The Norsemen (Ragnar's Family) | The Saxons | The Franks | The Mediterraneans | The Rus
The Mediterraneans
- "Arabian Nights" Days: Played pretty straight, which is a given how the Norse culture is treated in a corresponding way.
- Cadre of Foreign Bodyguards: The Mediterraneans use Vikings this way, which is Truth in Television.
- Decadent Court: Invoked by Sinric.
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Byzantines
Euphemius
Played By: Albano Jerónimo
The client ruler of Sicily.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: When introduced, he appears to be a fairly important supporting character in the Björn/Halfdan adventure. He is killed and eaten in the second episode he appears in.
- The Quisling: Has become the client king of Ziyadat Allah to rule over Sicily.
Kassia
Played By: Karima McAdams
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Seems at first to be a inactive nun. She is then shown to easily manipulate Euphemius and Ziyadat Allah orders several deaths.
Arabs
Ziyadat Allah
Played By: Kal Naga
A powerful emir in North Africa.
- Affably Evil: Gives the appearance of being a tolerant and friendly man. He is also a conquering cannibal.
- Aristocrats Are Evil: Ruler of the Aghlabid dynasty and recognised by most of the characters as the most powerful leader in the Mediterranean. Also a scheming, Titus Andronicus-esque cannibal.
- Filler Villain: He has very little relevance to the overarcing plot, other than some involvement in why Halfdan sides with Björn rather than his brother Harald which in itself does not change much.
- I Am a Humanitarian: Has Euphemius cooked and serves him at dinner. It's implied he has done this before.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: The real Ziyadat Allah was a decadent, possibly corrupt ruler who nevertheless managed to successfully to conquer Palermo and presided over massive economic and cultural growth in his kingdom. The show's interpretation of this man is an omniglot Machiavellian schemer Chess Master who has a taste of Shakespearean displays of vengeance.
- Omniglot: Speaks Old Norse, thanks to the Kievian Vikings.
- Wicked Cultured: Omniglot, epicurean man-of-world leader of an advanced society who happens to be a tyrannical, scheming cannibal.
