What Lars Brownworth has said about Ragnar Lothbrok
2 quotes · 1 episode · Apr 9, 2026
Lars Brownworth, American historian, author of The Sea Wolves and The Normans, and creator of the 12 Byzantine Rulers podcast, has been quoted on Ragnar Lothbrok 2 times in 1 episode of Lex Fridman Podcast, most recently on April 9, 2026. Each quote below is verbatim and links to the moment it was said.
In their words
Brownworth believes Ragnar Lothbrok is probably a composite figure but with some historical basis.
“There probably is a seed of truth there. There probably was someone named Ragnar. The last name is a little suspicious”
Lex Fridman Podcast: #495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 32:59
Brownworth notes that the Vikings TV series' depiction of Ragnar and Rollo as brothers is unhistorical.
“They weren't brothers. In fact, by some accounts, they were born 80 years apart”
Lex Fridman Podcast: #495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking Age (Apr 9, 2026) · Listen from 40:27
Episodes
#495 – Vikings, Ragnar, Berserkers, Valhalla & the Warriors of the Viking AgeLex Fridman Podcast · Apr 9, 2026 · 2 h 10 min
Historian Lars Brownworth tells Lex Fridman about the Viking Age, from Lindisfarne and Ragnar Lothbrok to Normandy, Vinland, the Varangian Guard and the Byzantine Empire.
Lars Brownworth on other topics
- Viking Age · 5 quotes
- Byzantine Empire · 3 quotes
- 12 Byzantine Rulers · 2 quotes
- Great man theory · 1 quote
- Cnut the Great · 1 quote
- Varangian Guard · 1 quote
- Norse colonization of North America · 1 quote
- Norse settlement of Greenland · 1 quote