Did Ivar the Boneless have children?

Ivar the Boneless, also known as Ivar Ragnarsson, was a semi-legendary Viking leader who invaded England and Ireland.

According to the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, he was the son of Ragnar Loðbrok and his wife Aslaug. His brothers included Björn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Hvitserk, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye and Ubba.

According to the Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, Ivar’s bonelessness was the result of a curse.

His mother, Aslaug, was Ragnar’s third wife and was described as a völva, a type of seer or clairvoyant.

She said that she and her husband must wait three nights before consummating their marriage after his return following a long separation (while he was in England raiding).

However, Ragnar was overcome with lust after such a long separation and did not heed her words. As a result, Ivar was born with weak bones.

Did Ivar the Boneless have children?

Ivar the Boneless remains a local king in England for a long time after, ruling from York but having no children to succeed him, ‘because of the way he was: with no lust or love’ (4).