Björn Ironside

Björn Ironside was a legendary Viking chief, warrior and naval commander, famed for his ruthlessness and cunning. He lived sometime in the 9th century AD.

The son of Ragnar Lodbrok, he successfully continued a tradition begun by his father of raiding into France and England. He pushed further south still, terrorising the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to the south of France, Pisa and the inland Italian town of Luna. Legend has it that Luna was taken by devious means - Ironside is said to have faked his death, then had the town's priest informed that he'd undergone a deathbed conversion and wished to be buried in the grounds of the town chapel. When his coffin was carried inside, he is said to have lept out, fought his way to Luna's gates and let his forces in.

Ironside and his fleet were eventually seen off after a bruising encounter with the Saracen navy in the Mediterranean, but he made it back to Sweden and lived out a life of immense prosperity. Since the 18th century, it has been believed that a barrow named after Björn Ironside on the island of Munsö in Lake Mälaren, Sweden is the legendary Viking king's burial grave.

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