The SilverTowne Vault Blog

Legendary Warrior Series: Eric Bloodaxe

Published 01/13/2026

Legend has it that our blog series introducing the Legendary Warriors starts today with a man, a myth, and a legend all wrapped in one. Considered a warrior-king from the Viking Age whose story straddles fact and legend, this pivotal figure has a career that blends battles, alliances, dynastic rivalry, and cultural memory, transforming him into a lasting emblem of Viking ambition.

Eric Bloodaxe

Commonly identified as Eric Haraldsson, Eric Bloodaxe lived in the early 10th century and was the son of Harald Fairhair, who was credited as the first king to unify Norway. Eric claimed the Norwegian throne after his father, but was driven into exile by his half-brother, Haakon the Good. He reemerged in England as king of Northumbria at York. While the sagas often portray him as a ruthless warrior whose path to power was marked by violence, contemporary evidence suggests he was a more layered figure, a capable leader...read more