In the footsteps of Ivarr the Boneless
In
AD 865, a great Viking army invaded England. The violence that followed
engulfed half the country and altered the course of British history. At
the head of the army was a mysterious, fearsome warlord known to history
by his nickname 'Ivarr the Boneless'.
Little is known about Ivarr from historical sources, but in the Scandinavian sagas, he emerges from the shadows of the early Middle Ages in full colour: a great military strategist and a ruthless invader driven by revenge. But the sagas also claim that he had 'only the like of gristle where bones should have been'. Could Ivarr's nickname 'boneless' hint that he was physically disabled?
This website examines what is known about Ivarr's life and looks at the evidence for his nickname. It follows his progress from Denmark to Dublin and then his invasion of England, as well as his foray into Scotland. At each stage, you will find out what is left today that recalls the times of this fascinating warrior chief, and ways in which you can discover more about him.
