SPOILERS Bjorn season 4 part 1 recap

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/cast/bjorn

Hail Vikings,

In the first episode of this season, we see Bjorn arrest Floki for the dead of Athelstan. When his father isn't too pleased about this when he woke up Bjorn learns a valuable lesson from that. Ragnar still thinks he is stupid and when he ask to go away by his own into the wilderness he didn't get much of approval either. Ragnar agrees with his decision but fears the worst. When Bjorn is in the wilderness we see him almost freeze to dead before arriving at the cabin. As he went out for fishing he sees a bear. When he finally approach the bear he realizes that he has forgotten his axe. After he has set traps to hunt a bear down he kills the bear.

Kalf and Erlendur plot a plan because Erlendur wants Bjorn dead, to revenge the dead of his father King Horik they sent a berserker his way. With the ring of King Horik to get him passage through the different kingdoms. How foolish of Erlendur it was to do that. After Bjorn get into the fight with the berserker and tortured the men he is given the ring.

Bjorn gets to Hedeby before Yule he gets Torvi away from Erlendur. Torvi needs to leave her child behind. Lagertha tells him there is still time to get to Kattegat to celebrate Yule. He spends Yule at his father's place in Kattegat. Bjorn isn't too pleased to see Aslaug and King Finehair especially when he hears what King Finehair wants. Ragnar comes in and tells 

Bjorn he isn't pleased to see Torvi in Kattegat.

Torvi sees the ring when Bjorn is looking at it and tells Bjorn it is from Erlendur. Bjorn confronts Erlendur with the ring he is lying to Bjorn that he have never seen the ring. Ragnar, however, doesn't trust King Finehair something he has in common with Bjorn. Bjorn goes and talks to King Finehair. He has nothing to fear from King Finehair.

The first defeat in Paris is a fact and Bjorn talks to his father that he needs to do something about the defeat because of the family name.  When they strike the second time we see Bjorn already much more in his role of becoming a leader. When his mother get's wounded he carries her into the boat and gets Ragnar by someone else in the boat as well to sail away back to Kattegat.

If Aslaug gets Bjorn away from the fishing we see an irritation towards Aslaug. When he finds out why she called him he isn't too pleased to hear the story about Magnus and gets really angry to hear from the Wessex settlement that it has slaughtered. He doesn't know because it was never told to him. It is then that we hear Ragnar is gone for so long as they arrived back in Kattegat to nowhere be found.  

After Aslaug told him were his brothers are because they need to know we see Bjorn up at the cabin where we meet the grown-up versions of Ubbe, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ivar. They want to spread the news about Magnus and the settlement because if Ragnar is coming back two of them want him dead. Ivar, Ubbe, and Bjorn don't want to know they took it and defend Ragnar. Bjorn tells them although Ragnar has failings and was almost a god to a lot of people he is still a man in Bjorn his eyes. Ivar and Ubbe want to know more about Ragnar mind and strategy.

We see Bjorn at Floki who knew about the settlement and we see boats. Bjorn wants to sail the Mediterranean sea. Imaginary land on a map according to Floki but when Bjorn asks him to come he comes.

SPOILERS Rollo season 4 part 1 recap

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/cast/rollo

Hail Vikings,

When we left season 3 behind Rollo stayed in Paris. Due to a prophecy by the seer he needs to stay there. He is going to marry Gisla. At the wedding, we see a proud Rollo. When they have the wedding night we see the first transformation in Rollo. Gisla is afraid of him. The wedding night turns out as a disaster.

After the wedding, Rollo, count Oddo, and Roland make a battle strategy he shows them because he can't speak any French. While Gisla filled for divorce, Rollo starts to learn French. In this moment, we see that he is still a Viking but when he butchered the Viking camp cause he knows it was them or he that got killed when he arrived at the camp, he betrayed Ragnar for the first time this season.

Gisla, The Emperor, and the bishop want Rollo to sign the divorce papers because the marriage is not yet conceived, but when Rollo starts to speak French and beg Gisla to try, Gisla decided to stay with Rollo. Afterwards, Gisla changed but Rollo too. When they conceive their marriage in the next room. While the rest is having dinner because it is Christmas.

After these events, Rollo starts to plan his big battle against his brother Ragnar. When Ragnar shows up for the first attack he defends Paris against Ragnar. He and Gisla are pregnant from their first child. Rollo tries to have sex with Gisla but she thinks it will cost the baby's live so she refuses. Rollo hates the way the Franks live. This is the first time we see Rollo doubt the change he made is any good.

When Ragnar comes for the second time he got a little defeat but we all know Rollo he will attack again. This time, he attacked and wins the battle but with the deadly injured Lagertha the fight between the brothers stopped. Rollo got crowned as Duke and got a "hail Caesar" from the Emperor.   

SPOILERS Floki season 4 part 1 recap

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/cast/floki

Hail Vikings,

When Floki got back to Kattegat he can feel his freedom until he got arrested by Bjorn. The arrest follows for the dead of Athelstan. When he gets help to get away from the centre square in Kattegat bullied by children there is a two-part story. One that Bjorn takes away the children and one that Helga defend Floki in front of the children. He got soon arrested again this time by Ubbe one of the children of Ragnar.

With his second arrest, he got chained in a cave. Helga who puts a bowl above his head tries to let Floki sleep but when the bowl is full and she is getting tired and tries to fall asleep, Floki wakes and start screaming. After a while when Ragnar ask Helga if she told him Floki wants to know what had happened. When Helga tells him that his daughter passed away, he starts screaming again.

We see Ragnar back in the cave with an axe but he frees Floki because Helga doesn't need another burden according to Ragnar. Floki's place in the society is known as outlaw especially when he arrives to celebrate Yol in the great hall. When King Finehair and Halfdan asks why the great boat builder that changed the life of every Viking is in disregard by King Ragnar Floki tells them I killed his Christian pet.

Floki went to the Seer who already expected him a long time ago. We see a lot of change in the character Floki. especially when Aslaug asks him to teach Ivar about the Viking ways and the gods.

Floki is going  to sail with King Finehair and Halfdan to Paris. When they set camp the first time there is a part we see him make love to Aslaug. Aslaug at the same time is making love with Harbard.

Ragnar asks him a favour and advice when he wants the boats to lift the boats on the mountain and rolled or carried after the towers of Paris. It is great to see that Floki is building great things again. He almost lost Helga because the base camp attacked by Roland.

During the second attack of Rollo, he got injured but managed to sail away back to Kattegat. We see him with Bjorn to talk about the imaginary land of the Mediterranean sea. Bjorn and Floki go together with Helga.

SPOILERS Lagertha season 4 part 1 recap

 (Photo credit: Jonathan Hession)

Hail Vikings,

While leaving Paris Lagertha and Kalf are going back to Hedeby. Here we see a lot of betray. Kalf and Einar betray each other while Erlundur and Kalf make plans to kill Bjorn. Einar got castrated by Lagertha after almost killing every men in Hedeby because the people don't want the shared Earldom between Lagertha and Kalf.

When Lagertha and Kalf talk about the future Kalf tells her he want children with her. Lagertha immediately thinks she can't have children because the seer told her so a long time ago. Lagertha got pregnant by Kalf and they marry but before they do Lagertha kills Kalf as she promised to him. Revenge for her because Kalf took her earldom away.

If she joins the raiding party to Paris we see a fully pregnant Lagertha. When Ragnar starts to get involved what Lagertha can and can't do she get mad at him because he is not her husband anymore. While working like the men she loses the child due to the hard work. While losing the child she told Ragnar she wanted to change the prophecy but couldn't after all. She seeks comfort with Ragnar and Bjorn. 

We see a vulnerable Lagertha in Paris when they meet Rollo it only gets worse she want to defend Ragnar but got stabbed trying to get to Ragnar. This stops the fight between brothers and left us wondering if Lagertha will make it to Kattegat or Hedeby.  

SPOILERS Ragnar season 4 part 1 recap

http://www.history.com/shows/vikings/cast/

Hail Vikings,

When Ragnar left Paris in season 3 he was between life and death. When we meet Ragnar again in seasons 4 première he is still not awake and in bed. While waking up later that episode and realise that Bjorn arrested Floki he isn't so pleased that he was absent for a while. He found Bjorn stupid in two ways as Bjorn want to go out into the wilderness to find himself, and the arrested of Floki.

When Ubbe arrested Floki for the second time the children of Ragnar give him an unwanted situation so he bound Floki in a cave. He visits Helga and her daughter to get them some food. Later we see Helga and Ragnar with the body of Angrboda. They both lost a child now. They both suffer by the ideas of Floki.We see Ragnar free Floki in the third episode because Helga suffered enough. 

Ragnar also meet Yidu. He and Yidu share the same burden. And those scenes are the ones he starts to use a medicine to comfort his pain and get rest to his mind. King Finehair comes to Kattegat and during the Yol celebrations, Ragnar tells Yidu his biggest secret.

We see the father/husband talk between Ragnar and Bjorn and they both don't trust King Finehair.  

Ragnar now on the medicine of Yidu gets major flashbacks with Lagertha, Gyda, Bjorn and Athelstan this happens underway to Paris. When the first fight between Ragnar and Rollo set sail. The one before the towers he got defeated. When Ragnar sails back to the place they have a camp he can hide for a while. Due to an attack on the camp, he sees his children because they were hiding.

When Yidu blackmailed him he drowned her in front of his children (Ubbe and Hvitserk) nearby Paris.

They leave the camp to camp up a hill. Genius as Ragnar is he lift the boats up to the hill and walked the boats after the towers to get them in the river again. While doing so he has changed strategy and at first, he wins the first battle but when Rollo attacks the second time it ended up in a fight between brothers. This fight gets undecided because Lagertha gets wounded. After this had happened the fight stops and Rollo lets Ragnar get away back to Kattegat.

Back in Kattegat, he decided abandoned each and everyone by leaving Kattegat. When he is back in Kattegat it changed drastically. He sees his children grown up. Also, he feels he was not wanted anymore. He still is King and asks everybody who wants to kill him?   

Season 4 premiere Vikings: Death All 'Round with SPOILERS

http://www.notey.com/@nicegirlstv_unofficial/external/8967227/%EF%BB%BF%EF%BB%BF3-shocking-losses-from-vikings-%E2%80%98death-all-%E2%80%98round%E2%80%99.html

Hail Vikings,

The boats are making their way around the towers. While pulling we see Lagertha with a big belly. At that same point, they been watched by two Franks. If they know or not I have the feeling they did know. Why? Because a few scenes later Finehair raids a village and kill them. 

While Alfred and Aethelwolf arrive one of the treasures of Rome showed to Alfred a piece of the thorn crown during the crucify of Jesus Christ. later in the episode, we see that Alfred got crowned to the council of Rome. During that scene, we see a crossover between the crowning in Rome and the one of his grandfathers in Wessex. I like these crossovers very much. It made me think of the one with Floki/Helga wedding and the Aethelwolf/ Judith wedding where they used the same technic to show us the difference between a pagan wedding and a Christian wedding, in this case, they showed us the difference between a holy coronation and a Kings coronation. #

 (Photo credit: Jonathan Hession)

When Floki sees Aslaug you could ask yourself if he is a seer. Harbard has left Aslaug and went wandering again but why is it that Floki hears and sees Aslaug. Harbard could hear her screaming over empty oceans he told her. A couple of weeks ago I suggested that Floki as Loki could be the same person as Harbard or Odin. Maybe, in this case, Floki is becoming Odin himself. Or the gods favourite him with gifts he is getting used to at the moment. Floki knows now Harbard is away from Kattegat could it be a sign on his way to him. When hearing Thor (Thunder) does he know where Harbard or Aslaug is up to? Floki comes to his senses  when we hear Lagertha scream. What also could be is that Floki is changing into Harbard.

In this moment, we see Torvi getting Bjorn and Ragnar because something is wrong with Lagertha. She just lost her child and get comfort by Ragnar while she talks to Bjorn. When she demand them to leave we see them going out of her sight but not totally leave. In my opinion, we needed to see that even Lagertha is vulnerable even if she is a great shieldmaiden. It was a great moment to see her and get Ragnar's comfort there. I thought I even saw him affected by it although it was Kalf his child. Her vulnerability we see growing when she sees what happen to Bjorn and for a very long time with Ragnar.

History Channel

While Rollo and Gisla announce they are going to have children, the Emperor announce Roland count. Due to the pregnancy Gisla we see differences in how that affect the life of both of them. Rollo gets rejected and he is simple according to Gisla. I think in this situation we will see Rollo return to his old habit. No sex someone else, please. He starts to feeling discomfort for the first time. She demands him to kill Roland before he regains too much power. She is right about one thing Roland is to close to the emperor in a few ways. I keep wondering is the Emperor out on a threesome? Or is he gay? When he is gay would Gisla know and is that why she demand Rollo to kill Roland.

The boats are becoming further and further into the goal when we see Lagertha lying on a stretcher carried around. When they find out they are behind the towers. When they getting the boats in the water again Ragnar tells Floki he needs something from him. This is a discussion point for me as well. Although I am pointing a few things out now time will tell what happened at that moment.

• There are a few drugs left he could ask Floki to make them for him
• If he could make something against the withdrawal symptoms
• Heal Ragnar or Lagertha or both
• War plan for defeating Rollo
• To discuss the downfall of King Finehair and Halfdan
• Keep an eye on Bjorn when Ragnar dies
• New weapons that Floki needs to make
• Ask him advice
• See him as the seer

While Ragnar is delusional and is having withdrawal symptoms. Bjorn came in to tell Ragnar all the boats are back in the water. Ragnar tells about Yidu's medicine and that he feels poisoned. Bjorn sees his father delusional.

Last but not least the biggest scene of this episode. Torvi has great problems. While Erlendur is trying to get Bjorn dead she is protecting him from the start. We see Erlendur in the night trying to shoot Bjorn but Torvi has seen him and protect him by turning her back the way he can't shoot. Erlendur is going crazy and makes a sacrifice to the gods he gets crazy all the way. He thinks Torvi needs to shoot Bjorn and demand her to drink Rabbit or goat blood. While she doing this she is truth to herself and Bjorn. She walks up to Bjorn and kills Erlendur instead of Bjorn. It was amazing to watch Torvi I think we will see changes in Torvi. I think they are equal to each other.

I do think there will be consequences for Aslaug. Siggy drowned the same way we lost other Siggy. Was it Sigurd, Harbard, Aslaug or just an incident by Siggy herself. We probably will not now but we know that Aslaug isn't capable of mothering children we see a spoilt Ivar who already isn't fearless at all. Aslaug a total drunk. I was wondering if she is going to end up like Rollo in the second season. Maybe we see the same change as Rollo.

# Aethelwolf and Alfred

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%86thelwulf

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Aethelwulf

http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=aethelwulf

http://www.britroyals.com/kings.asp?id=alfred

http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/saxon_2.htm

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/aethelwulf.html

http://www.earlybritishkingdoms.com/adversaries/bios/alfred.html

https://www.royal.uk/alfred-great-r-871-899

https://www.royal.uk/ethelwulf-r-839-856

# Timeline of Kings during Viking time England

http://www.britannia.com/history/saxontime2.html

http://www.britannia.com/history/saxontime3.html

http://www.britannia.com/history/saxontime4.html

http://www.britannia.com/history/saxontime5.html

http://www.britannia.com/history/medtime.html

# Rome and Vatican City

http://www.romanlife-romeitaly.com/history-of-rome-italy.html

http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/stato-e-governo/storia/la-citta-del-vaticano-nel-tempo.html

# Crown of thorns

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_thorns

# Council crown of Rome and sword Charlemagne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_reforms_of_Julius_Caesar

http://www.ancient.eu/Julius_Caesar/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Rome

https://randybroberg.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/18-middle-ages-700-1000-ad-charlemagne.pdf

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/4928/pg4928-images.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyeuse

http://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/joyeuse-legendary-sword-charlemagne-003020

https://myarmoury.com/feature_charlemagne.html

# Pilgrimage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Medieval_England

http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showpdf.php?id=9802

* Roland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/hml/hml11.htm

http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Roland.aspx

http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=lansing&book=page&story=roland

http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/roland-ohag.asp

http://www.britannica.com/topic/La-Chanson-de-Roland