The History Channel's Vikings has become a smash hit. One of the main reasons for this is the complex relationship between Ragnar and Athelstan. Though both men are long gone now, they built the foundation of complex relationships between characters. After all, they were closer to each other than they were their respective mates. These men relied on each other to be strong and change the world around them. Every scene between them was a genuine joy, and these two characters are missed to this day.
As Vikings moves into its sixth and final season, the story will be finishing up without these two fascinating characters. Despite their absence, they truly altered everything in the world around them. Without Ragnar and Athelstan, the conflict between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons would look very different. Without them, it might have never happened at all.
Whether that means their kinship was good or bad for the world is subjective, but their influence cannot be denied. Both men made everyone they touched grow and evolve into entirely new people. Curious, fascinating, and exploratory, Athelstan and Ragnar are the best friends who changed this story forever.
Here are 25 Wild Revelations About Ragnar And Athelstan's Relationship.
Ragnar And Athelstan Are Platonic Soulmates
The second Ragnar and Athelstan met, they had a connection. Though the monk's ability to speak his language helped his case, there was something that drew the pair together over and over again. The duo never were romantic, but they always chose each other over most anyone else. Their relationship was a friendship like no other, that superseded cultures, religions, and wars.
In a way, Athelstan and Ragnar were the only soulmates either had. While women never stayed, their bond always persisted. As far as Vikings goes, there were never two friends more connected.
Their Sons Are Kings
From the beginning of Vikings, fans know that Ragnar and Athelstan are meant for great things. While the two had great successes and adventures of their own, their children start off even stronger. As young men, both Bjorn and Alfred are already kings of their respective lands. Despite one being an illegitimate child and the other an abandoned son, they are impressive leaders.
Even though both Athelstan and Ragnar are gone in the show, their legacy thrives in their sons. Alfred, Bjorn, and the rest of Ragnar's children are all formidable and will be fascinating to watch as the show continues. Hopefully these two legacies don't clash, but when it comes to Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, there are no promises.
Both Men Are Slain Mercilessly
While fans adored the Viking king and his christian bestie, not everyone in their lives felt the same way. Both Ragnar and Athelstan lose their lives in brutal ways on the show. Athelstan falls first to an ambitious and ruthless Viking, Floki, who chops his head off while he prays. The ing is particularly hard on Ragnar, who loved him like a brother.
However, Ragnar's end isn't much easier. The Viking king is flung into a pit of snakes by an Anglo-Saxon royal, ing away from bites and venom. When compared, neither experience seems very pleasant. If only the pair got more pleasant ways to live out the ends of their lives.
Athelstan's Linguistics Are The Only Reason They Became Friends
Ragnar and Athelstan met during a Viking raid of a monastery, where the latter was a christian monk. All of his fellow priests were slain, but Athelstan was spared because he could speak Norse like the attackers. Hoping to use the frightened man for information, Ragnar spared him and took him back home as a slave.
After Athelstan gave them information for future raids, though, Ragnar kept him. They even ended up very close friends. Without his knowledge of Norse dialect, Ragnar never would have met the person he'd care most about in the world. Furthermore, he may have never achieved all the thing he did.
Ragnar ed Athelstan's Christianity
One of the most controversial things about bringing Athelstan into Viking culture was his faith. While they didn't care about adopting an outsider, Vikings were pagan. Several times, without certainty about his religion, Athelstan was in danger of being sacrificed, banished, or even beheaded.
Though Athelstan leaned into the culture to fit in, ultimately, he never fully abandoned Christianity. Furthermore, Ragnar knew this and let his friend get away with his secrets. He even learned more about the Christian faith himself, trying to understand Athelstan better. Other Vikings would have considered the secret traitorous, but Ragnar let Athelstan be a Viking while remaining himself.
Athelstan Was Spared By Viking And English Leaders
As lucky as Athelstan is, he was spared by several great leaders of different cultures. First, his life was saved when Earl Haraldson allowed Ragnar to keep Athelstan. This led to their close friendship and, eventually, the priest becoming a Viking himself. After that, despite his ties to the Vikings, King Ecbert, an Anglo-Saxon, spared him when he was captured by the English. They became friends with time, but only his religion and Ecbert's good faith saved him from execution.
Finally, when Athelstan was working with the English, Ragnar willingly took him back instead of declaring him a traitor. Good thing great leaders love to spare handsome priests.
They Both Were Attracted To Princesses
When Vikings began, Ragnar was a simple warrior/farmer and Athelstan was a simple priest. Both had decent standings in their respective circles, but they weren't anything special.
Over time, though, that began to radically change. Ragnar started to rise up in rank. Athelstan began making friends with many leaders and became known for his pure faith. The epitome of their rising status, though, came in their changing attractions. Both men were settled in their lives, either married or celibate. However, when they became more important, they both found themselves attracted to princesses. Their affairs with Aslaug and Judith changed the course of their legacy, bearing sons who became grand leaders.
Athelstan Is A Near Constant Captive
Though the duo eventually became best friends, Athelstan and Ragnar started as captive and captor, respectively. For a long time he remained a Viking slave. Even when he was melding more into their culture, the priest wasn't considered a true Viking for a long time. Then, just as he's become more integrated, Athelstan is a captive for the Anglo-Saxons under King Ecbert.
While King Ecbert respected and treated Athelstan well, he wasn't entirely free there, either.
During his three season run on Vikings, the priest spent little time as a free man. Most of it he was captive of one place or another, and only near his end was he truly free.
Their Worlds Will Never Agree
Athelstan grew up in Anglo-Saxon culture, becoming a monk, abiding by social rules, and pledging himself to God. Meanwhile, Ragnar had a very different upbringing among the Vikings, a people dedicated to Pagan beliefs and disinterested in social rigidity. The pair overcame these differences to form a close bond, but their worlds remain wildly different. Though they can find common ground, their cultures are too different to change.
Anglo-Saxons are dedicated to their religion and rules. Vikings are devoted to their Gods and their pride. They may have similar pillars of belief, but those pillars are too different to span. There seems to be no possible peace between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons.
Together They Made Ragnar King
When Vikings began, Ragnar was a strong, respected warrior with dreams of the west. With Athelstan's linguistics and Anglo-Saxon knowledge combined with his ambition, though, the Earl saw him as a threat. This sent him on the path that would lead him to become the king of the Vikings. The second Athelstan saved him from the river, they became an unstoppable force together.
With both their intelligence and strengths, these two men completely toppled the Viking hierarchy in their way, eventually putting more and more power in Ragnar's hands. By the end of season 2, their actions have changed their world forever.