TV vs History: Is the Vikings Show Based on Real Events?

With over 6 million viewers in the U.S. alone, the TV series Vikings is an undeniably famous Viking show that has made Norse warriors cool again, putting axes and berserkers back in pop culture’s spotlight. But with all the action, drama, and brooding monologues, you might start to wonder, how much of this reflects real events from history?

And how much is just made-for-TV fiction?

From Ragnar’s dramatic rise to power to blood-soaked rituals and fearless shieldmaidens, the series blends known facts with mythology and imagination. And to be fair, it’s not pretending to be a documentary or an educational series.

But it does introduce a lot of viewers to Norse history for the first time, which makes it worth comparing to actual records.

So, in this article, we break down some of the biggest elements from the show. Let’s compare characters, customs, and key plot points with actual Viking history—and see where fact meets fiction.

Ragnar Lothbrok: Warrior, Legend… or Both?

In the show, Ragnar Lothbrok is the ultimate Norse hero. He’s a farmer-turned-warrior who raids England, becomes king, and changes Viking history forever. The character has charisma, complexity, and a habit of making brutal warfare look strangely poetic.

But does he line up with the historical record?

Here’s the twist: Ragnar may never have existed—not in the way we know him from the screen.

Most historians believe Ragnar is a legendary figure, possibly inspired by several real Vikings like Reginherus (who attacked Paris in 845) and others mentioned in Norse sagas. There’s no hard evidence linking all these exploits to one man. He’s more folklore than fact.

The sagas, especially The Tale of Ragnar’s Sons, portray him as a larger-than-life hero with divine favor and impossible victories. But sagas are oral stories written centuries later. Historians see them as colorful but unreliable sources.

So is Ragnar real? Sort of.

He represents the Viking archetype, and the show properly represented that: fierce, clever, and restless. But as a historical figure, he’s more of a composite sketch.

Lagertha and the Shieldmaidens: Were There Female Viking Warriors?

This Viking show also showcases female warriors. More specifically, it gives us Lagertha, Ragnar’s equally deadly and independent wife. According to the chronicler Saxo, she’s a “shieldmaiden”, a female warrior fighting beside men.

But did shieldmaidens really exist?

Some evidence suggests women may have fought in battle. One famous example is the Birka burial site in Sweden, where a skeleton was found buried with weapons and signs of high status—possibly a warrior. A 2017 osteological study confirmed that the remains were those of a female.

Some scholars argue that shieldmaidens were rare, symbolic, or more myth than norm. But others believe women may have joined raiding parties or defended homesteads when needed.

In short, female warriors weren’t the norm, but they weren’t impossible either.

While the show amplifies the idea for dramatic effect, the whole “female warriors” is still rooted in intriguing (if contested) possibilities. Lagertha may not be typical—but she’s not totally made up either.

Are the Religion and Rituals Accurate in This Viking Show?

The spiritual side of the Viking show is intense.

We see sacrifices, visions, Seers in smoky temples, and frequent talks of Valhalla and Odin. But how closely does this reflect real Norse religious practice? Let’s just say it’s a mixed bag.

Vikings were deeply religious, and Norse mythology was central to their worldview.

They believed in gods like Thor, Odin, and Freyja, and lived by a code that valued bravery, honor, and reputation. The concept of Valhalla—an afterlife for fallen warriors—was real to them. That part of the show is well-grounded.

Read the rest of my article here and find out just how accurate the show Vikings is:

>>> https://blogs4blogs.com/viking-show-vs-real-events/