Historical tales always seem to get things wrong. Whether it be for drama or other purposes, stories set in the past often take creative liberties with their events. Vikings is no exception.

Granted, writer Michael Hirst can be easily forgiven for much of it. Records were scarce back then, especially on the side of the eponymous Northmen. Accounts are vague and often conflict with others.

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That said, some events are explicitly spelled out or have enough evidence to support them. Vikings blatantly ignores several of these in its plotting. No doubt, this left history buffs everywhere doing double takes.

8 Ragnar & Rollo Aren't Brothers

Ragnar and Rollo in Vikings

The show sets up Ragnar Lothbrok and Rollo as siblings early on. This partially informs their rivalry, particularly Rollo's resentment. It's hard to feel worthwhile when your brother is gaining all the glory. This is the driving force for his defection to Paris; he wants the same adulation and acceptance. It's just a shame that's not how it happened.

This motivation was entirely cooked up by the creator since these two weren't brothers. Ragnar and Rollo had no familial relation at all. In fact, they were separated by several decades, evidenced by them attacking Paris at different points. That's not the only thing the show changes about Ragnar's Frankish siege.

7 Ragnar Posing As A Corpse

Ragnar and Charles in Vikings

After numerous failed attack attempts by his allies, Ragnar comes up with an ingenious plan to get into Paris. He undergoes a baptism and then seemingly dies from his earlier injuries. His last request is that the Franks carry his casket into their church for a Christian burial. It's here that he pops out of the box and opens the gates, letting in the rest of the Vikings to pillage and plunder to their heart's content. It's a clever way to bypass insurmountable defenses with minimal losses. In truth, though, Ragnar should thank his son for this strategy.

Bjorn Ironside famously employed this tactic during one of his conquests. The Italian city of Luna was also tough to breach, so Bjorn asked to be baptized and buried. The result was the same as the show, right down to hiding weapons in the coffin. The difference is that Bjorn never does this during his time in the series. Audiences wouldn't fall for the same trick twice.

6 Ivar's Place Of Death

Ivar and Hvitserk in Vikings

Ivar the Boneless finally meets his end in the show's final episode. He returns to England for a hotly anticipated war with Alfred the Great. Seeing his brother, Hvitserk, in trouble, he steps into battle and is stabbed by an English soldier. Alfred is considerate enough to give him a respectful burial, but seems to skimp on the budget.

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The mound should be much bigger and in another location. Archaeologists believe Ivar's grave lies in Repton. It's surrounded by the remains of almost 300 people, indicating a high status. By contrast, Ivar's grave in the series holds only his body. In addition, it's presumably near Edington, where the battle takes place. That's over 150 miles from Repton.

5 Alfred's Parentage

Athelstan and Alfred in Vikings

Speaking of Alfred, the Wessex king sees a major change to his lineage in the series. His mother, Judith, enters an affair with Athelstan, the English monk captured and eventually accepted by the Vikings. Her resulting pregnancy appalls her husband, but her father-in-law, King Ecbert, believes the child is the blessed birth of a holy man. Therefore, he christens him as "Alfred" and commands him to be raised as a legitimate child.

As far as history goes, the real Alfred wasn't conceived out of wedlock. Granted, that's not the kind of thing the royals would advertise (for obvious reasons). However, it doesn't change the fact that no record of it exists.

4 Everything About Aethelred

Aethelred and Judith in Vikings

Alfred's ascent to the English throne is also different. His older brother, Aethelred, is next in line, but he's pressured by Judith to turn it down. He later joins a conspiracy to assassinate Alfred. Thankfully, he balks and resolves to loyally serve the king from then on. Judith poisons him regardless, fearing that his ambition would always be a threat to Alfred.

This is ironic because Aethelred did become king, albeit briefly. The throne passed to Alfred after his death. Further, accounts indicate he passed away due to natural causes, not poison by his mother. He also gave birth to two sons, but the series never gives him the chance to sire such potential heirs. Aethelred got the short end of the stick on all fronts.

3 Bjorn's Parentage

Bjorn and Lagertha in Vikings

Alfred isn't the only one whose parentage differs. Vikings also fiddles with the origins of Bjorn Ironside. He's introduced as Ragnar's firstborn, appropriately delivered by his first wife. Lagertha is Bjorn's mother here, and he's arguably closer with her than Dad. That's funny when one factors in his historical family tree.

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Bjorn was really the son of Ragnar's subsequent wife, Aslaug. She bore all of Ragnar's famous kids, as opposed to the show, where she only bears four of them. Presumably, the creator wanted poor Lagertha to have at least one son.

2 Sigurd's Death

Sigurd in Vikings

Among Ragnar and Aslaug's legendary children was Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. He was closer to his father than some others, even accompanying him to Scotland. This informs the kid's decision to invade England with his brothers in a Great Heathen Army. Unfortunately, Sigurd's adventures with his father never take place in the show.

Ragnar is absent for most of his sons' childhoods and dies when they're young men. Granted, Sigurd does join his brothers in seeking vengeance for Dad's death, but the siblings aren't on the best of terms. During one argument, Ivar kills him in a fit of rage. Despite all these liberties, at least the Sigurd of the series still has the snake shape in his eye.

1 Oleg's Invasion

Oleg in Vikings

Ivar's journey takes an unexpected turn late in the show. Traveling the Silk Road in exile, he meets Prince Oleg of Novgorod. Known as "the Prophet," this volatile man maintains fearsome rulership of the Rus people in Kiev. Seeing Ivar's arrival as a sign to reclaim his Viking heritage and extend his dominion, Oleg invades the Northmen's home of Scandinavia. You'd think such a massive operation would be sung about for ages, but it's entirely fabricated.

The real Oleg did launch an invasion, but it wasn't on Scandinavia. Rather, his target was Constantinople, or modern Istanbul. This was partially why he based himself in Kiev, as it made a convenient military spot to muster his forces. That strategic importance doesn't come up in the show because of the change in siege location.

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