is the only completely moral, kind, and non-murderous hero, though he's also the most naïve. He even shows respect and great interest in their religion despite being a devout Catholic priest. [[TokenGoodTeammate Even after becoming a full-fledged Viking, he's still noticeably more humane and compassionate than the other raiders.]]
* YouCantGoHomeAgain: Because it was burned to cinders.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Yidu]]
->'''Played By:''' Dianne Doan

A slave from distant China, who comes into the possession of Ragnar Lothbrok after the raid on Paris.
----
* ImpoverishedPatrician: Because of her manners and lack of skill with household tasks, Ragnar speculates that she made have been nobility before becoming a slave.
* MadeASlave: Pirates captured her and her brothers, selling her into slavery.
* UnexpectedCharacter: A Chinese woman in Carolingian Frankia would've been surprising enough, but she ends up living among the Vikings.
[[/folder]]


!!Saxons


* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: No, really. This is just about the period where the Angles and the Saxons had developed a common identity; 'Angelcynn'. English.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The Court of Mercia, plagued with dynastic squabbles and where everyone is murdering everybody else.
* EnemyMine: The Viking raids give the Saxons a threat greater than each other for them to worry about.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Wessex means 'Land of the West Saxons', and is located in southwest England.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Not nearly as much as the Norsemen, but the Saxon kingdoms got their start by acting as mercenaries for the Britons and defeating the marauding Caledonians of the North. And when they were pagans, possessed a warrior-culture almost as extreme as that of the Vikings (they did worship the same gods back then). Christianity and a settled life-style calmed them down, though.
* NotSoDifferent: The Anglo-Saxons' cultural origin is the same as the Norsemen. What they are in ''Vikings'' is similar to what became of the Norsemen centuries later after Christianization. However, the show downplays some of the more overtly Germanic aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture in order to emphasize their differences with the Vikings.
* RealMenLoveJesus: During their time, the Anglo-Saxons were fairly devout Catholics. This seems especially evident in Northumbria.
* TheKingdom: Seven of them. Currently, we've seen Northumbria and Wessex, but the political troubles of Mercia are coming to the forefront.


[[folder:King Aelle of Northumbria]]
[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aelle_c16545656_6232.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Ivan Kaye

-> ''"Who are these barbarians, these savages? Why have they come to torment us?!"''

The king of Northumbria. Boisterous and warlike by nature, Aelle is nonetheless unprepared for the fury of the Northern raiders and finds himself outplayed and outfoxed at every turn by Ragnar Lothbrok. His own brother slain at Ragnar's hand and his armies broken on the Northman's blades, Aelle swears unremitting vengeance upon the Viking.
----
* AdiposeRex: Introduced feasting and does much more feasting afterwards.
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: A Northumbrian king.
* AntiVillain: Opposes TheProtagonist, but all he's really doing is defending his kingdom. He also has redeeming traits, such as love for his family and genuine piety. On the other hand, there is something to be said about his use of corporal punishment, see below.
* AscendedExtra: In history and myth alike Aelle's relevance begins and ends with his bout with the Great Heathen Army. The show moves his reign to much earlier and gives him a lot of plot and characterization as King of Northumbria.
* BeardOfEvil: Evil insofar he opposes the protagonists and throws people to die horribly in viper pits.
* BigBad: He takes over the role of primary antagonist after Haraldson's death (in Season 1, at least).
* BloodKnight: Has a particular taste for bloodshed.
* BluntYes: This exchange;
-->'''Aelle:''' There is one further condition; I would ask that you or one of your companions agrees to be baptized into our faith. That way, I can make peace with a friend and fellow Christian and not an enemy.\\
'''Ragnar:''' You want one of ''us'' to become Christian?\\
'''Aelle:''' Yes.
* BoisterousBruiser: He is incredibly jovial and cheerful when he is celebrating victory.
* TheBusCameBack: He returns later on in the season, making common cause with King Ecbert.
* CompositeCharacter: According to the news for Season 3, Aelle will become the maternal grandfather of Alfred the Great, thus he is combined with Oslac, Alfred's historical maternal grandfather. Considering that his daughter is named Judith and that Alfred's step-mother was Judith of Flanders this makes Aelle in a whole a composite character of Aella of Northumbria, Oslac and Charles the Bald.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: The snake pit. According to Ragnar Lodbrok's saga, he had this, so TruthInTelevision.
* DeadpanSnarker: He has his moments of sardonic wit, especially with incompetent underlings.
-->"You look terrified my Lord Wigea. What, have you lost your faith? Are you no longer certain that God shall raise you up from the grave? Personally? I hope He does not and leaves you there to rot."
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Seems to have some affection for his wife and son as well as for his brother.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He looks positively disgusted when [[spoiler: Princess Kwenthrith poisons her own brother right in the middle of a feast, in front of everybody]].
* EvilSoundsDeep: Ivan Kaye's voice is badass.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86lla_of_Northumbria really existed.]]
* LargeAndInCharge: He has quite an imposing figure, befitting his position.
* LargeHam: ''"My lord Wigea, that is a counsel of despair. Are these pagans not men like we are?! Do they not bleed when they are cut?! '''OR DO THEY HAVE WINGS AND TONGUES OF FIRE?!!'''"''
** ''Victory over the Northmen!''
* NoIndoorVoice: Whenever Aelle feels like he wants to make a point (or whenever he's agitated), he starts shouting every single word that comes out of his mouth.
* NonActionBigBad: He hasn't done any fighting in Season 1.
* PutOnABus: Since most of the action in the second season takes place in Scandinavia and Wessex, we don't see or hear anything of him in the first half. However...
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He takes into account the opinions of his entire court, no matter how disparate they are, when trying to find a solution to the Norse raiders. He also lets messengers freely into his court and listens to their information closely.
** It continues in Season 2, when in a surprising aversion of RevengeBeforeReason, he agrees to Ecbert’s plan to make peace with the Norsemen and employ them as mercenaries in Mercia, in spite of his oath of vengeance against Ragnar.
* RedOniBlueOni: In his relationship with Ecbert, he's the red oni: bloodthirsty, loud and boisterous, in contrast to Ecbert's milder personality.
* {{Revenge}}: Makes a declaration of vengeance regarding Ragnar at the end of "A King's Ransom".
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: He is heavily involved in the defense of Northumbria and England in general.
* TheUsurper: Historically, Aella is said to have become King of Northumbria by usurping Osberht.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: When Athelstan speaks of him in "Dispossessed", it's with admiration. However, we see him in "Burial of the Dead" as being a cruel ruler with a taste for torturous deaths.
* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Brother:]] As of the end of "King's Ransom", he's got this grudge against Ragnar, though it's debatable how much he cares about the death of his brother vs. how angry he is over the humiliation of being outsmarted, his forces defeated, and being forced to pay the ransom despite his brother's death. When he swears vengeance against Ragnar, he swears to avenge ''himself''.
* YouHaveFailedMe: Pulls this on one of his captains who fails to defeat Ragnar, by throwing him into a snake pit. Mark the pit well, for it will be the cause of many bad things that will befall him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: King Ecbert of Wessex]]
[[quoteright:198:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ecbert_c1645654654_5513.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/LinusRoache

-> ''"Now it is our turn to deal with these pagans. But deal with them we shall."''

Claiming descent from one of the leaders of the Anglo-Saxon invasion, the King of Wessex is widely reputed to be a formidable man. Having learned the ways of politics at the court of Charlemagne, and the ways of warfare during his conflicts with the other kingdoms, Ecbert will need all of his strategic skill to deal with the new threat of the Norsemen.
----
* AmazonChaser: In the second season, he sleeps with Princess Kwenthrith, who is seemingly more bloodthirsty and noticeably more open sexually than all the other Saxon women shown in series, then quickly becomes infatuated with Lagertha in the third season -- a lot of the reasons he enumerates have to do with how badass she is.
* AmbiguouslyBi: Even though he is shown having sex with women and enjoying it, the way he looks at [[spoiler: Ragnar's]] naked body during their bath has a decidedly sexual component. Not to even mention his obsession with Athelstan.
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: In charge of the most powerful Saxon kingdom, with plans to make it even more mighty.
* AntiVillain: Like King Aelle, his primary concern is the defense and expansion of his kingdom, and he doesn't seem to share his Northumbrian counterpart's taste for needless cruelty. Further, his rule is fair and just. If he wasn't actively plotting to take over the rest of England, he'd be a model King.
* [[VillainTeamUp Anti-Villain Team Up]]: He makes an alliance with King Aelle for the defense of England, as well as to divvy up the troubled Kingdom of Mercia between themselves.
* BathtubScene: He appears to be quite fond of his Roman bath, and can often be seen lounging in it, or even discussing military and political strategy in it. He may have picked this up from being fostered at Charlemagne's court, as the Emperor was said to be fond of taking baths.
* BigDamnHeroes: After Athelstan is crucified, Ecbert arrives and orders him to be cut down, saving his life. However, [[DownplayedTrope his motivations may not have been entirely altruistic]].
* BornInTheWrongCentury: King Ecbert frequently expresses worldviews that are very ahead of his time, such as his compassion and understanding for Pagan religions.
** [[spoiler:Except that he mercilessly has an entire Pagan settlement slaughtered when their presence on his land is no longer necessary for his ambitions, making it clear that his broad views have a lot more to do with understanding than compassion.]]
* TheChessmaster: He seeks to use the Vikings against his other enemies in England.
* TheComicallySerious: The show makes quite a few amusing scenes by contrasting his serene, regal nature with overall debauchery and bizarreness present around him (namely in [[LargeHam King Aelle]] and [[ReallyGetsAround Kwenthirth]]).
* CulturedBadass: He actively seeks to preserve the writings and legacy of the Romans.
* DirtyOldMan: Dude's laying the moves on his daughter-in-law for fuck's sake.
* TheDreaded: His reputation is widely known, and feared, throughout England.
* ForeignCultureFetish: He expresses great admiration for the achievements of the Romans, and owns various pieces of their artwork and sculptures.
* ForegoneConclusion: Ecbert will conquer most of Southeast England, lose some of it (Mercia) later, and die of old age. His grandson will be Alfred the Great who will repel Viking raiders and he will unite England.
* GenreSavvy: Ecbert is extremely quick to catch up with the Viking way of thought, and plans accordingly.
* HeroicLineage: He's a descendant of [[FounderOfTheKingdom Cerdic]], and he himself will become the grandfather of UsefulNotes/AlfredTheGreat.
** It should also be noted that according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Cerdic had a direct line of descent to Woden, the Saxon vision of Odin. This only makes the similarities between Ecbert and Ragnar all the more striking.
* HistoricalBadassUpgrade: In real life, he was a fairly successful king who laid the foundation for King Alfred the Great's pseudo-unification, but in the show he's straight up [[TheChessmaster nearly unbeatable]] in politics.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: The real Ecbert, as far as we know [[spoiler: did not wipe out an entire Northman village of innocents and then pin down on his fellow noblemen. We also have no record of Ecbert being as machiavellian as the show character.]]
* MagnificentBastard: [[spoiler: He and Aethelwulf pull off a master plan to rid themselves of the Pagan settlement and pin it on the nobles who had questioned his rule earlier.]]
* NotSoDifferent: Both he and Ragnar are men of great ambition and cunning, with dreams of greater glory for their people. Athelstan even claims that the two have much in common.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Ecbert apparently delivered a CurbStompBattle to King Horik, slaughtered most of his warriors and forced him to flee Wessex. But all of it ''entirely'' off-screen.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He is just and fair to his subjects. He even listens to what Athelstan has to say, despite him being a traitor to both the nation and his Faith.
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue oni in his alliance with Aelle: calm, understated and serene, in contrast to Aelle's more vivid personality.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Embodies the trope in every appearance of his, either politically or militarily.
* SecretKeeper: Most of the Anglo-Saxons believe that a race of giants inhabited Britain before them, but Ecbert is well aware that the "giants" were actually the Romans. He's also well aware that many of the clergymen and commoners would find his fixation on the pagan Romans to be sinful, and therefore only reveals this knowledge to people he can trust.
* TheStrategist: He orchestrates the Anglo-Saxon counter-offensive, and delivers some brutal defeats upon the vikings.
* WakeUpCallBoss: He's the first among the Saxon kings to give the Vikings serious trouble, even forcing King Horik to leave Wessex altogether.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Prince Aethelwulf of Wessex]]
->'''Played By:''' Moe Dunford

King Ecbert’s son and heir to the throne of Wessex.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: Heir to the throne of Wessex.
* ArrangedMarriage: With Judith of Northumbria, King Aelle’s daughter.
* AscendedExtra: There is little historical (or legendary) record of his life as a Prince (only a few token notes he fought for his father). The show, however, makes him a much more pivotal figure as Prince of Wessex and a {{Badass}}.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Prince of Wessex and a major {{Badass}} in the battlefield.
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Aethelwulf means "Noble wolf".
* {{Badass}}: He leads a division of the Saxon force into battle personally, riding down Rollo. He's also been a part of two envoys to the Norsemen (once as a hostage), who have a tendency to kill envoys.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassFamily: His father is the first real threat the Vikings have encountered in England, and [[UsefulNotes/AlfredTheGreat his son]] will prove to be an even bigger headache for them. And Aethulwulf is no slouch himself.
* BigDamnHeroes: As Ragnar is facing the last Mercian forces, the battle seems utterly hopeless and the Vikings are massively outnumbered and outgunned. Cue Aethewulf and his archers emerging from a hill and shifting the balance of the battle.
* CelibateHero: Though he's not actually celibate or a virgin, he takes his marriage vows ''extremely'' seriously, and he has slept with no woman but his wife since they were married, and will never cheat on her. Notably, he's the ''only'' male character to NoSell Princess Kwenthrith when she tried to seduce him. [[spoiler:...until in Season 4 he finds himself developing unexpected, tender feelings towards the dethroned Queen [[RescueRomance on a mission to rescue her from captivity.]]Oops.]]
* ChestInsignia: Aethelwulf has a distinctive cross-shaped mark on his chest armor.
* CultureClash: Out of the Saxons the most antagonistic towards the Northmen, viewing them as unruly savages who worship a false god. Despite this, he's still willing to cooperate with them.
* DeadpanSnarker: See TallDarkAndSnarky.
* {{Foil}}: He serves as a {{Foil}} of sorts to both Bjorn and Erlendur, as they are both young sons of powerful, scheming rulers, but they fight for distinctively different sides and hold different morals.
* TheFundamentalist: The scene [[spoiler: he slaughters innocent men, women and children]] is capped off with him declaring he did it all for the Lord Jesus Christ, kneeling and praying.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: In history [[spoiler: Aethelwulf did not slaughter an entire innocent village with no provocation]]. And while in reality he was very religious, the show seems to amp this up to [[TheFundamentalist violently fundamentalist]] levels.
* {{Jerkass}}: He suggests sending Athelstan as an emissary, as he believes the Norsemen wouldn't kill him. He makes it clear, however, that he wouldn't really care if they did.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: On the other hand, he's a good husband, a loyal son, a brave warrior and in general a plesant man as along as you are ''not'' a Pagan.
* OneSteveLimit: King Aelle's brother was ''also'' named Aethelwulf, but he is slain before this Aethelwulf shows up.
* RealMenLoveJesus: Aethewulf's '''very''' devout, and a major {{Badass}} as well.
* TallDarkAndSnarky: Seems to enjoy teasing Athelstan with sarcasm.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: He isn't particularly enthusiastic about working with Ragnar to win back Kwenthirth's throne, but manages it.
* WarriorPrince: See Badass.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Princess Judith of Northumbria]]
-> '''Played By:''' Sarah Greene (Season 2), Jennie Jacques (Season 3)

The daughter of King Aelle and wife of Prince Aethelwulf
----

* ArrangedMarriage: With Prince Aethelwulf, King Ecbert's son
* AscendedExtra: Has a larger role in the third season than she does in the second.
* BreakTheCutie: Judith is [[spoiler: mutilated and publicly shamed]] as a punishment for her [[spoiler: affair with Athelstan]].
* CompositeCharacter: Of Alfred the Great's mother Osburh and his stepmother Judith of Flanders.
* EarAche: [[spoiler: As punishment for her affair with Athelstan, Judith has one of her ears sliced off. It was supposed to be both ears and her nose, but she stopped it by naming Athelstan as the father.]]
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Her dark hair brings out the paleness of her skin, while her beauty draws both[[spoiler: Athelstan and Ecbert to try to get into her bed]].
* TheUnfavourite: Implied when Aethelwulf says that there is no love lost between Judith and her father.
* YourCheatingHeart: With [[spoiler: Athelstan, with whom she conceives a child]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Princess Kwenthrith of Mercia]]
->'''Played By:''' Amy Bailey

The daughter of the late King Offa of Mercia, she murdered his heir, her brother, and is embroiled in a civil war for control of the Kingdom of Mercia.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: Fighting for control of the largest, wealthiest, most important Saxon kingdom in England.
* [[HeroWithBadPublicity Anti-villain with Bad Publicity]]: Kwenthrith isn't really any more evil than the rest of the Saxon royals, but while Aelle and Ecbert are admired as [[TheGoodKing great and just kings]], she has a ''horrendous'' reputation, being despised as a fratricide, a mass murderer, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a vegetarian.]]
* BadassPrincess: Managed to fight off two Mercian warrior women who'd been ordered to kill her and her son, demonstrating a surprising aptitude for hand to hand combat.
* TheBaroness: Of the Sexpot variety.
* BiTheWay: Nothing ambiguous about the way she kisses Lagertha in a Season 3 deleted scene. She also clearly admits to being attracted to her.
* BrotherSisterIncest: She says both her late brother and uncle abused her sexually for years, starting in her childhood.
* EvilVegetarian: Believes eating meat is harmful.
* FreudianExcuse: Boy, she has reason enough to hate her family.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: ''Extremely'' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cwenthryth loosely]] though.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Her historical counterpart was a rather unremarkable Mercian princess, a far cry from the mass murderer featured in the show.
* KickTheDog: [[spoiler:She poisons her own brother during a party.]]
* MamaBear: When her son is threatened she becomes the most capable female fighter on the show this side of Lagertha.
* OutGambitted: She tries to revolt against Ecbert while using Ragnar as leverage. Aethelwulf promptly tells her that due the destruction of Ragnar's settlement, that leverage is null and void.
* ReallyGetsAround: Immediately after having sex with King Ecbert, she wants Athelstan brought to her room, but settles for doing it with ''three'' of Ecbert’s guards.
* TheVamp: She’s willing to use her sexuality to achieve her ends.
* VillainousBSOD: [[spoiler: Her first sight of battle, seeing the Viking-Wessex forces slaughter the Mercians and kill her uncle, Bretwulf, is of pure horror and shock]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Prince Burgred of Mercia]]
->'''Played By:''' Aaron Monaghan

Princess Kwenthrith’s younger brother, one of the leaders in the Mercian civil war.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: Fighting for control of the largest, wealthiest, most important Saxon kingdom in England.
* DirtyCoward: The first time he goes into battle he turns into a panicked wreck and surrenders.
* GeneralFailure: He is an extremely incompetent military commander.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Loosely based on the historical [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgred_of_Mercia Burgred of Mercia]].
* NumberTwoForBrains: He is his uncle's second in command, but he is an incompetent imbecile and a coward.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Magnus of Mercia]]

Ragnar and Kwenthrith's son.
----
* CanonForeigner: To an extent. He has no equivalent from the sagas but he does seem rather similar to the portrayal of Ogier the Dane in Edison Marshall's novel "The Viking" and to Eric from ''Film/TheVikings'', which is based off of the Marshall novel.
* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: Kwenthrith claims he is Ragnar's son but, as Aethelwulf is quick to point out, given her rampant promiscuity the child could be anyone's -- and Aethelwulf even questions whether he's really Kwenthrith's, noting that the Wessex nobles left in her court never reported that she was pregnant.
[[/folder]]

!!Franks

* ChurchMilitant: The Catholic Church was extremely powerful in Frankia, what with the Emperor being crowned by the Pope and all. Then again, Charlemagne did rig the Papal elections that one time.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: Once the threat of the Norsemen is gone, the Frankish nobles at Paris ''immediately'' go back to plotting against each other.
* DysfunctionalFamily: The three brothers who rule the remains of Charlemagne’s empire do not get along.
* TheEmpire: Though no more evil than any other entity at the time (YMMV though, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_Verden Charlemagne ''did'' massacre thousands of Pagan Saxons for rebelling against his rule]]).
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: In-universe, Charlemagne is seen by the Franks as the best guy since Jesus. In spite of his virulent hatred of his peoples' ancestral religion, megalomania (seriously, historians opine that the aforementioned Massacre of Verden was partly because he wanted to pretend to be an Israelite king) and general douchebaggery. Then again, ValuesDissonance and the fact that the "good guys" basically do the same sorts of things.
* VestigialEmpire: The Carolingian Empire of Charlemagne has been divided amongst his three grandsons.


[[folder:Emperor Charles of France]]
->'''Played By:''' Lothaire Bluteau

The King of West Francia and Holy Roman Emperor. Grandson of the Emperor Charlemagne.
----
* AntiVillain: It’s hard to see him as the villain when the protagonists are laying siege to his capital for no reason other than glory and greed. However, his cowardice, selfishness, and his taking credit for all the good work his subjects and daughter do keeps us from sympathizing with him all that much.
* CompositeCharacter: He is mostly based on Charles the Bald, but includes several aspects of Charles the Simple, who was king of Western Francia during the other famous Viking Siege of Paris.
* DecompositeCharacter: His role as Judith’s father is given to King Aelle.
* DirtyCoward: Whenever the Norsemen attack the walls he cowers in his throne room and doesn't come out until the battle is over, even when Count Odo specifically begs for his presence to bolster morale.
* HeroAntagonist: Charles's just a King trying to protect his nation from the Vikings.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He is based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_the_Bald Charles the Bald.]] Mostly.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Despite the ferocity and numbers of the pagan Northmen, Emperor Charles is too proud to call his brothers for aid in defending Paris, even though this could potentially doom ''thousands'' to their deaths. For him his issues with his brothers take precedence over the lives of all his subjects.
** Zigzagged in that he eventually reveals to his daughter that he ''did'' send word to his brothers for help, but claims that none of them responded. It's apparently less humiliating for him to claim that he didn't ask them for help out of pride, rather than admit that he asked for help only to be refused.
* WellDoneSonGuy: He yearns to be considered a worthy successor to his grandfather Charlemagne. Considering that Charlemagne is called the father of Europe, it's quite a tall order.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Princess Gisla of France]]
->'''Played By:''' Morgane Polanski

The daughter of Emperor Charles.
----

* ArrangedMarriage: She's married off to Rollo as part of the bargain to get him to join the Franks. She initially hates the idea, saying she'd rather give her virginity to a dog than a pagan. [[spoiler: After Rollo learns the language and they can communicate, it starts turning into a PerfectlyArrangedMarriage instead.]]
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She is based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisela_of_France Gisela of France]].
* NervesOfSteel: She stands by the Oriflamme in the midst of the battle, mere meters away from the enemy until they are driven back. The entire time she doesn't even flinch.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Realizing that morale is shaky in the face of the Viking onslaught, she personally takes the Oriflamme to the city walls, gives a RousingSpeech to the troops, and then waits beside the standard while vicious fighting rages around her.
* SilkHidingSteel: She has the spine that her father lacks, convincing him to stay in Paris during the Siege.
* [[TheManBehindTheMan The Woman Behind the Man]]: Her father makes no important decision without consulting with her first.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Count Odo]]
->'''Played By:''' Owen Roe

A Frankish noble in charge of the defense of Paris.
----
* AntiHero: Odo may be defending his homeland from foreign invaders but his initial motive was to win Gisla's hand in marriage.
* BrainsAndBondage: He is into UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} and so happens to be the smartest person in the Emperor's court.
* CrazyPrepared: For every single trick the Norse pulled during the first assault on Paris, he already had a deadly effective countermeasure in place.
** Taken UpToEleven in '''Breaking Point''' when he unleashes [[spoiler: a spiked-wheel contraption]] on the Norsemen that could've come straight out of an ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movie.
* FrontlineGeneral: When the Norsemen launch their first assault on the walls, he is in the thickest of the fighting, repelling the ladders.
* HeroAntagonist: By all moral standards, Count Odo is a just man trying to defend his homeland from foreign invaders.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odo_of_France Odo of France]].
* HistoricalInJoke: He and Therese eventually married, according to history.
* HypercompetentSidekick: To Emperor Charles. He was the one who prepared the defenses of Paris and made sure the city was provisioned for a siege.
* NumberTwo: Odo seems to be the king's enforcer for all regards.
* OnlySaneMan: He gives very sound advice... which is promptly ignored.
** He warned the Count of Flanders and other allies along the Viking invasion route that they were coming, but he was ignored until it was too late.
** He asks the Emperor to call on his brother the Co-Emperor of East Francia for help, but Charles refuses because of his pride.
** Once sickness and hunger begin to spread, he urges Charles to negotiate with the Vikings rather than continue to push their luck in a siege.
* PowerFist: He has a literal iron fist replacing his right hand, which he seems to have lost.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: He ''is'' the sole defender of the city of Paris.
* StandardHeroReward: Odo hopes that if he can successfully defend Paris he will gain Gisla’s hand in marriage.
* SafeSaneAndConsensual: As if the fact that he has a UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} dungeon in the palace wasn't surprising enough, the Count places a very modern emphasis in consent and safety with his partners.
* WorthyOpponent: He develops a quick respect for Rollo during the siege. [[spoiler: After Rollo joins the franks, Odo becomes quite sincere about working with him, and is quickly impressed with his aptitude for strategy and warfare.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Therese]]
->'''Played By:''' Karen Hassan

A Frankish noblewoman at Emperor Charles' court.
----
* HoneyTrap: [[spoiler:She becomes Odo's lover in order to spy on him on behalf of her real lover]].
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Like all non-Viking female characters she is a gorgeous brunette.
* SafeSaneAndConsensual: She doesn't bat an eye when Odo introduces her to his UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} dungeon and seems quite into it. [[spoiler: Subverted in season 4 when she is shown not to enjoy at all and only pretend to in order to seduce Odo]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roland]]
->'''Played By:''' Huw Parmenter

A Frankish nobleman and Odo's second in command.
----
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ambitious as he may be, [[spoiler:he didn't make a move against Odo while the siege was going on]].
* TheStarscream: He craves to usurp [[spoiler:Odo's position as the Emperor's right hand man]] and is conspiring with [[spoiler:Therese]] to achieve this.
* UnholyMatrimony: He and [[spoiler:Therese]] seem to be quite in love, even as they conspire and intrigue together.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bjorn "Ironside" Ragnarsson]]
[[quoteright:275:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bjorn_5857.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Nathan O'Toole (Season 1), and Alexander Ludwig (Season 2)

->''"What would Ragnar say?"''

Ragnar Lothbrok's firstborn son and a great warrior in all respects, just as his father before him. Is given the kenning "Ironside" by his father, in light of his seeming invincibility in battle. Is poised to succeed his father as King of the Northmen.

!!As a child this character exhibits the following:
* AdorablyPrecociousChild: For starters, he tries to keep his parents from fighting at one point. At another time, when Siggy tries to pledge her service to Lagertha, he's apprehensive and states that Earl Haraldson tried to kill his father. Lagertha uses the latter opportunity as a teaching experience. This combined with TroublingUnchildLikeBehavior is meant to show how hard he's trying to become a real man by Norse standards. However, he's held back solely because he's 12.
-->'''Athelstan:''' My lady Lagertha, I would ask if you could take some time out to speak with the wife of the late Earl.\\
'''Lagertha:''' Of course. Hello Siggy, please, sit down and join us.\\
'''Bjorn:''' Wait! Earl Haraldson tried to kill my father.\\
'''Lagertha:''' I know. And if he had succeeded, I would be standing where Siggy is standing now. So, what would you like me to say to her?\\
'''Bjorn:''' I... I would ask her to sit down.
* AffectionateNickname: Ragnar and Erik used to call him 'Little Man' when he was younger.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Norse society adheres to this belief, and so Bjorn is eager for the chance to fight to prove his own manhood. It's also evident in how when he's asked what a man does, his first answer is 'he fights'. Ragnar approves, but nevertheless reminds him that they do more as well.
-->'''Ragnar:''' Are you ready to receive your arm-ring and become a man?\\
'''Bjorn:''' Yes.\\
'''Ragnar:''' And what does a man do?\\
'''Bjorn:''' He fights.\\
'''Ragnar:''' Good. And...?\\
'''Bjorn:''' And he looks after his family.
* BrattyHalfPint[=/=]MouthyKid: Has his moments, though ''especially'' around Athelstan. Like most of Norse society, Bjorn holds him in scorn for being a Christian and a slave. Thankfully, [[CharacterDevelopment he grows out of it]].
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The first time he's seen is in combat training with Ragnar.
* MommasBoy: After his parent's divorce, he ultimately decides to go with his mother. Post-time skip, he decides he wants to live with his father.
* MoralityChain: For Ragnar when he goes with the group to visit Jarl Borg, especially when Ragnar sleeps with Aslaug. Ragnar then swears never to let it happen again, and his efforts indicate that this is more for Bjorn's sake than Lagertha's.
* WiseBeyondTheirYears:
** At times, Bjorn seems to be the reasonable one in the family; a 'little pig' teaching the boar how to listen. Unlike his father, he appears to be much more in-tune with the emotions of those around him, which becomes even more apparent after the timeskip. See CharacterDevelopment above.
** He can go into very philosophical tangents regarding the gods and fate at times. Rollo occasionally pokes fun at these tendencies.
-->'''Rollo:''' How do you know so much about the gods?\\
'''Bjorn:''' Because we're related to them. You, me, my father, all descendants of Odin!
!!As an adult this character exhibits the following:
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: His father's most trusted lieutenant and right-hand man, and just as able as him to kick asses.
* AnAxeToGrind: Post-timeskip, he is almost exclusively seen wielding an axe thus far.
* AngerBornOfWorry: Post-timeskip, he is very happy when in Kattegat, but when in his stepfather's hall he is in a state of constant anger out of worry for Lagertha. With good reason, as her new husband does go in for some AttemptedRape and beats her.
* {{Badass}}: After the timeskip, he has firmly joined his parents and uncle in this trope because he is officially a warrior.

* BloodKnight: Like father, like son, like warrior culture.
* CharacterDevelopment: In the first season, he is shown to be indifferent or even cruel towards Athelstan and his status as a slave. Post-timeskip, Bjorn displays kindness and love towards a slave girl and openly laments Athelstan's supposed death, thoroughly rebuking Horik's cruel words about the priest being a traitor and worthless individual.
-->'''Bjorn:''' Poor Athelstan... My sister and I grew to love him when we were children.
* TheDutifulSon: Absolutely adores his father and Ragnar adores him in return. Also evident in how he refuses to leave Ragnar when the Earl surrounds their home.
* FutureBadass: He becomes Bjorn Ironside. In Season 2 after the timeskip, we see that he's had quite a start.
* GlorySeeker: Just like his father and most other Vikings, Bjorn yearns for glory on the battlefield and a place in Valhalla upon the time of his death.
* LoveAtFirstSight: He becomes instantly smitten with Porunn from the moment he first laid eyes on her. [[OedipusComplex Considering who she resembles]], this is not too surprising.
* MadeOfIron: He receives the nickname "Ironside" due to the fact that during a battle he was in the thick of fighting and received no wounds.
* OedipusComplex: Adores his mother and his girlfriend is her spitting image. He's quite conscious about it.
* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: Rollo asks Lagertha if Bjorn is his son instead of Ragnar's. Lagertha's answer is that there is no way to answer that or something along those lines.
* RatedMForManly: He tries.
-->'''Rollo:''' You still can't grow a beard.
* RedBaron: After fighting a pitched battle without sustaining any wounds, he becomes Bjorn "Ironside", which is the name history will remember him by.
* SoProudOfYou: At the first encounter after the time skip, it is very clear how pleased Ragnar is with how his son turned out.
* TookALevelInKindness: He's noticeably much more mellow and agreeable as an adult than as a child, when he had some serious BrattyHalfPint moments. He's especially much nicer to Athelstan, and, like his father, seems to hold both Christians and slaves in much higher regard than his fellow Norsemen.
* WhatTheHellHero:
** Gives one of these to Ragnar, after he sleeps with Aslaug.
** Ragnar gives him a MASSIVE one in "Warrior's Fate" for [[spoiler:allowing his girlfriend Porunn to join the fights against Princess Kwenthrith's uncle and brother, resulting in a massive head injury that leaves her unconscious at the conclusion of the battle. What pisses Ragnar off is the fact that Bjorn let Porunn fight AT ALL with the knowledge she may be pregnant with their child without much resistance on Bjorn's part]].

[[folder:Gyda Ragnarsdottir]]
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/e6b12775e52d63b4eeb59033d10b7993_2790.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Ruby O'Leary

->''"Pray to the Gods for him."''

The daughter of Ragnar Lothbrok. Alone a voice of calm and harmony amidst furious, clashing hearts. Her death during the plague which grips Kattegat, Ragnar's Earldom, serves to exacerbate tensions within the already fraying unity of her family, causing father and mother to eventually part ways.

* AdorablyPrecociousChild: Like her brother she is mature for her age.
* DiesWideOpen: After she succumbs to plague.
* CanonForeigner: There's nothing to say that Ragnar ''didn't'' have any daughters, but she's the only one of Ragnar's family not to be named after someone from his real life family in history.
* CharacterDeath: Dies in a wave of the plague that sweeps through the village while her father is away.
* DoomedByCanon: She is the only one of Ragnar's family to die in the season finale. In fact, it's probably her lack of historical base that made her easy to kill off without disrupting canon.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Lagertha asks to hold Gyda one last time when Gyda announces she has her period, and Lagertha is unable to do so again because Gyda succumbs to the plague that sweeps the village.
* TheHeart: Of the family, she is the only one to be genuinely nice to Athelstan from the moment she meets him and everyone is a lot nicer to her than they are to each other. This makes it all the more heartbreaking when she dies in the Season 1 finale.
* AllPeriodsArePMS: Averted. She's as calm as always and goes to her mother when her period comes, and she dies the episode after from something completely unrelated to her menstrual cycle.
* NiceGirl: See TheHeart.
* TheQuietOne: She doesn't talk as much as her family members.
* SatelliteCharacter: Other than to prove that Ragnar, Lagertha, and Bjorn are capable of showing affection without weapons or fighting, and that Athelstan has someone he gets along with in the family, she has nothing on her own.
* SiblingYinYang: She and Bjorn have nothing in common in temperament, though they do share the same moral responsibility that slips from their parents every so often.
* TheStoic: She's definitely the least hot-headed of Ragnar's home.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: The most unambigiously good member of Ragnar's family dies due to plague.

[[folder: The Princes]]

These are the younger sons of the union between Aslaug and Ragnar.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Hvitserk, Ubbe, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, Ivar the Boneless... not to mention Bjorn Ironside, mentioned elsewhere on this page.
* AxCrazy: [[spoiler: Ivar the Boneless]] straight up murders another child with an ax over a disagreement during a ballgame.
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:Just barely averted. Ubbe and Hvitserk walk out onto a frozen lake, and the ice cracks from under them. Had it not been for [[HeroicSacrifice Siggy]], they'd have died.]]
* TagalongKid: Played with; they barely have any screen time and don't slow down the main characters when on raids, but their family dotes on them, and they are just little kids running in the wake of Ragnar, Lagertha, and Rollo.
[[/folder]]


[[folder: Earl Haraldson]]
[[quoteright:216:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/earl-normal_vikings-promo-13_1051.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Gabriel Byrne

->''"A man lives or dies by his honour"''

Once he was as Ragnar is now -- Restless, ambitious and eager for battle. Now the years of grief since the death of his sons has made a ruin of a once mighty man. Stern and patriarchal, he sees daggers drawn in the shadows around every corner, true or otherwise. Holding only dwindling faith in the gods, he claws and struggles to retain his temporal power, yet deep down he is a dead man who desires only peace from the world.

When his struggle with Ragnar's rising power comes to head, the two face each other in holmgang, the preferred protocol for such rivalries. Ragnar defeats the Earl in single combat, thus allowing him to at last enter Valhalla and be reunited with his sons, and also takes the fallen warrior's role as chieftain of Kattegat.

* ArchEnemy: To Ragnar, and vice versa. Ragnar was even described as his nemesis by Gabriel Byrne.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Downplayed. We don't see him fight until his duel with Ragnar (who was injured at the time).
* BadBoss: Due to Earl Haraldson's greed and paranoia, it can be just as dangerous to be one of his loyal followers as being one of his enemies. He goes as far as to give one of his men the permission to sleep with the Earl's wife and then have the man executed when he takes the Earl up on the offer.
* {{Badass}}: He may be a conniving bastard, but fighting Ragnar as he did takes both balls and skill. Also, he had to have been pretty badass in the first place to become a Jarl.

[[folder:Siggy]]
[[quoteright:242:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/siggy_c1_7208.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Jessalyn Gilsig

->''"You are all power. All authority."''

Once the gods had favoured her well, but now with the death of her husband, Earl Haraldson, Siggy has found herself cast from the light. With the ascension of Ragnar, she finds her only path back to comfort lies with the brutal and impulsive Rollo. Yet nonetheless, despite her love for the late Earl and now for the great warrior, Siggy is driven alone by her desire to reclaim that which she once had, and will go to any lengths to escape the darkness and make her way back to the light.

* ActionGirl: Tries to pull this when Jarl Borg attacks Kattegat, but Rollo sends her away before she can do any actual fighting.
* GoodParents: Implied to be to her late sons and currently to her daughter, Thyri. All the more tragic when Thyri dies of the plague in the finale.
* GracefulLoser: Though she is shattered after Haraldson's death, she is nonetheless the first resident of Kattegat to hail Ragnar as the new Earl.
* HappilyMarried: She loved Haraldson deeply, but his depression and cruelty often drove her away. She ''tries'' to make something like this possible with Rollo, but his unfaithfulness makes it difficult.
* LadyMacBeth: [[DownplayedTrope Somewhat.]] She encouraged Haraldson's paranoia and cruelty, but mostly as a result of her efforts to give him confidence and make him feel positive. Though once she gets together with Rollo, she starts playing on his envy and insecurity to manipulate him, showing maybe she hasn't changed that much after all, though she also genuinely loves and comforts Rollo, and when he is brought back to Kattegat in chains, she convinces him to stay and continue his rise to power. After Rollo's disgrace, she ingratiates herself with none other than King Horik.
** [[spoiler: And in the Season 2 finale, she turns against Horik when he asks her to kill Ragnar's young sons and the rest of his family. It turns out that she was on Ragnar's side the entire time while also setting up Horik and his family for capture/murder.]]
* MamaBear: To rival Lagertha. As soon as Haraldson is dead, she stabs the Earl he married their daughter off to in the stomach, killing him.
** This also extends to children that aren't hers. Asking her to [[spoiler: kill Ragnar's young sons was a stupid move, Horik.]]
** Siggy also saves Hvitserk and Ubbe from drowning when they fall into a frozen lake, [[spoiler: which ultimately costs her her life]].
* TheMole: As part of Horik's covert efforts to check Ragnar's growing power, he has Siggy feed him secrets and information about his supposed ally. [[spoiler: And she's secretly feeding it right back to Ragnar the whole time.]]
* ReasonYouSuckSpeech: Gives one of these to Rollo after he blatantly cheats on her several times at a festival, telling him that Ragnar's meeting with the king while he's nursing a hangover.
* UndyingLoyalty: Like Floki and Rollo, she's not always 100% happy with Ragnar. Nevertheless, like them, she is unwaveringly loyal to him. [[spoiler: To the point that she only pretends to defect to Horik so she can be TheMole for Ragnar. In Season 3, she gives her life saving his sons from drowning in a frozen lake.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Duke Rollo Sigurdsson]]
[[quoteright:265:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rollo79896_4241.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Clive Standen

->''"Your death is on its way!"''

No Norseman is more desperate to be his own men, to forge his own legend than Rollo, whose very name means 'Famous Wolf'. Trapped in the long shadow of Ragnar's greatness and longing for escape, the spirit of the wolf has claimed him. He was born to kill, yet without Ragnar's presence what light is there for him? Rollo's days are bloody. His nights bleak. But let us see if the berserker can beat back the tides of despair.
----
* AnimalMotifs: The Bear. In the script for the first episode, he is initially referred to as "Bear Man" and the Seer even says "the bear will marry a princess" or something along those lines in Season 3.
* TheAtoner: He betrays Ragnar in the Season 1 finale, and the first episode of Season 2, but realizes his mistake after four years as a drunkard, and is now looking 'to be wise'.
* ArmourPiercingQuestion: When Ragnar ascends to the status of Earl;
-->"How will we ever be equal now, my brother?"
* AttackAttackAttack: Prefers offensive strategies.
-->'''Rollo:''' We should attack while they are weak. How long will it take for them to raise another army?\\
'''Ragnar:''' Attack! Attack! Attack! That's all he ever says.
* AxeCrazy: When he gets [[UnstoppableRage angry]]... You can only hope to outrun him.
* AnAxeToGrind: Uses a Daneaxe, the {{BFS}} of axes.
* {{Badass}}: He accords himself well in battle, and Lagertha notes that he is a great warrior. He fights off several of the Earl's men unarmed, only being taken down due to both being out numbered and his enemies using weapons against them, and it still takes them a while. Once captured, he withstands Haraldson's tortures without giving up his brother's location. In every single battle he's effectively [[OneManArmy an army in his own right]], and it's safe to assume that he and Ragnar on par with each other, and are the two best fighters on the show, bar none.

* BadassBaritone: Speaks in a low growl.
* BadassBeard: In a similar vein to his brother; thick and long.
* BadassCape: A fur cloak, when it's cold.
* BadassCreed: Chants one during the pitched battle on the Northumbrian shore in "Trial".
* BarbarianHero: He's more stereotypical 'attack attack pillage rape ARRGHH!' in the first season than his brother because he's more into it and lacks a desire for knowledge. CharacterDevelopment in the second turns him into a more philosophical character. He still loves his killing, but the same could be said of everyone on this show.
* BarbarianLonghair: Managed more conventionally than Ragnar's.
* TheBerserker: His state in battle. Particularly noticeable in the battle with the Northumbrians Saxons when they double-cross the Norsemen.
* TheBrute: If one is of the opinion that Ragnar and the other Vikings are [[VillainProtagonist Villain Protagonists]], then Rollo is the intimidating thug that follows his leader around.
* BloodKnight:
-->"I want to raid and fight. It's what I was born to do."
* BodyPaint: Has some knotwork designs tattooed on his body depicting two snarling wolves on either arm chasing after a sun and a moon. They're probably meant to be representations of Sköll and Hati.
* ByronicHero: He's cynical and jaded, intensely passionate and ambitious, driven by his perceived inferiority to his brother, and is quite charismatic.
* CainAndAbel: Subverted. All the potential is there, Rollo is envious of Ragnar's fame and glory as well as lusting after his wife. He has the anger issues combined with an impulsive nature that say he was going to turn, but in the end he stays loyal to Ragnar even after being offered a handsome reward or tortured.
* CharacterDevelopment: He began the series as an impetuous warrior of dubious allegiance. By the middle of Season 2, he's ditched his HeelFaceRevolvingDoor tendencies, goes out of his way to ensure the safety of his brother's family, and counsels caution to Ragnar when the latter wanted to immediately attack Borg's numerically superior forces.
* CoolUncle: He and Bjorn have a good relationship; in many ways it's better than Bjorn's relationship with Ragnar.
* ComfortingTheWidow: After Haraldson's death, he starts comforting Siggy who is receptive to his advances.
* ConflictingLoyalty: He's torn between his need to realize his own ambitious and potential and his love for his brother.
* DontYouDarePityMe: When he steps up to swear allegiance to his brother, Ragnar tells him he doesn't have to in light of everything he's already suffered for his loyalty. Rollo swats his hand away and swears, anyway.
-->'''Ragnar:''' There's no need for you to swear. You've already paid a great price for your loyalty to me...\\
'''Rollo:''' Nevertheless, I will swear, brother.
* DrowningMySorrows: Hits the bottle hard after [[spoiler:Siggy's]] death.
* FaceHeelRevolvingDoor: Went over to the side of Jarl Borg, then surrendered when he realized he couldn't bear to fight Ragnar and his old friends. Has staunchly been in his brother's camp ever since.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Throwing Ragnar his battle-axe when he's disarmed and then annihilating a heavily armoured enemy warrior with nothing but a ''hunting knife''. The former emphasizes his love for his brother, the latter gives a taste of his incredible badassery.
* GlorySeeker: Primarily out of a desire to move out of his sibling's shadow. Haraldson tries to tempt him with this.
* GoodScarsEvilScars: Get some nasty facial scars from Haraldson's torture.
* GreenEyedMonster: While a mighty warrior in his own right, he is overshadowed by the exploits of his brother. Both Haraldson and Borg try to play on his resentment and jealousy in order to turn him against Ragnar. [[spoiler: Borg succeeds, or so it appears]].
* HeroAntagonist: His job as Duke of Normandy is to defend Paris from his brother's hordes.
* HeroicBSOD: Suffers quite a few, though notable ones thus far are the one he suffers after Ragnar becomes Earl and the one after [[spoiler:he receives news of Siggy's death]].
* HeroicLineage: Assuming he shares Ragnar's belief that they are descendants of Odin.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollo Yes. He's that Rollo.]] Fun fact, the current English royal family owes its existence to him, since he not only founded (rather, carved out) Normandy, but was also the great-great-great grandfather of William the Conqueror.
* HotBlooded: On the battlefield, it's what makes him into one of the most fearsome warriors in Ragnar's warband. Off the battlefield, it infuriates him to no end because it leads him to try to and play his hand in matters where he has only surface level knowledge; like political negotiation. It's worth noting that that this need comes primarily out of a desire to prove himself as equally gifted as his brother, thereby overcompensating.
* {{Hypocrite}}: In "The Choice", he calls Athelstan a traitor and says that he'd kill him if he had the strength. This is coming from ''[[TheStarscream Rollo]]'' of all people.
* InHarmsWay: One can tell he loves being in the thick of battle.
* ItsAllMyFault: Says so word-for-word after [[spoiler:Siggy dies]].
* KickTheDog: He takes this almost to its literal conclusion in "Wrath of the Northmen", when he pulls a cowering monk out of his hiding place at Lindisfarne and curbstomps him to death.
** The massacre of the other Norsemen staying in Frankia, including Eirik, who actually warned him about the discontent, and all the people who seemed to have no problem with Rollo working with the Franks. Season 1 Rollo is making a comeback.
* TheLancer: To Ragnar; [[SiblingYinYang being brothers makes contrast between the scholarly warrior and the bloodthirsty warrior all the more striking.]]
* LargeHam: Has his moments like that glorious bellowing at the end of "A King's Ransom".
* LightningBruiser: For being as tall and muscular as he is, Rollo can move ''very'' fast when he puts his mind to it, even rivaling his shorter and leaner brother on several occasions.
* MadeOfIron: Survives being beaten by half of a dozen men at once as well as horrific torture; is still hale and healthy afterwards.
** [[spoiler: In "The Choice", Rollo is cut with a sword and then trampled by a LOT of horses. While he is really badly injured, Ragnar is only mildly surprised when word that he survived makes it back to the Viking's camp.]]
* MultiMeleeMaster: A master of swords, axes, and ''hunting knives''.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:He gets hit with this hard after he kills Arne. You can see it in his eyes as the adrenaline wears off and he realizes that he's just butchered his own people and, more than that, a close friend.]] Afterward, he just loses all self-respect, and he even gives up the hope of entering Valhalla.
** Has another moment after [[spoiler:he learns that Siggy died.]] It finally dawns on him how horribly he treated her during their entire time together, and blames himself for [[spoiler:her death]].
* NoOneCouldSurviveThat: Rollo takes a lot of damage throughout the series, but being slashed across the chest and then being trampled by several horses definitely takes the cake. He manages to [[MadeOfIron survive it]], of course.
* NotAfraidToDie: He doesn't seek it, but nor will he fear it when it comes.
-->"Death was on its way to take Kauko. Do not pity him -- envy him. For where he is now; Valkyries have taken him home to Valhalla. At this very moment, he's drinking ale with the gods."
* OneHandedZweihander: Often wields that two handed battle-axe in a single hand and a shield in the other. Which gives an indication beforehand of how strong this guy is.
* OneManArmy: Like his brother.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Again like his brother, but he isn't claiming to be Thor's brother.
* PragmaticVillainy:
** Rollo loves battle for the sake of it as much as the next Northman, but even he can see raiding the East is a waste of time.
--->"Where do you think the Earl will send us next? Those bastards in the East are as poor as we are."
** He later volunteers to convert to Christianity in order to broker the ransom of King Aelle's brother. As much as he loves battle, he's not about to argue with being handed two thousand pounds of gold and silver for one man without a fight. It is worth noting that he didn't mean any of it. Hell, he couldn't even understand what the priest was saying!
* PetTheDog:
** He gives an ill, old Saxon man a drink of water in "Trial". He then steals the pitcher and glass, but still.
** There's also the cute moments he shares with his nephew.
** He also takes the time to pull Bjorn and Gyda out of the way before joining the fray himself when the Earl's men storm Ragnar's house.
** After Thorunn is wounded in battle and Ragnar gives Bjorn a vicious WhatTheHellHero over letting her come on a raid when he thought she was with child, Rollo is the one who reassures Bjorn that Thorunn will live and that he must be strong for her.
* RapePillageAndBurn: His modus operandi.
* RedOniBlueOni: Red to Ragnar's blue.
* RedRightHand: He has Hati and Sköll tattoed on him. The wolves in Norse Mythology that one day will ''eat the sun and the moon''. Any Norseman carrying such a tattoo should not be trusted. [[FridgeBrilliance Sköll means Traitor.]]
* ReallyGetsAround: He has absolutely no trouble getting dozens of eager women into his bed. When Siggy joins up with him, she takes issue with it.
* TheResenter: Somewhat towards Ragnar but not enough to turn against him or to sour their relationship, which is pretty awesome.
* [[RealMenLoveJesus Real Men Love Odin]]:
** In a similar vein to his brother -- but he instead venerates Odin solely in his aspect of a bloodthirsty war-god, while Ragnar balances both.
--->"You have ''your'' Odin, and I have mine."
** He later converts to Christianity in order to broker a deal between Ragnar and King Aelle. After Floki accuses him of turning his back on Odin, he slaughters more Christians than any other warrior during the following battle to prove the shipwright wrong. He was actually pretty angry that Floki would dare accuse him of forsaking the Northern gods, and looked ready to kill him for such an accusation.
*** "''How many Christians did I kill?!! Is Odin still angry with me?!!''"
* TheStarscream: Once again in "Burial of the Dead" is teased with a possible FaceHeelTurn now that Ragnar is the new Earl and he also wants the throne for himself. It doesn't stick, though.
* ThickerThanWater: Unbreakable loyalty to his brother despite jealousy. Even after accepting Jarl Borg's offer to join him against Ragnar and Horik, he finds himself incapable of actually striking a blow against his brother in the ensuing battle.
* TokenEvilTeammate: Rollo is teased as this. He supports and follows Ragnar, but he's a rapist, hits on his brother's wife (even after she rebuffs him multiple times), and resents Ragnar's successes. His most redeeming quality is his UndyingLoyalty through multiple opportunities to betray Ragnar.
* UnstoppableRage: Goes into this state in battle.
* WeAllDieSomeday: "''ALL MUST DIE SOMEDAY!''"
* YourCheatingHeart: Being with Siggy doesn't stop Rollo from sleeping with as many women as he feels like, when he feels like it.

[[folder:Floki]]
[[quoteright:232:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/floki79769898_138.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Gustaf Skarsgård

->''"I can tell which trees are going to make the best planks just by looking at them. I can look ''inside'' the trees!"''

Thought by some as a madmen, Floki sees more clearly than most. He is the adviser and confidant to Ragnar, freely offering his knowledge and skills to the warrior. His loyalty to the Ynglinga is unquestioned, but even the Trickster shall be buffeted by the coming storm. For just as Heimdall is foreseen to be the first to witness Ragnarok, the great battle upon the plain of Vigrid that marks the end of the world, Floki must bear the weight of alone knowing a vision so dark, it threatens to ruin Ragnar.

[[folder:Erik Marteinn]]
[[quoteright:251:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/erik_c1_1386.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Vladimir Kulich

->''"If this is their god, and he's dead, nailed to a cross, what use is he, then?"''

A great warrior, dwarfing all but a few in battle, long haired and long bearded, his might and wisdom is plain to see. An old friend of Ragnar, who gathers men to aid his cause, his dishonourable death by the hands of Haraldson's thugs drives Ragnar to seek vengeance upon the Earl.

[[folder:King Horik Gøtriksson]]
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/horik79798_1660.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/DonalLogue

->''"I share your appetite for adventure, Ragnar Lodbrok, and I will gladly join forces with you. Since as King, I'm naturally not in favour of individual enterprise!"''

The people of Denmark benefit from his just rule, and Skalds are well favoured at his court. When his family was killed by his treacherous uncles, Horik rose up to challenge them to battle and drive them away from his land. Enamored of Ragnar's legend, he is quick to join his strength to that of the rising Earl in order to gain the upper hand against his adversary, Jarl Borg of Gotland. And yet, though a Norseman born and at one with their ways, Horik's true agenda remains as double-edged as the sword by his side. Knowing that Ragnar's strength has already undone two kings, the son of Gøtrik awaits the time to reveal his true cunning.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: In order to become King, he defeated his six uncles in combat one by one.
* BackstabBackfire: His scheme to betray Ragnar and slaughter his family hinges on the aid of Floki and Siggy. [[spoiler: They were actually loyal to Ragnar all along, which ultimately costs Horik and most of his family their lives]].
* {{Badass}}: He essentially won his throne through single-combat against six opponents, and has shown incredible fighting ability on the field of battle as well.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBeard: Viking.
* BadassInCharge: Of all of Denmark (historically, he was the sole King of Denmark).
* BarbarianLonghair: Long hair was a sign of manliness in Old Germanic societies.
* BecauseDestinySaysSo[=/=]YouCantFightFate: When Ragnar, who had suspected a trap and wanted to wait, challenges him on this, Horrik declares that the outcome of the battle was fated and that he cannot be held responsible for their defeat, as it was the will of the gods.
* BerserkButton: Given his devotion to the Norse gods, he is absolutely incensed by Christianity's denial of their existence. [[AcceptableTargets Any Christian who falls into his clutches]] can only pray for a relatively quick death.
* BewareTheNiceOnes: He tends to come off as rather jovial and carefree, and the first time we see him, he's playing a prank on the local priests. Beneath that he is shown to be a very ruthless and cruel man, who does more harm than help to his allies.
* BigGood: He's the King of Denmark and Ragnar pledges his loyalty to him. [[DownplayedTrope Thus, he's the highest authority among marauding warriors.]]
* ColdBloodedTorture: Has the bishop of Winchester tortured to death by tying him down and shooting him full of arrows. TruthInTelevision to an extent, as the Vikings allegedly did this to King Edmund of East Anglia.
* CompositeCharacter: With Harald Greycloak and Sigurd Hring, as Ragnar's predecessor as King of Denmark. Some historians and academic minded audiences have pointed out Horik and Ragnar are possibly the same person in the same place, with Ragnar being a more badass identity invented by Horik's descendants.
* DeathByAdaptation: [[spoiler: In real life, he outlived Ragnar by a decade. Specifically, he outlived someone called "Reginherus", who is believed by historians to possibly have been one of the candidates for the historical Ragnar. There are even some historians who posit that Horik I and Ragnar might have even been the same person.]]
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: When Ragnar and his men have him surrounded, Horik calmly resigns himself to his fate, and only asks Ragnar to spare his son, before serenely walking up to Ragnar and embracing death]].
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: He truly loved his son.
* GeneralFailure: Horik's lack of attentiveness at his camp in the first raid of Wessex (As in his men freely going hunting and him drinking and feasting in camp) and his LeeroyJenkins attitude in the second raid leads him to being squashed by Ecbert twice. Especially irking, for both Ragnar and the viewers, is that on account of his fatalist attitude, Horik refuses to take responsibility for any of his fuckups. According to him, his men lost not because of his terrible tactics, but because the gods had fated them to lose.
* TheGoodKing: [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]]. Ragnar remarks on how his people appreciate his just rule. However, this is likely because he pays skalds to make sure his reputation ''stays'' good; the man himself isn't exactly everything the songs portray him as.
* HeroicLineage: Horik I was a Scylding, and a descendant of motherfucking Harald Wartooth -- the ultimate Viking badass (aside from Ragnar and Egil Skallagrimsson).
* HiddenDepths: Exhibits knowledge enough of Norse legends to impress even Floki.
-->'''Horik:''' Of course, I do. These things interest me.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horik_I Yeah, that Horik]]. Loosely.
* HistoricalInJoke: Of course, he would know about Christians! Historically, Horik I's predecessor converted to Christianity and Horik himself historically resisted attempts to proselytize the Danes by Ansgar of Hamburg-Bremen.
* KillEmAll: Tries to pull this on Ragnar's family. [[spoiler: It backfires. ''Hard'']].
* LargeHam: Shows himself to be a bit theatrical.
-->'''Horik:''' I have heard about Christians! And their god! And... are you ''still'' Christian?\\
'''Athelstan:''' No.\\
'''Horik:''' OF COURSE NOT! How could you be a Christian and walk among our gods?!
* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Believes that Floki and Siggy can be trusted to help him bring down Ragnar. [[spoiler: They can't]].
* LeeroyJenkins: His approach to battle is essentially to say "To [[{{Pun}} Hel]] with planning, [[AttackAttackAttack let's just charge straight at the enemy]]!"
* AManIsNotAVirgin: Most Vikings believe in this, but Horik takes it to new levels. While his son had already had some sexual experience with slaves, the king believes that he'd have to sleep with a free woman to be a ''real'' man, and enlists Siggy to help him do this.
* NotSoDifferent:
** He essentially is to Floki what Jarl Borg was to Rollo.
** He is also very similar to Haraldson, in his occasionally petty decision making, and in that he's an established ruler who grows paranoid of the upstart Ragnar's growing fame and power, [[spoiler: a paranoia that drives him to actions which lead to his death at Ragnar's hand.]]
* PapaWolf: He gets ''pissed'' when one of his sons die in the raid on Wessex.
* PetTheDog: Any intereactions with his sons show the kinder side of his personality. [[spoiler: He even dies begging for his son to be spared]].
* PoisonousFriend: He has a highly negative influence on Floki, attempting to convince him to murder Bjorn.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Viking.
-->"Do not despair. Meet everything head on. Whether we live or die this day is already in the hands of the gods! They know whether we sup with tonight so fear not! Fight well. And should you die, surely Odin will take you to Valhalla!"
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Unless he sees you as a potential threat to his power, he's fair and affable.
* RousingSpeech: See Proud Warrior Race Guy above.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: In addition to his exploits that won him the throne, Horik also fights in the shieldwall alongside his men.
* SupportingLeader: Ragnar is TheProtagonist and pledges loyalty to him at the end of first season.
* SmartPeoplePlayChess: Plays hnefatafl with Ragnar to pass the time. They both use it as an opportunity to suss each other out.
* WhatTheHellHero: Ragnar gives both him and Borg one of these after their battle, chiding them for wasting lives against each other when they could be conquering new lands in the West.
* WouldHurtAChild: Sensing that Ragnar has a weakness for his family, he tries to get Floki and Siggy to murder Ragnar's children.
* YouKilledMyFather: Towards his uncles. His mother and siblings were also thrown into the mix.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Svein]]
[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/svein_c1_5183.png]]
->'''Played By:''' David Pearse

-> ''"I'd advise you all against such rash action. There is no way you could prevail."''

Bondsman to the late Earl Haraldson, Svein seems devoted to the failing lord in all ways. Cruel and sadistic by nature, he nonetheless falls quickly beside his lord when Haraldson is slain.
----

[[folder:Athelstan]]
[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zvfsqz0qwky_6472.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' George Blagden

->''"Where are you, Lord? Tell me. Is it Your will that I’m here with these ''heathens?'' How does it serve You? I don’t understand."''

Athelstan of Northumbria looks to the skies, but which god hears his pleas? Taken from the doomed monastery of Lindisfarne at sword-point and dragged across the seas, he finds himself thrust into a place where the ideals he has lived his life by protect him no longer. A cross in his left palm and a blade in his right, torn between the life of a humble Christian scholar and the need to become savage in order to survive in this new world, he faces a grave choice that threatens to tear him away from all that he once was.

[[folder: The Seer]]
[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/seer_c156546_8810.png]]
->'''Played By:''' John Kavanagh

->''The laws of men are far below the workings and shapings of the gods.''

A mysterious and eerie figure, the village's seer is their link with the supernatural and outwordly. His (often cryptic) warnings and words provide guidance for many, both good and evil.

* AboveGoodAndEvil: As per his quote, he considers the gods as this. This is also possibly why he never interferes in any of the show's main conflict.
* AmbiguousGender: Referred to as "Ancient Woman" in the script for the first episode yet is played by male actor John Kavanagh.
* BlessedWithSuck: He laments how he is forced to see all the sorrow in people's destinies.
* BlindSeer: See BodyHorror.
* BodyHorror: His eyes were either sewn shut or ''skin grew over his eyes'', in either case quite disturbing.
* CreepyGood: Not a bad guy, but he looks nightmarish.
* CrypticConversation: Making sense of his prophecies is quite a task.
* DarkIsNotEvil: He wears a dark cloak and usually hangs around in enviroments with very poor light, but he does not seem to be an evil figure (if mildly terrifying).
* DeadpanSnarker: Oh yeah.
-->'''Earl Haraldson:''' Do the gods speak?\\
'''The Seer:''' Do they ever stop?
* ExactWords: As par the course with his VaguenessIsComing warnings. [[spoiler: He tells Jarl Borg he will become an eagle. It is only too late that he learns this refers to the Nordic punishment of the Blood ''Eagle'']]
* TheFundamentalist: For Norse religion.
* LargeHam: He can get pretty hammy when he predicts things (mainly related to Ragnarok).
* MadOracle: Gives this feelings sometimes.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: It's ambiguous whether he posesses actual magic powers, but the accuracy of his predictions is remarkable.
** Example: Ragnar asks if Athelstan resides in Valhalla or Hel. The Seer states that he is in neither, but is actually alive. Cue Athelstan working in Wessex and noticing that a raven is apparently watching him from the window. If that is a coincidence, it's a Hel of one!
** A DeletedScene in "Mercenary" has him correctly identify that Björn will not be harmed easily in battle.
* OlderThanTheyLook: [[spoiler: Ambiguous. It is difficult to tell his age by appearance because of his various deformities, but he implies that he may be "hundreds of years old."]] Or maybe he doesn't, see VaguenessIsComing below.
* OnlyKnownByHisNickname: Always called "The Seer" or "The Ancient one".
* SmallRoleBigImpact: The Seer is not really a main character, but every dialogue of his is crucial to driving the actions of the majority of the cast.
* StaffOfAuthority: Signifies his role as the respected town seer. And indeed, virtually all characters treat him with reverence and respect.
* VaguenessIsComing: The Seer has a knack for being unclear with his warnings. Lampshaded by a few people he talks with.
* YouDidntAsk: Frequently, much to the annoyance of his subjects.

[[folder: Jarl Borg]]
[[quoteright:185:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jarl_c164466_3750.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Thorbjørn Harr

->''At the moment, my price is the King's head.''

A fearsome warrior, a cunning tactician, and a powerful Jarl, Borg is a force to be reckoned with. Rival to King Horik for the lands of Götaland. Jarl Borg intensely hates King Horik (a feeling that is reciprocrated) and seeks to better his kingdom's position, whatever the cost.

* AffablyEvil: Perhaps closer to "affably morally ambiguous". He is a rather civil guy, overall.
* AlasPoorVillain: His death scene is shot very emotionally and respectfully to the character, and he even gets to GoOutWithASmile.
* AnAxeToGrind: His WeaponOfChoice.
* AnimalMotifs: He takes the eagle as his symbol.
* AntiVillain: Borg is only a villain in that he opposes the protagonists. Also, his invasion of Kattegat was caused by Horik's last-minute breaking of their agreement.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Jarl and fearsome warrior.
* ArmorPiercingQuestion: "What is it that you ''want'', Rollo? What is it that you ''want''?"
* ASinisterClue: Jarl Borg sometimes fights left-handed.
* TheAtoner: After Ragnar "forgives" him he realizes his mistakes and sets to make amends. [[spoiler: Sadly it does not end well for him.]]
* {{Badass}}: Makes short work of many men who come to fight him.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassBoast: "His vanity will destroy him (Ragnar)...No, not his vanity. [[SuddenlyShouting I WILL DESTROY HIM]]!"
* BadassMustache: His distinctive trait is the fact his moustache is thicker and longer than his beard (and also braided), unlike most Vikings.
* BerserkButton: Oath-breaking. Not that it stops him from getting Rollo to break his oaths to Ragnar or to attempt to do it a second time when Ragnar doesn't execute Rollo for the first betrayal.
* BreakingSpeech: Efficiently breaks Rollo's mind with one.
* BrutalHonesty: With himself. He freely admits that Ragnar is a better man than him, and that he doesn't deserve a second chance. [[ReformedButRejected Little does he know]]...
* CanonForeigner: Jarl Borg is neither historical nor mythical, being created specially for the show.
* CharacterDevelopment: After being defeated (and subsequently forgiven), Borg tries to rekindle his friendship with Ragnar and forgets the crimes of the past.
* CharacterFilibuster: His long speech about brothers (quoted below) in "FreudianExcuse".
* ConsultingMisterPuppet: He speaks to the skull of his first wife.
* DeadpanSnarker: Very much so.
-->'''Ragnar:''' You continue to humiliate him.\\
'''Borg:''' If I invade and conquer, will he not be humiliated more? (''his friends chuckle'')
* DefeatMeansFriendship: Averted. While he agrees to join forces with Ragnar and Horik after an unsuccessful battle against them, it's clear that there is still a great deal of mutual dislike, particularly between him and Horik. Ultimately, the differences between the two men cause the fragile truce to fall apart, and the violence resumes.
* DefiantToTheEnd: He never asks to be spared or tries to make his captors sympathize with him. Jarl Borg pretty much faces his execution ''headfront''.
* DualWielding: Dual-wieldes axes.
* DyingMomentOfAwesome: It's hinted he did not scream in his execution, meaning he went to Valhalla for his bravery in the face of death.
* [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes Even Morally Ambiguous Has Loved Ones]]: He seems to love his second wife pretty dearly, and if his speeches are any indication, he loved his first one even more.
* EtTuBrute: [[spoiler: His face when he sees Ragnar has betrayed him for a second time is of genuine betrayal, and he can only repeat futilely "[[LittleNo No]]". This may be as much because of what Ragnar was telling him his eventual fate would be: [[FateWorseThanDeath Blood Eagle.]]]]
* EveryoneHasStandards: He does ''not'' look kindly upon oath-breaking.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Despite the absolutely horrific manner of his death, he rises to the occasion when the time for his execution finally comes. It's ambiguous whether or not he screamed at the end, but he still took it one hell of a lot better than most would. It could even be interpreted that when he and Ragnar saw the eagle, he ''laughed.''
* FoeTossingCharge: When he raids Kattergat, Borg sees Rollo in the other side of the battlefield. Then he does a UnflinchingWalk as he cuts down some twelve people in his path.
** When Ragnar and his warband ambush he and his men, he has his men do a literal version of this by ordering a flank of his men to fall back, then suddenly charge forward again.
* FreudianExcuse: His brother murdered his wife and most of his guests, making him a lot less trustful of people. He even has a ''long'' CharacterFilibuster on it:
-->'''Borg:''' ''Not all brothers get along so well, I know that by personal experience. I too had a brother, and I loved him. We were very close, as befit of all brothers, we fought together in the shield walls, shared the same women. When my father was killed there was fierce competition to replace him as Jarl, and although I was the eldest son, I was not sure I was going to succeed. However, I was elected, and we had a feast to celebrate...My wife was there, my young beautiful wife. We'd just gotten married. And all the others who stood in the election against me. My brother poisoned them...[[KillEmAll all]]. I only survived because my wife took the cup I was about to drink in celebration. I will never forget the screams. It's my wives screams that will haunt me for the rest of my life. My brother denied responsibility, but his guilt was too obvious, so I blinded him with my own hands and then I burned him alive. That is what I know of the love between brothers.''
* GeniusBruiser: He is a fine warrior, but also a great tactician and politician.
* GoOutWithASmile: As he takes his last breath, Jarl Borg grins as he stares into a nearby eagle (with the [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane implication]] he may have become one with the eagle).
* HeelFaceDoorSlam: He gladly accepts Ragnar's forgiveness, and appears to be wholeheartedly committed to joining forces with him. However, this merciful act was only a ruse to draw Borg back to Kattegat, where Ragnar plans to carve ''the blood-eagle'' on him.
* HeelRealization: Remorse hits him after his defeat at Ragnar's hands.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: As he dies, a suspiciously apropos eagle appears (given The Seer told Borg he'd become an eagle) and the way the scene proceeds indicates a hint of supernatural link between the eagle and Borg, but it's never really shown either way.
* NotAfraidToDie: On the contrary he seems quite eager to see how a Blood Eagle works. Even if he's the subject of it.
* OptOut: In the battle with Ragnar, he realizes his army is going to lose, so he orders a tactical retreat and flees to fight another day.
* ProphecyTwist: [[spoiler: He learns a little too late the Eagle the Seer spoke of is a Blood Eagle, a nordic method of execution.]]
* ReformedButRejected: He tries becoming an ally of Ragnar once again. Ragnar is on a very unforgiving mood, however.
* SanitySlippage: Jarl Borg starts consulting with his first wife's skull and starts having hallucinations.
* ShirtlessScene: He fights the battle against Horik's forces bare-chested, much like Rollo.
* TragicVillain: His wife's death and his brother's betrayal make him quite a tragic figure.

[[folder:Queen Aslaug]]
-> '''Played By''' Alyssa Sutherland

->''Thank you for your good advice -- but I would rather die myself than take it.''

In any other story, Aslaug would be the protagonist, but don't think she's unimportant. Sweet and gentle she may be, but the daughter of Sigurd and Brynhildr has a wit to match Ragnar's, something Lagertha is incapable of doing since her primary expertise is in combat.

* BullyingADragon: In "Kill the Queen", Aslaug very unwisely taunts an already furious Ragnar about Athelstan's death, saying that he deserved to die at Floki's hand because he was a Christian. Ragnar slaps her across the face for it.
* TheCassandra: Supposedly, had Ragnar heeded her warning, Ivar would be able to walk.
** Same for most of their children, really. On their first meeting they sleep together once, Aslaug tells Ragnar she's carrying his son, he doesn't believe her, then she turns up several months later heavily pregnant and indeed bears his son. Post time-skip, he laughs off her claim that she can sense his interest in other women, so she vows that her next son will be born with a "snake in the eye," and sure enough... When they're reunited after a long absence she warns him not to sleep with her for the next three days or she'll bear a "monster," he doesn't believe her, and sure enough: her next son is born with malformed legs. You would think that Ragnar would learn to listen when Aslaug makes a prophecy.
* ComplainingAboutRescuesTheyDontLike: After Jarl Borg attacks Kattegut and Rollo and Siggy lead Aslaug to safety, she objects to taking refuge in a small village because it doesn't provide the wealthy lifestyle she's used to.
* TheFundamentalist: Almost to the same extent as Floki. In her capacity as regent, she has a christian missionary go through a trial by fire to prove his faith, smirking softly when he fails. [[spoiler:When Ragnar is angry about Athelstan's death, she said that his killer had done nothing wrong, as Athelstan was a christian.]]
* HeroicLineage: Like her husband, Aslaug is also descended from Odin. Unlike Ragnar, who is supposedly a son of Odin, Aslaug is a great-great-great-great granddaughter of Odin; thus, making Ragnar supposedly her great-great-great-great uncle. Her father was Sigurd the Dragon Slayer and her mother Brynhildr the Shield-maiden and Valkyrie.
* TheHighQueen: More of a Helen and a Penelope than a Clytemnestra.
* LightFeminineDarkFeminine: The light to Lagertha's dark.
* MamaBear: While Ragnar wanted to abandon Ivar the Boneless to die[[note]]because he was born with malformed legs, and Ragnar wanted to perform a MercyKill because he felt letting their son grow up handicapped in an able-bodied warrior culture would be a FateWorseThanDeath[[/note]], Aslaug brought their son back from the wilderness, insisting that he be allowed to live. She even stands up to Ragnar, who by this point is one of the most powerful and feared leaders of the Norsemen.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Aslaug makes an ''awful'' lot of prophecies that wind up coming true (even if just FromACertainPointOfView). They could just be lucky guesses, but then again...
* RealityWarper[=/=]SelfFulfillingProphecy: Implied, at least with her children. She declares that her third son will be born with a "snake in the eye" and the fourth one will be a "monster" during both pregnancies, and both sons turn out at least partially so. She makes the former prophecy out of spite when Ragnar doesn't take her powers seriously, and confides in Siggy on the latter that she doesn't know why she said she would bear such a child, but now that the words have left her lips, the Gods have decided to run with them. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane It's implied]] in both cases that her words might have influenced her sons' development, rather than just predicting it after their fates were set in motion.
* TookALevelInDumbass: Upon Aslaug's introduction, she was witty and intelligent enough to match Ragnar. Come Season 2, all that had changed, from her utter lack of social awareness and skill (her hamhanded and unsuccessful attempts to connect with both Lagertha and Bjorn come to mind) to her lack of common sense (unlike Rollo and Siggy, she didn't seem to realize that, being refugees wanted by a powerful warlord like Jarl Borg, keeping a low profile was necessary to survive).
* WaifProphet: She is very tall, thin, and waif-like, and has an unnerving habit of making prophecies that [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane seem to]] end up coming true ([[FromACertainPointOfView in one way or another]]).

[[folder:Sinric]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/FrankieMcCafferty

A wanderer who told Ragnar about England and led him to the Seine, and onto Paris.

* AmbiguouslyGay: Acts the most campily effeminate among vikings and likes to dress himself up. Nothing really indicates whether he is CampGay or CampStraight.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: There is someone named Sinric along with a Jarl Siegfried in history who invaded Paris in the 9th century, though he is known as the second in charge.
* MeaningfulName[=/=]OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: The modern Swedish word for being clever is "sinnrik". Because of how little modern people know about him, this might be his nickname instead of real name.
* NonActionGuy: He is not suited to actual fighting or combat. Nevertheless, during the second attack on Paris, Earl Siegfried forces Sinric to accompany them into battle, saying that Sinric is their "map of the city." Sinric is petrified at this and Siegfried has to drag him.
* TrueNeutral: Has nothing against leading people to sack places he enjoyed visiting.

[[folder:Harbard]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/KevinDurand

A mysterious storyteller, dreamed of by Helga, Aslaug and Siggy before he arrives at Kattegat.

* BlueAndOrangeMorality: [[spoiler: Let's Siggy drown when he could have easily saved her. It's implied he's letting her reunite with her dead family.]]
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: His arrival comes after the three main women left in Kattegat all share a repeated dream of a man that might be him. Also, if he is being honest when he says that he saw the tale of Utgard-Loke with his own eyes, that means he may be one of two people: [[spoiler: Thor's retainer Thjalfi or Loki himself.]] Assuming, of course, he is not a liar. Floki seems to believe he is actually [[spoiler: Odin, despite him having both of his eyes.]]
* MeaningfulName[=/=]ShoutOut: In ''The Lay of Harbardr'', a poem in the ''Poetic Edda'', Thor encounters a ferryman named Harbard, who is really Odin in disguise, and enters a ''flyting'' contest -- a contest in insults -- with him. It remains to be seen, if Harbard is the same person, or just someone who is [[StealthPun very funny]]. For this reason, Floki believes him to be Odin in disguise.
* YourCheatingHeart: Seduces Aslaug with his "God In Disguise" attitude. [[spoiler: Which may be true. This is notable because Ragnar is supposed to be Odin's son and he's effectively seducing his son's wife.]]

[[folder: Kalf]]
->'''Played By:''' Ben Robson

Lagertha’s second-in-command at Hedeby, he is left in charge when she goes to England in Season 3.

* AThreesomeIsManly: He is seen sleeping with two beautiful women.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: He pretends to be loyal and supportive of Lagertha, while planning to usurp her all along.
* GenreSavvy: When [[spoiler:the gates of Paris are breached and there's nobody in the corridor leading to the inner gates]] he is the only one to realize it's a trap.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: In comparison to Borg, Horik, Ragnar, and Lagertha, each of whom while good rulers are often blinded by vengeance, pride, jealousy, ambition, and anger, Kalf seems to be the only ruler who truly has his role in perspective with the bigger picture (well, aside from Ragnar) and his logic on his being a better claim to the earldom due to actually being a son of Hedeby is pretty much unassailable. [[spoiler:He also cold-cocks Lagertha in order to save her during one of her LeeroyJenkins modes, having correctly anticipated the Franks leading them into a trap.]]
-->"Title is only an excuse to do good things for the people here. I want to do that."
* UngratefulBastard: Lagertha raised him to a position of authority over Hedeby. He repays her by stealing her fief. [[SubvertedTrope That being said, he does emphasise that he shares the world's admiration for her and does save her life during the siege of Paris]].
* TheUsurper: He takes over Hebedy while Lagertha is away, crowning himself Earl.

[[folder:Torstein]]
->'''Played By:''' Jefferson Hall

* AmbiguouslyBi: He has a threesome with Floki and his future wife Helga.
* AnArmAndALeg: Loses his arm in combat. Causes his HeroicSacrifice.
* BadAss: He is quite Badass, just OvershadowedByAwesome.
* HeroicSacrifice: He goes out that way after losing his arm.
* MrFanService: He is quite often shown with his impressive abs visible.
* ReallyGetsAround. Like Rollo, he has no problem finding willing women.

[[folder:Helga]]
->'''Played By:''' Maude Hirst

Floki's devouted and tormented wife.

* AThreesomeIsHot: She has one with her future husband Floki and Torstein.
* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Subverted. She faces lots of opposition from Floki over the matter of settling down.
* {{Expy}}: The Signy to Floki's Loki.
* HappilyMarried: So much so to Floki as it causes tension between them.
* LoveMartyr: Her love for Flo

[[folder:Erlendur]]
->'''Played By:''' Edvin Endre

The [[spoiler: last surviving]] child of king Horik. He is married to Torvi, the widow of Jarl Borg.

* BloodKnight
* CanonForeigner: We know nothing about the possible children of king Horik I. Erlendur is completely invented for the show.
* DomesticAbuse
* EvilMakesYouUgly: An interesting variation. Erlendur starts out as a attractive youngster in his mid teens. As the story progresses his beard starts to grow, but is uneven and not impressive at all compared to the other Norsmen and is scared in battle. This coincides with his increasingly jerkass behaviour
* TheDragon: To king Horik, especially after his older brother's death.
* {{Jerkass}}: He is literally a mix between King Joffrey and Viserys.
* TheQuietOne: Save one line, Erlendur never spoke in season 2. This was because all his dialoge got cut.
* [[spoiler: YouKilledMyFather]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Angerboda]]
->'''Played By:''' Rosalie Connerty

The daughter of Floki & Helga's daughter.

* ChildrenAreInnocent: Angerboda seems to have no idea what is happening to Floki in season 4 and her parents are painfully aware of this.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth

[[folder:King Harald Hairfair]]
->'''Played By:''' Peter Franzén

A Norweigan king who wishes to become king of all of Norway, which would require him to anex Kattegat.

* AmbitionIsEvil
* BadassBoast: He claims his goal to become king of all of Norway is so he will win the heart of a girl he likes.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He really did exist.

!!Saxons


* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: No, really. This is just about the period where the Angles and the Saxons had developed a common identity; 'Angelcynn'. English.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: The Court of Mercia, plagued with dynastic squabbles and where everyone is murdering everybody else.
* EnemyMine: The Viking raids give the Saxons a threat greater than each other for them to worry about.
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: Wessex means 'Land of the West Saxons', and is located in southwest England.
* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Not nearly as much as the Norsemen, but the Saxon kingdoms got their start by acting as mercenaries for the Britons and defeating the marauding Caledonians of the North. And when they were pagans, possessed a warrior-culture almost as extreme as that of the Vikings (they did worship the same gods back then). Christianity and a settled life-style calmed them down, though.
* NotSoDifferent: The Anglo-Saxons' cultural origin is the same as the Norsemen. What they are in ''Vikings'' is similar to what became of the Norsemen centuries later after Christianization. However, the show downplays some of the more overtly Germanic aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture in order to emphasize their differences with the Vikings.
* RealMenLoveJesus: During their time, the Anglo-Saxons were fairly devout Catholics. This seems especially evident in Northumbria.
* TheKingdom: Seven of them. Currently, we've seen Northumbria and Wessex, but the political troubles of Mercia are coming to the forefront.


[[folder:King Aelle of Northumbria]]
[[quoteright:243:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aelle_c16545656_6232.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Ivan Kaye

-> ''"Who are these barbarians, these savages? Why have they come to torment us?!"''

The king of Northumbria. Boisterous and warlike by nature, Aelle is nonetheless unprepared for the fury of the Northern raiders and finds himself outplayed and outfoxed at every turn by Ragnar Lothbrok. His own brother slain at Ragnar's hand and his armies broken on the Northman's blades, Aelle swears unremitting vengeance upon the Viking.
----
* AdiposeRex: Introduced feasting and does much more feasting afterwards.
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: A Northumbrian king.
* AntiVillain: Opposes TheProtagonist, but all he's really doing is defending his kingdom. He also has redeeming traits, such as love for his family and genuine piety. On the other hand, there is something to be said about his use of corporal punishment, see below.
* AscendedExtra: In history and myth alike Aelle's relevance begins and ends with his bout with the Great Heathen Army. The show moves his reign to much earlier and gives him a lot of plot and characterization as King of Northumbria.
* BeardOfEvil: Evil insofar he opposes the protagonists and throws people to die horribly in viper pits.
* BigBad: He takes over the role of primary antagonist after Haraldson's death (in Season 1, at least).
* BloodKnight: Has a particular taste for bloodshed.
* BluntYes: This exchange;
-->'''Aelle:''' There is one further condition; I would ask that you or one of your companions agrees to be baptized into our faith. That way, I can make peace with a friend and fellow Christian and not an enemy.\\
'''Ragnar:''' You want one of ''us'' to become Christian?\\
'''Aelle:''' Yes.
* BoisterousBruiser: He is incredibly jovial and cheerful when he is celebrating victory.
* TheBusCameBack: He returns later on in the season, making common cause with King Ecbert.
* CompositeCharacter: According to the news for Season 3, Aelle will become the maternal grandfather of Alfred the Great, thus he is combined with Oslac, Alfred's historical maternal grandfather. Considering that his daughter is named Judith and that Alfred's step-mother was Judith of Flanders this makes Aelle in a whole a composite character of Aella of Northumbria, Oslac and Charles the Bald.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: The snake pit. According to Ragnar Lodbrok's saga, he had this, so TruthInTelevision.
* DeadpanSnarker: He has his moments of sardonic wit, especially with incompetent underlings.
-->"You look terrified my Lord Wigea. What, have you lost your faith? Are you no longer certain that God shall raise you up from the grave? Personally? I hope He does not and leaves you there to rot."
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Seems to have some affection for his wife and son as well as for his brother.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He looks positively disgusted when [[spoiler: Princess Kwenthrith poisons her own brother right in the middle of a feast, in front of everybody]].
* EvilSoundsDeep: Ivan Kaye's voice is badass.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86lla_of_Northumbria really existed.]]
* LargeAndInCharge: He has quite an imposing figure, befitting his position.
* LargeHam: ''"My lord Wigea, that is a counsel of despair. Are these pagans not men like we are?! Do they not bleed when they are cut?! '''OR DO THEY HAVE WINGS AND TONGUES OF FIRE?!!'''"''
** ''Victory over the Northmen!''
* NoIndoorVoice: Whenever Aelle feels like he wants to make a point (or whenever he's agitated), he starts shouting every single word that comes out of his mouth.
* NonActionBigBad: He hasn't done any fighting in Season 1.
* PutOnABus: Since most of the action in the second season takes place in Scandinavia and Wessex, we don't see or hear anything of him in the first half. However...
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He takes into account the opinions of his entire court, no matter how disparate they are, when trying to find a solution to the Norse raiders. He also lets messengers freely into his court and listens to their information closely.
** It continues in Season 2, when in a surprising aversion of RevengeBeforeReason, he agrees to Ecbert’s plan to make peace with the Norsemen and employ them as mercenaries in Mercia, in spite of his oath of vengeance against Ragnar.
* RedOniBlueOni: In his relationship with Ecbert, he's the red oni: bloodthirsty, loud and boisterous, in contrast to Ecbert's milder personality.
* {{Revenge}}: Makes a declaration of vengeance regarding Ragnar at the end of "A King's Ransom".
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: He is heavily involved in the defense of Northumbria and England in general.
* TheUsurper: Historically, Aella is said to have become King of Northumbria by usurping Osberht.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: When Athelstan speaks of him in "Dispossessed", it's with admiration. However, we see him in "Burial of the Dead" as being a cruel ruler with a taste for torturous deaths.
* [[YouKilledMyFather You Killed My Brother:]] As of the end of "King's Ransom", he's got this grudge against Ragnar, though it's debatable how much he cares about the death of his brother vs. how angry he is over the humiliation of being outsmarted, his forces defeated, and being forced to pay the ransom despite his brother's death. When he swears vengeance against Ragnar, he swears to avenge ''himself''.
* YouHaveFailedMe: Pulls this on one of his captains who fails to defeat Ragnar, by throwing him into a snake pit. Mark the pit well, for it will be the cause of many bad things that will befall him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: King Ecbert of Wessex]]
[[quoteright:198:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ecbert_c1645654654_5513.jpg]]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/LinusRoache

-> ''"Now it is our turn to deal with these pagans. But deal with them we shall."''

Claiming descent from one of the leaders of the Anglo-Saxon invasion, the King of Wessex is widely reputed to be a formidable man. Having learned the ways of politics at the court of Charlemagne, and the ways of warfare during his conflicts with the other kingdoms, Ecbert will need all of his strategic skill to deal with the new threat of the Norsemen.
----
* AmazonChaser: In the second season, he sleeps with Princess Kwenthrith, who is seemingly more bloodthirsty and noticeably more open sexually than all the other Saxon women shown in series, then quickly becomes infatuated with Lagertha in the third season -- a lot of the reasons he enumerates have to do with how badass she is.
* AmbiguouslyBi: Even though he is shown having sex with women and enjoying it, the way he looks at [[spoiler: Ragnar's]] naked body during their bath has a decidedly sexual component. Not to even mention his obsession with Athelstan.
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: In charge of the most powerful Saxon kingdom, with plans to make it even more mighty.
* AntiVillain: Like King Aelle, his primary concern is the defense and expansion of his kingdom, and he doesn't seem to share his Northumbrian counterpart's taste for needless cruelty. Further, his rule is fair and just. If he wasn't actively plotting to take over the rest of England, he'd be a model King.
* [[VillainTeamUp Anti-Villain Team Up]]: He makes an alliance with King Aelle for the defense of England, as well as to divvy up the troubled Kingdom of Mercia between themselves.
* BathtubScene: He appears to be quite fond of his Roman bath, and can often be seen lounging in it, or even discussing military and political strategy in it. He may have picked this up from being fostered at Charlemagne's court, as the Emperor was said to be fond of taking baths.
* BigDamnHeroes: After Athelstan is crucified, Ecbert arrives and orders him to be cut down, saving his life. However, [[DownplayedTrope his motivations may not have been entirely altruistic]].
* BornInTheWrongCentury: King Ecbert frequently expresses worldviews that are very ahead of his time, such as his compassion and understanding for Pagan religions.
** [[spoiler:Except that he mercilessly has an entire Pagan settlement slaughtered when their presence on his land is no longer necessary for his ambitions, making it clear that his broad views have a lot more to do with understanding than compassion.]]
* TheChessmaster: He seeks to use the Vikings against his other enemies in England.
* TheComicallySerious: The show makes quite a few amusing scenes by contrasting his serene, regal nature with overall debauchery and bizarreness present around him (namely in [[LargeHam King Aelle]] and [[ReallyGetsAround Kwenthirth]]).
* CulturedBadass: He actively seeks to preserve the writings and legacy of the Romans.
* DirtyOldMan: Dude's laying the moves on his daughter-in-law for fuck's sake.
* TheDreaded: His reputation is widely known, and feared, throughout England.
* ForeignCultureFetish: He expresses great admiration for the achievements of the Romans, and owns various pieces of their artwork and sculptures.
* ForegoneConclusion: Ecbert will conquer most of Southeast England, lose some of it (Mercia) later, and die of old age. His grandson will be Alfred the Great who will repel Viking raiders and he will unite England.
* GenreSavvy: Ecbert is extremely quick to catch up with the Viking way of thought, and plans accordingly.
* HeroicLineage: He's a descendant of [[FounderOfTheKingdom Cerdic]], and he himself will become the grandfather of UsefulNotes/AlfredTheGreat.
** It should also be noted that according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Cerdic had a direct line of descent to Woden, the Saxon vision of Odin. This only makes the similarities between Ecbert and Ragnar all the more striking.
* HistoricalBadassUpgrade: In real life, he was a fairly successful king who laid the foundation for King Alfred the Great's pseudo-unification, but in the show he's straight up [[TheChessmaster nearly unbeatable]] in politics.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: The real Ecbert, as far as we know [[spoiler: did not wipe out an entire Northman village of innocents and then pin down on his fellow noblemen. We also have no record of Ecbert being as machiavellian as the show character.]]
* MagnificentBastard: [[spoiler: He and Aethelwulf pull off a master plan to rid themselves of the Pagan settlement and pin it on the nobles who had questioned his rule earlier.]]
* NotSoDifferent: Both he and Ragnar are men of great ambition and cunning, with dreams of greater glory for their people. Athelstan even claims that the two have much in common.
* OffscreenMomentOfAwesome: Ecbert apparently delivered a CurbStompBattle to King Horik, slaughtered most of his warriors and forced him to flee Wessex. But all of it ''entirely'' off-screen.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: He is just and fair to his subjects. He even listens to what Athelstan has to say, despite him being a traitor to both the nation and his Faith.
* RedOniBlueOni: The blue oni in his alliance with Aelle: calm, understated and serene, in contrast to Aelle's more vivid personality.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Embodies the trope in every appearance of his, either politically or militarily.
* SecretKeeper: Most of the Anglo-Saxons believe that a race of giants inhabited Britain before them, but Ecbert is well aware that the "giants" were actually the Romans. He's also well aware that many of the clergymen and commoners would find his fixation on the pagan Romans to be sinful, and therefore only reveals this knowledge to people he can trust.
* TheStrategist: He orchestrates the Anglo-Saxon counter-offensive, and delivers some brutal defeats upon the vikings.
* WakeUpCallBoss: He's the first among the Saxon kings to give the Vikings serious trouble, even forcing King Horik to leave Wessex altogether.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Prince Aethelwulf of Wessex]]
->'''Played By:''' Moe Dunford

King Ecbert’s son and heir to the throne of Wessex.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: Heir to the throne of Wessex.
* ArrangedMarriage: With Judith of Northumbria, King Aelle’s daughter.
* AscendedExtra: There is little historical (or legendary) record of his life as a Prince (only a few token notes he fought for his father). The show, however, makes him a much more pivotal figure as Prince of Wessex and a {{Badass}}.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Prince of Wessex and a major {{Badass}} in the battlefield.
* AwesomeMcCoolName: Aethelwulf means "Noble wolf".
* {{Badass}}: He leads a division of the Saxon force into battle personally, riding down Rollo. He's also been a part of two envoys to the Norsemen (once as a hostage), who have a tendency to kill envoys.
%% Putting a trope into a secondary bullet of another trope is against the Examples Indentation rules. Leave Badass tropes at first level, please.
* BadassFamily: His father is the first real threat the Vikings have encountered in England, and [[UsefulNotes/AlfredTheGreat his son]] will prove to be an even bigger headache for them. And Aethulwulf is no slouch himself.
* BigDamnHeroes: As Ragnar is facing the last Mercian forces, the battle seems utterly hopeless and the Vikings are massively outnumbered and outgunned. Cue Aethewulf and his archers emerging from a hill and shifting the balance of the battle.
* CelibateHero: Though he's not actually celibate or a virgin, he takes his marriage vows ''extremely'' seriously, and he has slept with no woman but his wife since they were married, and will never cheat on her. Notably, he's the ''only'' male character to NoSell Princess Kwenthrith when she tried to seduce him. [[spoiler:...until in Season 4 he finds himself developing unexpected, tender feelings towards the dethroned Queen [[RescueRomance on a mission to rescue her from captivity.]]Oops.]]
* ChestInsignia: Aethelwulf has a distinctive cross-shaped mark on his chest armor.
* CultureClash: Out of the Saxons the most antagonistic towards the Northmen, viewing them as unruly savages who worship a false god. Despite this, he's still willing to cooperate with them.
* DeadpanSnarker: See TallDarkAndSnarky.
* {{Foil}}: He serves as a {{Foil}} of sorts to both Bjorn and Erlendur, as they are both young sons of powerful, scheming rulers, but they fight for distinctively different sides and hold different morals.
* TheFundamentalist: The scene [[spoiler: he slaughters innocent men, women and children]] is capped off with him declaring he did it all for the Lord Jesus Christ, kneeling and praying.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: In history [[spoiler: Aethelwulf did not slaughter an entire innocent village with no provocation]]. And while in reality he was very religious, the show seems to amp this up to [[TheFundamentalist violently fundamentalist]] levels.
* {{Jerkass}}: He suggests sending Athelstan as an emissary, as he believes the Norsemen wouldn't kill him. He makes it clear, however, that he wouldn't really care if they did.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: On the other hand, he's a good husband, a loyal son, a brave warrior and in general a plesant man as along as you are ''not'' a Pagan.
* OneSteveLimit: King Aelle's brother was ''also'' named Aethelwulf, but he is slain before this Aethelwulf shows up.
* RealMenLoveJesus: Aethewulf's '''very''' devout, and a major {{Badass}} as well.
* TallDarkAndSnarky: Seems to enjoy teasing Athelstan with sarcasm.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork: He isn't particularly enthusiastic about working with Ragnar to win back Kwenthirth's throne, but manages it.
* WarriorPrince: See Badass.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Princess Judith of Northumbria]]
-> '''Played By:''' Sarah Greene (Season 2), Jennie Jacques (Season 3)

The daughter of King Aelle and wife of Prince Aethelwulf
----

* ArrangedMarriage: With Prince Aethelwulf, King Ecbert's son
* AscendedExtra: Has a larger role in the third season than she does in the second.
* BreakTheCutie: Judith is [[spoiler: mutilated and publicly shamed]] as a punishment for her [[spoiler: affair with Athelstan]].
* CompositeCharacter: Of Alfred the Great's mother Osburh and his stepmother Judith of Flanders.
* EarAche: [[spoiler: As punishment for her affair with Athelstan, Judith has one of her ears sliced off. It was supposed to be both ears and her nose, but she stopped it by naming Athelstan as the father.]]
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Her dark hair brings out the paleness of her skin, while her beauty draws both[[spoiler: Athelstan and Ecbert to try to get into her bed]].
* TheUnfavourite: Implied when Aethelwulf says that there is no love lost between Judith and her father.
* YourCheatingHeart: With [[spoiler: Athelstan, with whom she conceives a child]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Princess Kwenthrith of Mercia]]
->'''Played By:''' Amy Bailey

The daughter of the late King Offa of Mercia, she murdered his heir, her brother, and is embroiled in a civil war for control of the Kingdom of Mercia.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: Fighting for control of the largest, wealthiest, most important Saxon kingdom in England.
* [[HeroWithBadPublicity Anti-villain with Bad Publicity]]: Kwenthrith isn't really any more evil than the rest of the Saxon royals, but while Aelle and Ecbert are admired as [[TheGoodKing great and just kings]], she has a ''horrendous'' reputation, being despised as a fratricide, a mass murderer, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking a vegetarian.]]
* BadassPrincess: Managed to fight off two Mercian warrior women who'd been ordered to kill her and her son, demonstrating a surprising aptitude for hand to hand combat.
* TheBaroness: Of the Sexpot variety.
* BiTheWay: Nothing ambiguous about the way she kisses Lagertha in a Season 3 deleted scene. She also clearly admits to being attracted to her.
* BrotherSisterIncest: She says both her late brother and uncle abused her sexually for years, starting in her childhood.
* EvilVegetarian: Believes eating meat is harmful.
* FreudianExcuse: Boy, she has reason enough to hate her family.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: ''Extremely'' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cwenthryth loosely]] though.
* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: Her historical counterpart was a rather unremarkable Mercian princess, a far cry from the mass murderer featured in the show.
* KickTheDog: [[spoiler:She poisons her own brother during a party.]]
* MamaBear: When her son is threatened she becomes the most capable female fighter on the show this side of Lagertha.
* OutGambitted: She tries to revolt against Ecbert while using Ragnar as leverage. Aethelwulf promptly tells her that due the destruction of Ragnar's settlement, that leverage is null and void.
* ReallyGetsAround: Immediately after having sex with King Ecbert, she wants Athelstan brought to her room, but settles for doing it with ''three'' of Ecbert’s guards.
* TheVamp: She’s willing to use her sexuality to achieve her ends.
* VillainousBSOD: [[spoiler: Her first sight of battle, seeing the Viking-Wessex forces slaughter the Mercians and kill her uncle, Bretwulf, is of pure horror and shock]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Prince Burgred of Mercia]]
->'''Played By:''' Aaron Monaghan

Princess Kwenthrith’s younger brother, one of the leaders in the Mercian civil war.
----
* UsefulNotes/AngloSaxons: Fighting for control of the largest, wealthiest, most important Saxon kingdom in England.
* DirtyCoward: The first time he goes into battle he turns into a panicked wreck and surrenders.
* GeneralFailure: He is an extremely incompetent military commander.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Loosely based on the historical [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgred_of_Mercia Burgred of Mercia]].
* NumberTwoForBrains: He is his uncle's second in command, but he is an incompetent imbecile and a coward.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Magnus of Mercia]]

Ragnar and Kwenthrith's son.
----
* CanonForeigner: To an extent. He has no equivalent from the sagas but he does seem rather similar to the portrayal of Ogier the Dane in Edison Marshall's novel "The Viking" and to Eric from ''Film/TheVikings'', which is based off of the Marshall novel.
* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: Kwenthrith claims he is Ragnar's son but, as Aethelwulf is quick to point out, given her rampant promiscuity the child could be anyone's -- and Aethelwulf even questions whether he's really Kwenthrith's, noting that the Wessex nobles left in her court never reported that she was pregnant.
[[/folder]]

!!Franks

* ChurchMilitant: The Catholic Church was extremely powerful in Frankia, what with the Emperor being crowned by the Pope and all. Then again, Charlemagne did rig the Papal elections that one time.
* DeadlyDecadentCourt: Once the threat of the Norsemen is gone, the Frankish nobles at Paris ''immediately'' go back to plotting against each other.
* DysfunctionalFamily: The three brothers who rule the remains of Charlemagne’s empire do not get along.
* TheEmpire: Though no more evil than any other entity at the time (YMMV though, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_Verden Charlemagne ''did'' massacre thousands of Pagan Saxons for rebelling against his rule]]).
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: In-universe, Charlemagne is seen by the Franks as the best guy since Jesus. In spite of his virulent hatred of his peoples' ancestral religion, megalomania (seriously, historians opine that the aforementioned Massacre of Verden was partly because he wanted to pretend to be an Israelite king) and general douchebaggery. Then again, ValuesDissonance and the fact that the "good guys" basically do the same sorts of things.
* VestigialEmpire: The Carolingian Empire of Charlemagne has been divided amongst his three grandsons.


[[folder:Emperor Charles of France]]
->'''Played By:''' Lothaire Bluteau

The King of West Francia and Holy Roman Emperor. Grandson of the Emperor Charlemagne.
----
* AntiVillain: It’s hard to see him as the villain when the protagonists are laying siege to his capital for no reason other than glory and greed. However, his cowardice, selfishness, and his taking credit for all the good work his subjects and daughter do keeps us from sympathizing with him all that much.
* CompositeCharacter: He is mostly based on Charles the Bald, but includes several aspects of Charles the Simple, who was king of Western Francia during the other famous Viking Siege of Paris.
* DecompositeCharacter: His role as Judith’s father is given to King Aelle.
* DirtyCoward: Whenever the Norsemen attack the walls he cowers in his throne room and doesn't come out until the battle is over, even when Count Odo specifically begs for his presence to bolster morale.
* HeroAntagonist: Charles's just a King trying to protect his nation from the Vikings.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He is based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_the_Bald Charles the Bald.]] Mostly.
* ItsAllAboutMe: Despite the ferocity and numbers of the pagan Northmen, Emperor Charles is too proud to call his brothers for aid in defending Paris, even though this could potentially doom ''thousands'' to their deaths. For him his issues with his brothers take precedence over the lives of all his subjects.
** Zigzagged in that he eventually reveals to his daughter that he ''did'' send word to his brothers for help, but claims that none of them responded. It's apparently less humiliating for him to claim that he didn't ask them for help out of pride, rather than admit that he asked for help only to be refused.
* WellDoneSonGuy: He yearns to be considered a worthy successor to his grandfather Charlemagne. Considering that Charlemagne is called the father of Europe, it's quite a tall order.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Princess Gisla of France]]
->'''Played By:''' Morgane Polanski

The daughter of Emperor Charles.
----

* ArrangedMarriage: She's married off to Rollo as part of the bargain to get him to join the Franks. She initially hates the idea, saying she'd rather give her virginity to a dog than a pagan. [[spoiler: After Rollo learns the language and they can communicate, it starts turning into a PerfectlyArrangedMarriage instead.]]
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: She is based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gisela_of_France Gisela of France]].
* NervesOfSteel: She stands by the Oriflamme in the midst of the battle, mere meters away from the enemy until they are driven back. The entire time she doesn't even flinch.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Realizing that morale is shaky in the face of the Viking onslaught, she personally takes the Oriflamme to the city walls, gives a RousingSpeech to the troops, and then waits beside the standard while vicious fighting rages around her.
* SilkHidingSteel: She has the spine that her father lacks, convincing him to stay in Paris during the Siege.
* [[TheManBehindTheMan The Woman Behind the Man]]: Her father makes no important decision without consulting with her first.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Count Odo]]
->'''Played By:''' Owen Roe

A Frankish noble in charge of the defense of Paris.
----
* AntiHero: Odo may be defending his homeland from foreign invaders but his initial motive was to win Gisla's hand in marriage.
* BrainsAndBondage: He is into UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} and so happens to be the smartest person in the Emperor's court.
* CrazyPrepared: For every single trick the Norse pulled during the first assault on Paris, he already had a deadly effective countermeasure in place.
** Taken UpToEleven in '''Breaking Point''' when he unleashes [[spoiler: a spiked-wheel contraption]] on the Norsemen that could've come straight out of an ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' movie.
* FrontlineGeneral: When the Norsemen launch their first assault on the walls, he is in the thickest of the fighting, repelling the ladders.
* HeroAntagonist: By all moral standards, Count Odo is a just man trying to defend his homeland from foreign invaders.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: He's based on [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odo_of_France Odo of France]].
* HistoricalInJoke: He and Therese eventually married, according to history.
* HypercompetentSidekick: To Emperor Charles. He was the one who prepared the defenses of Paris and made sure the city was provisioned for a siege.
* NumberTwo: Odo seems to be the king's enforcer for all regards.
* OnlySaneMan: He gives very sound advice... which is promptly ignored.
** He warned the Count of Flanders and other allies along the Viking invasion route that they were coming, but he was ignored until it was too late.
** He asks the Emperor to call on his brother the Co-Emperor of East Francia for help, but Charles refuses because of his pride.
** Once sickness and hunger begin to spread, he urges Charles to negotiate with the Vikings rather than continue to push their luck in a siege.
* PowerFist: He has a literal iron fist replacing his right hand, which he seems to have lost.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: He ''is'' the sole defender of the city of Paris.
* StandardHeroReward: Odo hopes that if he can successfully defend Paris he will gain Gisla’s hand in marriage.
* SafeSaneAndConsensual: As if the fact that he has a UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} dungeon in the palace wasn't surprising enough, the Count places a very modern emphasis in consent and safety with his partners.
* WorthyOpponent: He develops a quick respect for Rollo during the siege. [[spoiler: After Rollo joins the franks, Odo becomes quite sincere about working with him, and is quickly impressed with his aptitude for strategy and warfare.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Therese]]
->'''Played By:''' Karen Hassan

A Frankish noblewoman at Emperor Charles' court.
----
* HoneyTrap: [[spoiler:She becomes Odo's lover in order to spy on him on behalf of her real lover]].
* RavenHairIvorySkin: Like all non-Viking female characters she is a gorgeous brunette.
* SafeSaneAndConsensual: She doesn't bat an eye when Odo introduces her to his UsefulNotes/{{BDSM}} dungeon and seems quite into it. [[spoiler: Subverted in season 4 when she is shown not to enjoy at all and only pretend to in order to seduce Odo]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roland]]
->'''Played By:''' Huw Parmenter

A Frankish nobleman and Odo's second in command.
----
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ambitious as he may be, [[spoiler:he didn't make a move against Odo while the siege was going on]].
* TheStarscream: He craves to usurp [[spoiler:Odo's position as the Emperor's right hand man]] and is conspiring with [[spoiler:Therese]] to achieve this.
* UnholyMatrimony: He and [[spoiler:Therese]] seem to be quite in love, even as they conspire and intrigue together.
[[/folder]]


!!Chinese

[[folder:Yidu]]
->'''Played By:''' Dianne Doan

A slave from distant China, who comes into the possession of Ragnar Lothbrok after the raid on Paris.
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* ImpoverishedPatrician: Because of her manners and lack of skill with household tasks, Ragnar speculates that she made have been nobility before becoming a slave.
* MadeASlave: Pirates captured her and her brothers, selling her into slavery.
* UnexpectedCharacter: A Chinese woman in Carolingian Frankia would've been surprising enough, but she ends up living among the Vikings.
[[/folder]]