Blood eagle: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|Culture}} | {{Era|Culture}}{{WP-REAL}} | ||
{{WP-REAL}} | [[File:ACV Rhodri's Death.png|thumb|250px|Rhodri's death by blood eagle]] | ||
The '''blood eagle''' was a ritual execution performed by the [[ | The '''blood eagle''' was a ritual execution purportedly performed by the [[Norse people|Norse]] as offerings to [[Odin]].<ref name="WP">{{WP|Blood eagle}}</ref> | ||
==Description== | |||
According to translations of ''[[skald]]ic'' verses, victims would be laid prone<ref name="WP"/> before having their ribs severed from their spine, followed by the executioner(s) pulling their lungs through the wounds to display a macabre set of "wings".<ref name="EchoesOfHistory">''[[Echoes of History]] – [[Vikings (Echoes of History)|Vikings]]'' – [[Thor's Hammer]]</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
[[File:ACV BB - Aella - Blood eagle.jpg|thumb|130px|left|Ælla subjected to the blood eagle]] | |||
In 867, the [[Vikings]] [[Ivarr the Boneless]], [[Ubba Ragnarsson]],<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Database: Ivarr and Ubba]]</ref> and their [[Sons of Ragnar|brothers]]<ref name="EchoesOfHistory"/> used this torture method to kill King [[Ælla of Northumbria|Ælla]] of [[Northumbria]] in retaliation for his execution of their father, [[Ragnar Lothbrok]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers]]'' – [[The Dust Settles]]</ref> | |||
Around 873, Ivarr condemned the [[Britons|Brittonic]] king [[Rhodri the Great|Rhodri ap Merfyn]] to the same fate and forced [[Eivor Varinsdottir]] of the [[Raven Clan]] to watch, much to her displeasure at his sadism.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[King Killer]]</ref> Despite her own misgivings on the practice, Eivor was not above relying on its brutal reputation through implied threats, as she once did in 875 by describing how to perform a blood eagle in order to dissuade two unruly [[Lincolnshire|Lincolnscire]] locals from instigating a fight.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[A Noble Escort]]</ref> | |||
Following the death of Eivor's cousin, King [[Bárid mac Ímair]] of [[Dublin]], in 881 after a surprise attack by {{Wiki|Abbot}} [[Eogan mac Cartaigh]]'s army,<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – [[Wrath of the Druids]]'' – [[The Mask of Diplomacy]]</ref> Bárid's son [[Sichfrith]] threatened to blood-eagle the traitorous clergyman. However, Eivor discouraged this rash action, instead advising that he back [[Flann Sinna]]'s bid as {{Wiki|High King of Ireland|High King}} of [[Ireland]], and in doing so, support and earn favor from a stronger ally who had greater odds at avenging Bárid by bringing Eogan to justice.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids'' – [[The Wages of War]]</ref> | |||
==Behind the scenes== | ==Behind the scenes== | ||
Modern scholars question the historical authenticity of this practice. While it is a recurring element in 13th century Norse {{Wiki|saga}}s, with every subsequent mention of it also refining the torture details,<ref name="EchoesOfHistory"/> some academics believe the idea was created by later [[Christianity|Christian]] historians who misinterpreted certain metaphorical saga verses.<ref name="WP"/> | |||
{{-}} | |||
==Appearances== | ==Appearances== | ||
''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{ | *''[[Echoes of History]] – [[Vikings (Echoes of History)|Vikings]]'' {{1stm}} | ||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' {{1st}} | |||
**''[[Wrath of the Druids]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers]]'' | |||
*''[[The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One]]'' {{Mo}} | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
{{ACVBB}} | |||
<!--[zh:血鹰]--> | |||
[[Category:Execution methods]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:13, 31 May 2026
The blood eagle was a ritual execution purportedly performed by the Norse as offerings to Odin.[1]
Description[edit | edit source]
According to translations of skaldic verses, victims would be laid prone[1] before having their ribs severed from their spine, followed by the executioner(s) pulling their lungs through the wounds to display a macabre set of "wings".[2]
History[edit | edit source]
In 867, the Vikings Ivarr the Boneless, Ubba Ragnarsson,[3] and their brothers[2] used this torture method to kill King Ælla of Northumbria in retaliation for his execution of their father, Ragnar Lothbrok.[4]
Around 873, Ivarr condemned the Brittonic king Rhodri ap Merfyn to the same fate and forced Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan to watch, much to her displeasure at his sadism.[5] Despite her own misgivings on the practice, Eivor was not above relying on its brutal reputation through implied threats, as she once did in 875 by describing how to perform a blood eagle in order to dissuade two unruly Lincolnscire locals from instigating a fight.[6]
Following the death of Eivor's cousin, King Bárid mac Ímair of Dublin, in 881 after a surprise attack by Abbot Eogan mac Cartaigh's army,[7] Bárid's son Sichfrith threatened to blood-eagle the traitorous clergyman. However, Eivor discouraged this rash action, instead advising that he back Flann Sinna's bid as High King of Ireland, and in doing so, support and earn favor from a stronger ally who had greater odds at avenging Bárid by bringing Eogan to justice.[8]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Modern scholars question the historical authenticity of this practice. While it is a recurring element in 13th century Norse sagas, with every subsequent mention of it also refining the torture details,[2] some academics believe the idea was created by later Christian historians who misinterpreted certain metaphorical saga verses.[1]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Echoes of History – Vikings (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance)
- Wrath of the Druids (mentioned only)
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers
- The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2
Blood eagle on Wikipedia
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Echoes of History – Vikings – Thor's Hammer
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Database: Ivarr and Ubba
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Blood Brothers – The Dust Settles
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – King Killer
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – A Noble Escort
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – The Mask of Diplomacy
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Wrath of the Druids – The Wages of War
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