#vikings rollo Aesthetic

[jesseworld666]

Rollo Lothbrok rugged modern Aesthetic, he would own a biker style bar and he would live on Ragnar and Lagertha's couch when he wasnt with lady friends, he likes to drink and have a good time.

[crowsandmurderbackup]

Ragnar Lothbrok Tags

Ragnar  ✖ (Aesthetics)

Ragnar ✖ (Thoughts)

Ragnar ✖ (Character Development)

Ragnar ✖ (Crack)

Ragnar  ✖ (Headcanons)

Ragnar  ✖ (Photos)

Ragnar ✖ (Starter Call)

Verses:

C L E V E R  B E G I N N I N G S

Ragnar Sigurdsson was a clever boy who learn the Vikings way young, continuing to apply them through this teenage years. This can anything from childhood to him becoming an adult at the age of eighteen.

P L A N T  T H O S E  S E E D S

As Ragnar Lothbrok moves into adulthood and his marriage to Lagertha, he embraces life on the farm, the Viking adventures and raids, and becoming a father to his daughter and son. This can be anywhere were early adulthood until the Show Beginning.

FIGHT AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY

Ragnar Lothbrok has grown over the years, but still has some of the same priorities: family, the Viking ways, raids. But things are beginning to change, as his eldest son is able to get his arm band, and new hostilities from various enemies rise up. Eventually, he becomes to Earl of Kattegat

K  I N G  O F  T H E   D A N E S

After discovering the plot that King Horik had to kill him and his sons, Ragnar killed King Horik and became the King of Denmark. This includes any time that Ragnar is King of Denmark, and the adventures that occur during this time.

W H O  W A N T S  T O  B E  K I N G?

After being defeated by Rollo, Ragnar disappeared for ten years. Ten years later, he returns much older, and some even think that he seems crazy. This is anything that occurs after his return, right before the second half of Season Four.

D O W N  B U T   N O T  O U T

After the attempt to take on Paris again, Ragnar felt emotionally defeated after his loss to Rollo. He knows that his brother is lost to them all, having chose the Franks above his own. But, Ragnar has grown battle weary, and wants to focus on more important things. Although he is discouraged and feels defeated, he has returned to Kattegat with the others, to remain King of the Danes. This can take place any time after they return after fighting Rollo and the French in 4x10.

K I N G   I S   G O N E  B U T   N O T  F O R G O T T E N

After being defeated by Rollo and the French, Ragnar could not bear to stay in Kattegat, any longer. He was tired of being a warrior to the people, tired of being King. So, after telling his sons that he had to leave, he headed off, not knowing where he was going or if he wanted to leave. Several months later, he shows up in Hedeby, seeking out the person who he trusts more than a lot of people: Lagertha. Spending the next several years there, he entrusts her with that knowledge, knowing that she would keep his secret, unless it was dangerous to him. This takes place during his time away from Kattegat. This verse can include plotting with more than just Lagertha.

I WAS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN RULING

After the events in The Last Ship, Ragnar, feeling like a failure and tired of ruling leaves Kattegat and is not seen again, for close to a decade. This verse is what happens during his time away from Kattegat.  

B L O O D   I S   T H I C K E R   T H A N   W A T E R

Ragnar Lothbrok had every intention of heading back to Wessex, after coming back to Kattegat. But, he wanted his sons to go with him. When only Ivar agreed to go, he realized that he had missed out on his sons’ lives, and that he was needed in Kattegat. Despite being away for many years, he is determined to take his throne back from his wife, and to help mold his sons into even better warriors, than they already are. This can take place anytime after the end of the 4x10 - The Last Ship and it is open ended, how much canon comes to play, any time afterwards.

MY DEATH COMES WITHOUT APOLOGY

Ragnar’s time has come to an end on Midgard.  Executed by King Aelle, death found him, and Odin told his sons of his death, his sons seeking the revenge Ragnar knew they would. Despite Ragnar’s doubts and indifference to the Gods he fought in the name of for so many years, he found himself in Odin’s hall: Valhalla.

THIS IS NOT THE END

Ragnar Lothbrok thought that he had the best plan. He was going to turn himself over to Ecbert, and then Ecbert was to turn him over to King Aielle, knowing what his fate would be.  What he did not count on was that Ecbert had a plot of his own, that included using his power to reclaim Ragnar from King Aelle, before he could be executed. After being rescued, he is in debt to King Ecbert, and unsure if he will be returning to Scandinavia, or if he is happy at all, by the turn of events. This takes place after King Ecbert reclaims Ragnar from King Aelle.  Ecbert had more than just giving land to the Northman up his sleeve. Though he made his family think that he had no idea that they’d be betrayed and that Ragnar’s sons would come for him, he had Ragnar held in the tower of the Royal Villa. But, what he did not know was that Ragnar, despite his injuries and ailing statius, had escaped. There’s a variety of places that he could turn up.  He could turn up in York, in England at various spots where people are, possibly even found a way back to Scandinavia. In Season  6, he officially is in back to Kattegat and reveals himself to more and more people but has 0 desire to become King, once more.

H A U N T  M E

This one is exactly what it sounds like. It doesn’t have to be a bad haunting. Ragnar appears to various people in ghost form. Ghost may not be the proper term, but given he’s ascended to Valhalla already, draugr may not be the correct term, either. This is not something that the terminology is going to be overthought about, but there is going to be various times when he can appear to people.  

T I M E  K E E P S  G O I N G

During the course of Vikings, there has been many gaps in time, whether it be between seasons or the sometimes large time jumps that occur. This can be anytime during any of those time jumps, whether it be a short amount of time, the four years during Season Two or the ten years of time, during the middle of Season Four.

BIOGRAPHY: 

Born in 763 a.C. to  Sigurd Hring and Alfhild Gandolfsdatter, Ragnar thought for many years that he was an only child. His mother doted on him, while his father taught him the ways of being a Viking, something that Ragnar embraced. He was interested in the gods, specifically Odin from a young age. From a young age, he believed that he was a descendant Odin and in many ways, it helped shape who he became from a young boy to the eventual King of the Danes.  

Early in RaVto live with them. Ragnar knew that his mother did not favor Rollo in any way, likely due to the fact that his father had brought home another woman’s child.  During his adolescence, Ragnar grew to do well on all the things on the farm and in the Viking Ways.  He always strove to be the best at everything that he does, paying attention to how he processed things, while rarely losing his temper.

As a young adult, Ragnar became quite taken with shield maiden Lagertha. Her skill and the fact that it was clear she was already an excellent shield maiden for her age, appealed to him even more. Plus, there was the fact that she was beautiful. He spent a good while, doing what he could to impress her. His father pointed out that she would make a good wife, and Ragnar agreed.

Going to her home to try to profess his love for her, he killed both a bear and a large hound, then declared to her father that he had earned her hand in marriage.  During his marriage to Lagertha, he loved her deeply and still loves her even now.  Neither of them were under false pretenses of what the other was capable of and on the farm, they raised their son Bjorn and daughter Gyda. Life on the farm is something that’s extremely important to Ragnar.  His family is as important to him, as being the best warrior, he possibly can be.

[ofmanderley]

modern bodyguard au aes. board for rollo + gisla

in the shadow of his younger brother, rollo lothbrok made quite a name for himself for all the wrong reasons. a rumoured affair with lagertha, followed only four years later by the mysterious death of his then-wife, siggy, and the very public estrangement from his family and the business empire built by ragnar, should have proven to be the perfect storm to ruin him. but that never happened. instead, after the news broke, he was invited to france by gisla frankia - the ceo of her father’s company; one with equal wealth to ragnar’s. though rollo was rough around the edges at first ( having to learn french was a particular pain for him ), it took only a few weeks before he signed on to become a member of the board and only a few more before he married gisla in paris.

based in the same universe as : ivar x heahmund / torvi x ubbe / hvitserk x aethelred images sourced from pinterest

[becomelions]

Rollo Sigurdsson tag drop

[peithoaphro]

epimetheus - titan god of afterthought / clive standen

[yeah-another-aesthetic-blog]

Vikings Aesthetics Series VIII

Rollo

No particular order of preference in them I’ll be uploading one per day

[vikingspacks-blog]

like or credit ldeIray

[jcyfulmess]

          Lagertha. tag drop. 

[procrastinatingsoicanreadfanfics]

Yo I'm studying to become a hairdresser what if the vikings meet a professional hairdresser with split dyed hair or something of your liking (aperntly the vikings loved haircare )

imagen them racing to bleach or different colours of dye for hair. Who whoud enjoy the new treatments for hair or the vikings with even better braids

first of all, that is super rad, good luck with your studies

Now, here you go:

Vikings reacting to modern hair care

Ragnar

obvi he wants to try it

he'll want to crimp his hair, i just know it

crazy colors, weird treatments or funky styles, you can go wild on this man's head

he would appreciate it all

Lagertha

this woman is the queen of braids

she would absolutely enjoy a good haircut, getting her hair soaked in that nice shampoo that you only get at the hairdresser and have a little scalp massage before walking out with a Dany-style hairdo

the idea of curling hair also appeals to her a lot, same with extensions

overall, i think she would be down to do a lot of braiding/styling but no colors

Bjorn

not so sure about it

but he always wanted to try being a brunet

Rollo is crying in the background when Bjorn walks out with brown hair

keeps it when he gets more ladies

Ubbe

this is more his brother's territory

sits back and watches with Ivar

but if Torvi comes back home with a few green or blue strands in her hair, he'll adore that too

enjoys it if you take your time to redo his braid, however

Hvitserk

you're in for a wild ride

wants to try out everything, colors, styling, whatever he can get his hands on

puppy smiles when he gets his hair washed

he has some very intricate styles in s4b, so I'd guess he likes to try new braiding too

Sigurd

sure, why not

as long as it fits his artsy aesthetic

maybe even to tease Ivar

bring some nailpolish too and this guy is satisfied

Ivar

DO NOT TOUCH THIS MANS HAIR

like many things to do with his body, Ivar does this himself

his hair is one of the few things he's proud of, and he wants to keep it this way

no crazy experiments

finds everything that happens to his brothers highly amusing however

Harald

his name is Harald Finehair

will you make him into Harald Flyhair? nobody knows

might try some new braiding styles

ooh shampoos!

in for it for the treatments and haircare products

[cluelessedits]

like or @huntrerss

[crowsandmurderbackup]

Bjorn Ironside Tag Drop

Bjorn  ✖ (Aesthetics)

Bjorn  ✖ (Thoughts)

Bjorn  ✖ (Character Development)

Bjorn  ✖ (Crack)

Bjorn  ✖ (Headcanons)

Bjorn  ✖ (Photos)

Bjorn  ✖ (Starter Call)

Verses: 

P L A N T   T H O S E   S E E D S

Bjorn Ragnarsson, the only son of two parents who have made quite the names for themselves is quite the child. Along with his younger sister Gyda, he is being raised to be a strong warrior, like both of his parents.  Nathan O’Toole)

I  W A N T  T O   G O  T O   E N G L A N D

As Bjorn grows closer to adolescence and goes to get his arm ring from the Earl, he remains ever the strong-willed child. He never holds back when he has something to say and often separates his parents in a fight. He's proving to not be a child who can be swayed by anyone. He's very stubborn, and has to deal with life on the farm and losing it all, while watching his parents go through problems with the cruel Earl and problems with each other. (Nathan O’Toole)

W H O  C A N   G U E S S   T H E   P L A N S   A N D   W A Y S   O F   T H E   G O D S?

After going with his mother when she divorced his father, Bjorn has to deal with her new husband and how he treats his mother. After they get word that Ragnar needs aid, they return to Kattegat to help him. Bjorn decides to stay and over the next several years finds all sorts of adventures, battles, loves, interactions with his father, among many enemies. He stands by Ragnar's side, through it all, including the fight with Rollo. (Alexander Ludwig)

H E   I S   H I S   O W N   M A N   N O W

After Ragnar left Kattegat, Bjorn is left as the oldest of his brothers. He makes a life for himself in Kattegat, helping Aslaug out with Kattegat, all while growing older and continuing to live his life, despite wondering just what has become of his father. After his father's return, he has to deal with that and then avenge his father's death. But Bjorn still wants something bigger. He wants to explore the Mediterranean and nothing will stop him. (Alexander Ludwig)

B J O R N   L O T H B R O K

In modern times, Bjorn is the son of Ragnar Lothbrok. His father alway,s had a desire to stay in the farming business, but was forced into being a CEO of a major company, after finding out that the leader was corrupt, and it was his only way to save it. Bjorn strives to support his father and despite wanting to forge his own path, he finds himself helping his father, working with him. He never agreed with how his parents' marriage ended, but he tries to find his own way, all while supporting them, the best he can. (Alexander Ludwig)

T I M E  K E E P S  G O I N G

During the course of Vikings, there has been many gaps in time, whether it be between seasons or the sometimes large time jumps that occur. This can be anytime during any of those time jumps, whether it be a short amount of time, the four years during Season Two or the ten years of time, during the middle of Season Four.

Faceclaims: 

Nathan O’Toole

Alexander Ludwig

[crowsandmurder]

Ragnar Lothbrok Tags

Ragnar  ✖ (Aesthetics)

Ragnar ✖ (Thoughts)

Ragnar ✖ (Character Development)

Ragnar ✖ (Crack)

Ragnar  ✖ (Headcanons)

Ragnar  ✖ (Photos)

Ragnar ✖ (Starter Call)

Verses:

C L E V E R  B E G I N N I N G S

Ragnar Sigurdsson was a clever boy who learn the Vikings way young, continuing to apply them through this teenage years. This can anything from childhood to him becoming an adult at the age of eighteen.

P L A N T  T H O S E  S E E D S

As Ragnar Lothbrok moves into adulthood and his marriage to Lagertha, he embraces life on the farm, the Viking adventures and raids, and becoming a father to his daughter and son. This can be anywhere were early adulthood until the Show Beginning.

F I G H T  A N D  T A K E  C A R E  O F  Y O U R  F A M I L Y

Ragnar Lothbrok has grown over the years, but still has some of the same priorities: family, the Viking ways, raids. But things are beginning to change, as his eldest son is able to get his arm band, and new hostilities from various enemies rise up. Eventually, he becomes to Earl of Kattegat

K  I N G  O F  T H E   D A N E S

After discovering the plot that King Horik had to kill him and his sons, Ragnar killed King Horik and became the King of Denmark. This includes any time that Ragnar is King of Denmark, and the adventures that occur during this time.

W H O  W A N T S  T O  B E  K I N G?

After being defeated by Rollo, Ragnar disappeared for ten years. Ten years later, he returns much older, and some even think that he seems crazy. This is anything that occurs after his return, right before the second half of Season Four.

D O W N  B U T   N O T  O U T

After the attempt to take on Paris again, Ragnar felt emotionally defeated after his loss to Rollo. He knows that his brother is lost to them all, having chose the Franks above his own. But, Ragnar has grown battle weary, and wants to focus on more important things. Although he is discouraged and feels defeated, he has returned to Kattegat with the others, to remain King of the Danes. This can take place any time after they return after fighting Rollo and the French in 4x10.

K I N G   I S   G O N E  B U T   N O T  F O R G O T T E N

After being defeated by Rollo and the French, Ragnar could not bear to stay in Kattegat, any longer. He was tired of being a warrior to the people, tired of being King. So, after telling his sons that he had to leave, he headed off, not knowing where he was going or if he wanted to leave. Several months later, he shows up in Hedeby, seeking out the person who he trusts more than a lot of people: Lagertha. Spending the next several years there, he entrusts her with that knowledge, knowing that she would keep his secret, unless it was dangerous to him. This takes place during his time away from Kattegat. This verse can include plotting with more than just Lagertha.

I  W A S  N O  L O N G E R  I N T E R E S T E D   I N   R U L I N G

After the events in The Last Ship, Ragnar, feeling like a failure and tired of ruling leaves Kattegat and is not seen again, for close to a decade. This verse is what happens during his time away from Kattegat.  

B L O O D   I S   T H I C K E R   T H A N   W A T E R

Ragnar Lothbrok had every intention of heading back to Wessex, after coming back to Kattegat. But, he wanted his sons to go with him. When only Ivar agreed to go, he realized that he had missed out on his sons’ lives, and that he was needed in Kattegat. Despite being away for many years, he is determined to take his throne back from his wife, and to help mold his sons into even better warriors, than they already are. This can take place anytime after the end of the 4x10 - The Last Ship and it is open ended, how much canon comes to play, any time afterwards.

M Y   D E A T H   C O M E S   W I T H O U T   A P O L O G Y

Ragnar’s time has come to an end on Midgard.  Executed by King Aelle, death found him, and Odin told his sons of his death, his sons seeking the revenge Ragnar knew they would. Despite Ragnar’s doubts and indifference to the Gods he fought in the name of for so many years, he found himself in Odin’s hall: Valhalla.

T H I S  I S   N O T   T H E   E N D

Ragnar Lothbrok thought that he had the best plan. He was going to turn himself over to Ecbert, and then Ecbert was to turn him over to King Aielle, knowing what his fate would be.  What he did not count on was that Ecbert had a plot of his own, that included using his power to reclaim Ragnar from King Aelle, before he could be executed. After being rescued, he is in debt to King Ecbert, and unsure if he will be returning to Scandinavia, or if he is happy at all, by the turn of events. This takes place after King Ecbert reclaims Ragnar from King Aelle.  Ecbert had more than just giving land to the Northman up his sleeve. Though he made his family think that he had no idea that they’d be betrayed and that Ragnar’s sons would come for him, he had Ragnar held in the tower of the Royal Villa. But, what he did not know was that Ragnar, despite his injuries and ailing statius, had escaped. There’s a variety of places that he could turn up.  He could turn up in York, in England at various spots where people are, possibly even found a way back to Scandinavia. In Season  6, he officially is in back to Kattegat and reveals himself to more and more people but has 0 desire to become King, once more.

H A U N T  M E

This one is exactly what it sounds like. It doesn’t have to be a bad haunting. Ragnar appears to various people in ghost form. Ghost may not be the proper term, but given he’s ascended to Valhalla already, draugr may not be the correct term, either. This is not something that the terminology is going to be overthought about, but there is going to be various times when he can appear to people.  

T I M E  K E E P S  G O I N G

During the course of Vikings, there has been many gaps in time, whether it be between seasons or the sometimes large time jumps that occur. This can be anytime during any of those time jumps, whether it be a short amount of time, the four years during Season Two or the ten years of time, during the middle of Season Four.

I N T O  T H E  P R E S E N T  

This is my blanket tag for Modern AU’s. These can range from College AU’s, to a modern AU, some Modern Crime, and various AU’s. This will be expanded over time, but his main modern AU is he’s a man who wound up having to get rid of a corrupt King, became King, but eventually got tired of it, and lives more of a common life, although time dependent, he is trying to get more focused on it. But, he does prefer a simpler life.  In the modern crime AU, he took over a corporation from a corrupt boss, while running an illegal business on the side. These are all adaptation dependent.  

BIOGRAPHY: 

Born in 763 a.C. to  Sigurd Hring and Alfhild Gandolfsdatter, Ragnar thought for many years that he was an only child. His mother doted on him, while his father taught him the ways of being a Viking, something that Ragnar embraced. He was interested in the gods, specifically Odin from a young age. From a young age, he believed that he was a descendant Odin and in many ways, it helped shape who he became from a young boy to the eventual King of the Danes.  

Early in Ragnar’s adolescence, he was introduced to his brother Rollo, who came to live with them. Ragnar knew that his mother did not favor Rollo in any way, likely due to the fact that his father had brought home another woman’s child.  During his adolescence, Ragnar grew to do well on all the things on the farm and in the Viking Ways.  He always strove to be the best at everything that he does, paying attention to how he processed things, while rarely losing his temper.

As a young adult, Ragnar became quite taken with shield maiden Lagertha. Her skill and the fact that it was clear she was already an excellent shield maiden for her age, appealed to him even more. Plus, there was the fact that she was beautiful. He spent a good while, doing what he could to impress her. His father pointed out that she would make a good wife, and Ragnar agreed.

Going to her home to try to profess his love for her, he killed both a bear and a large hound, then declared to her father that he had earned her hand in marriage.  During his marriage to Lagertha, he loved her deeply and still loves her even now.  Neither of them were under false pretenses of what the other was capable of and on the farm, they raised their son Bjorn and daughter Gyda. Life on the farm is something that’s extremely important to Ragnar.  His family is as important to him, as being the best warrior, he possibly can be.

[author-morgan]

Helloo! Have you seen the new trailer for Valhalla? I'm really excited for the different hair styles and tattoos and of course for the armours! :D

I have, nonny, and I need this game like ASAP.🤪 Personally, of the choices they’ve shown, I’m a fan of the blond hairstyle used in the promo material and main trailer with the beard that’s not braided. That is a look™️. Also I love Rollo from Vikings so I will 100% have Eivor with his titties out channeling the Rollo aesthetic because bless.

[goldentailedmermaids]

Vikings for the tv ask game

Favourite character: Rollo, Kwenthrith, Aslaug, Thorunn

Funniest character: I’d say Floki, perhaps, in that he is always so edgy. He’s your basic emo boy.

Best-looking character: Aslaug, Rollo, Gunnhild, Thorunn, Roland

3 favourite ships: Rollo x Gisla // Aslaug x Lagertha // Kwenthrith x Aethelwulf

Least favourite character: Lagertha, Ubbe and Bjorn #sorrynotsorry

Least favourite ship: Rollo x Lagertha. BURN that ship! BURN it Viking style!

Reason why I watch it: Oh I loved watching it mainly for the battle scenes, the drama, the relationships and the pretty costumes. It all went downhill after season 4a, in which none of the writing made sense or was coherent with the ensemble and from now on it became an inconsistent patchwork and it broke my heart and I was so angry I stopped watching it because Lagertha killing Aslaug was the last straw.

Why I started watching it: Because I already loved that Viking aesthetic thanks to Thorgal and I craved for some more and I am a history nerd sooooo... I watched one, two, three episodes and I was hooked.

[honestsycrets]

5CW || Bjorn Ironside

❛ author’s notes | lowercase because it aesthetically pleases me. heed all warnings to Bjorn fics prior to reading them. some can have the potential of being triggering. ** = not all fics were finished and will be posted at a later date. drabbles may be added.

[ M x F ] Fics

Medusa 

⇢ hellenic au || Poseidon!Bjorn x Medusa!Reader || tw: noncon, angst || chp: 3

❛ summary | the goddess Aslaug suspects her husband, lord of the skies, Ragnar of cheating. her next course of action is revenge. not on Ragnar, no, on Bjorn.

The Merrow I

⇢ mermaid au || Bjorn x Merrow!Reader || tw: angst, sickness || chp: 3 

❛ summary | Siggy resents her father for being able to breathe life into you. her love, Alfred, insists that you are something she’s always known you not to be.

Only in Africa I

⇢ vikings uni || Bjorn x POC Seeress!Reader || tw: nsfw || chp: 1/2

❛ summary | they raid to replenish their stock in women. the raiders become the raided. for babies. obviously.

Change the Tab!

⇢ modern au || Bjorn x Reader x Halfdan || tw: threesome || chp: 1

❛ summary | Halfdan gets really sick of seeing his roommate’s “dick pics” by accident. he goes to interrogate him about it.

Unwelcome Eyes

⇢ abo || Bjorn x Reader x Rollo || tw: infidelity, jealousy, violence, nsfw || chp: 1

❛ summary | he would have thought that rollo isn’t impressing anyone. he’s wrong. bjorn doesn’t share his things. ever.

Smile for the Camera

⇢ ntw uni || Hvitserk x Reader x Bjorn || tw: implied nsfw, threesomes  || chp: 1

❛ summary | you’re pregnant. you’re his little housewife. you’re hot. the perfect to sell some vids to his big brother.

Hvítabjørn

⇢ modern uni || Bjorn x Reader || tw: none || chp: 1

❛ summary | you’re trying to control the birth and development of your firstborn with Bjorn a little too tightly. let it go!

Good Faith

⇢ vikings uni || Bjorn x Saxon!Reader || tw: childbirth || chp: 1

❛ summary | As Ecbert’s only daughter, you were always his bargaining chip.

Icy Cold

⇢ modern au || Bjorn x Reader || tw: none || chp: 1

❛ summary | Bjorn and the Reader go to get ice cream. She discovers another use for her tasty treat.

Platonic & Canon Pairings

Aftercare

⇢ vikings uni || Gunnhild x Bjorn || tw: none || chp: 1

❛ summary | Bjorn tends to his wife’s needs after reclaiming Kattegat.

The Storyteller

⇢ vikings uni || Bjorn x Ivar || tw: none || chps: 1

❛ summary | Bjorn tells stories to baby Ivar to distract him from his pain.

Drabbles and Shorties

Doughnut Daze

⇢ modern au || Corrupt!Bjorn x Reader || tw: corrupt bjorn, floof || chp: 1

❛ summary | Bjorn comes to collect.

Headcanons

Delayed

Marrying the Baby Bear

Ironside

Moodboards and Miscellaneous

NSFW Alphabet

Love Alphabet

Magazine Cover

Lis’s Masterlist!

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[howtofightwrite]

Q&A: War Prince, Peace Prince, or Athletic Prince? What's the world he lives in?

Should a crown prince character learn how to fight? On one hand, learning to fight could be seen as ‘we expect the crown prince to be put in a situation where he would need to fight’ which would mean his guards have failed. On the other hand, learning to use weapons could be treated more like a sport to build dedication, endurance, confidence, etc. Then again, I’ve seen references to princes fighting in history so I’m not sure how this should be handled/explained if I want a fighting prince.

Depends.

The only rule for the conqueror throughout most of history is you can have it if you can take it, and it’s only yours if you can hold onto it. The idea of kings and princes being insulated from combat is one which we come out of England at the end of Henry VIIIs reign and into the Elizabethan era, but it’s worth remembering that Henry VII took the crown by force. The word Normans comes from Northmen, and the original province of Normandy in France was given over to raiding Vikings led by a man called Rollo by the Frankish king under the agreement that they would protect the Frankish coast from other invaders. Many a king, prince, and nobleman has been created by simply having the biggest and baddest raiding force. In the Middle Ages, the king was expected to lead his forces into battle.

You know Richard III from Shakespeare’s eponymous play? The real one was killed on the battlefield by Henry VII, Elizabeth I’s grandfather at the end of the War of the Roses.

William the Conqueror, Henry II, Richard the Lionheart, Henry V, Edward the Black Prince, Empress Maude, Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Owain Fawr, Llewellyn the Great, Robert the Bruce,  Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VII, and the list goes on.

You don’t have to justify it. History supports the conqueror prince and the conqueror king, and situations where the prince had to be able to fight because he was expected to lead his men into battle. If he couldn’t then someone else, a brother, a cousin, another nobleman, or even some nobody could swoop in and take the crown from him. You’ll find history is littered with instances like this.

So, here’s the real question: what kind of crown prince and setting are you imagining?

Is this the Fairy Tale Crown Prince? For all his trappings, the fictional fairy tale Crown Prince is post Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. He carries the aesthetics, but he’s not based on the warrior princes of Medieval Europe. This is the beginning of the modern era. When most people think about monarchies in terms of fairy tales, they’re essentially imagining Catherine the Great’s Russia without the guns. These are codified nations with standing militaries and treaties, which only go to war with each other frequently instead of constantly. Where the Crown Prince would be educated in the ways of the military, even be expected to serve in a ceremonial role, but never sets foot on the battlefield’s front lines. Similarly, this is also when the local nobility starts transitioning from warlords you need to appease to general rich dudes whose ancestors were great at killing people that you still need to appease.

The above is the Crown Prince you seem to be imagining.

Outside the Merchant Prince, who controls his kingdom through trade, the warrior Crown Prince is an auxiliary commander under his father or, in cases where the king is weak, the true commander of his countries forces. He’ll be landed in his own right as an earl or a duke with a province to rule over, his own vassals, lordlings, and young knights who strive to be in his service. He’s surrounded by followers and advisors with his own household and a vassal to his father, the king. He’s unlikely to be just sitting around spinning his heels until he takes the throne, unless he’s got a father who is very controlling about what powers he has access to.

This Crown Prince may seem appealing, but the world he exists in is cutthroat, rough and tumble. There’s none of the stability provided by the Treaty of Westphalia, which is the unnamed factor seen in modern fairy tale kingdoms. The chances of him fighting to keep his crown or simply fighting on the battlefield at some point in his life is a certainty rather than a maybe. He has to know how to fight and he has to be damn good at it or else it will end badly for him. This includes if he’s living in a world under the medieval warfare rules where there’s the possibility ransom. Kings, princes, warlords, and leaders are always priority targets on the battlefield. Everyone wants to kill or capture them because that ends the battle/raid/war.

They’re not just rich guys, they’re expected to be leaders of men. If they can’t do that, and they’re not supported by excellent nobles then they lose the crown, lose their land, or lose their empire. As has happened with many an unfortunate prince throughout history.

Even if you’re going for the type of Crown Prince seen in fiction and post-Westphalia, military service is often considered traditional and is expected. A modern example is our current British royal family, many of them have served in the British military in some capacity whether they saw combat or not; this includes Elizabeth II.

However, the question of whether your character should learn to fight or not is heavily dependent on the kind of setting they live in and the social expectations their role places them under. The legacy of his family, the number of generations they’ve held onto their throne. Then, there’s the question of who he is versus who he expects to be, the boy versus the prince and the man versus the king. He might be expected to be good at fighting, but he might not want to be. Is it necessary for him to be a skilled combatant? Or can he rule without the need for those skills? Does he want to be good at fighting? Does he enjoy it?

These are the sorts of questions that only you, the author can answer. The situation, the politics, and the world your character live in all affect the role he has inherited.

So, start sorting out that world. Pick a period in history where princes fought. Learn everything you can about that time period, and why they behaved the way they did.

Do you want an athletic prince? Do you want a warrior prince? Or both? Both are fine. Does your prince live in a war time or a peace time? Which of the two does he long for? Quiet or conquest? If he isn’t bound to a parliament or some other body of government his nobles use to control him then he has the power and resources to make either happen.

Ultimately, the decision is up to you.

– Michi

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Q&A: War Prince, Peace Prince, or Athletic Prince? What’s the world he lives in? was originally published on How to Fight Write.