Ivar the Boneless (nonfiction)

Ivar the Boneless (Old Norse: Ívarr hinn Beinlausi; Old English: Hyngwar) was a Viking leader and a commander who invaded what is now England.

According to the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, he was the son of Ragnar Lodbrok and Aslaug.

His half brothers included Björn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Hvitserk, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Ubba.

The origin of the nickname is not known. The sagas describe him as lacking bones.

According to the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, Ivarr's bonelessness was the result of a curse. His mother was Ragnar's second wife and had powers of sorcery. She said that she and her husband must wait three nights before consummating their marriage, but he ignored this warning, and the result was that Ivar was born without bones.

While the sagas describe Ivar's physical disability, they also emphasise his wisdom, cunning, and mastery of strategy and tactics in battle.

Nonfiction cross-reference

• Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye (nonfiction)

External links:

• Ivar the Boneless @ Wikipedia