Was Ingrid A Witch? What Vikings’ Real Life History Reveals

Vikings was no stranger to fantasy elements, and Ingrid raised many questions thanks to her magical abilities. So, was she really a witch?

Various characters in Vikings didn’t have the best intentions and went to lengths to get themselves out of difficult situations or get rid of other people, and among them is Ingrid (Lucy Martin), who is believed to have been a witch. Vikings covered the first years of the Viking Age, and while it’s based on real-life events and people, the series is known for taking a lot of creative liberties, and some of the show’s characters might not have been real at all. During its first seasons, Vikings followed Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his travels and raids alongside his Viking brothers, but as the series evolved, it focused on other characters as well.

Following Ragnar’s death in Vikings season 4, Vikings shifted its focus to Ragnar’s sons and their own travels, and through them, viewers met a variety of characters. Ragnar’s first son, Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig), became one of the protagonists of Vikings, who the audience followed in many battles and many marriages, too. Bjorn’s fifth wife was Ingrid, introduced in Vikings season 6, who was actually Bjorn’s second wife while he was still married to Gunnhild. Ingrid was shown to have a strong connection with the gods, leading to speculation about her being a witch – but was she?

Related: Does Vikings’ Kattegat Exist? Real World Location Explained

Was Vikings’ Ingrid Based On A Real-Life Person?

Although it’s not confirmed if Vikings’ Ingrid was based on a real-life person or even a mythological character or not, it’s believed that she could have been inspired by two real-life figures: Ingrid Ragnvaldsdotter and Ingrid Ylva. Ingrid Ragnavaldsdotter was a member of the Swedish royal family and later a member of the Danish royalty by marriage. Ingrid Ragnavaldsdotter was also the Queen consort of Norway when she married Harald IV of Norway, with whom she had a son, Inge Haraldsson, who would become King of Norway. Ingrid served as an advisor to her son and played a prominent part in many of the events of the early civil war era in Norway.

Ingrid Ylva was a Swedish noblewoman and wife of Magnus Minnesköld of Bjälbo, with whom she had a son, Birger Jarl. Ingrid Ylva is best known for various legends that called her a white witch, as she’s said to have been able to master magic, which she used for good purposes and for the fortune of her own family. One of the stories about Ingrid’s magic says that, when Bjälbo was attacked, Ingrid rushed to the top of the church tower, ripped open a pillow of feathers that spread across the land, and these turned into knights in armor. Ingrid was also known for her ability to foretell the future, and on her deathbed, she predicted that her line would succeed to the Swedish throne as long as her head was held high, so her son buried her standing upright inside the church tower where she used to spend a lot of time.

What Happened To Ingrid In Vikings?

The legends of Ingrid Ylva and her use of magic fit with what’s known about Vikings’ Ingrid. After Bjorn’s death, the search for a new ruler of Kattegat began, and Ingrid insisted that the child she was carrying was Bjorn’s so she could become Queen of Kattegat. Ingrid later performed a spell in Bjorn’s tomb to help her win the title of Queen, but Erik the Red saw her. Ingrid became Queen of Kattegat alongside Gunnhild, as Harald “Finehair” Halfdansson returned to reclaim the throne and took both as his wives. As Ingrid’s powers and connection to the gods grew stronger, Ingrid performed another ritual now to get rid of Erik the Red, asking the gods to turn him blind. Erik’s sight began to deteriorate, and with the help of a slave, Ingrid killed Erik. Vikings was no stranger to fantasy elements, and seeing the possible inspiration behind the character, it’s safe to assume Ingrid truly was a witch.

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