Björn Ironside and his brother Hastein, powerful…

Björn Ironside and his brother Hastein, powerful Viking chieftains and naval commanders, have conducted many (mostly successful) raids in France in a continuation of the tradition initiated by their (possibly adoptive) father Ragnar Lodbrok.

In 860, Björn had led a large Viking raid into the Mediterranean.

After raiding down the Spanish coast and fighting their way through Gibraltar, Björn and Hastein pillage the south of France, where his fleet over-winters, before landing in Italy, where they capture the coastal city of Pisa.

They proceed inland to the town of Luna, which they believe to be Rome, but Björn finds himself unable to breach the town walls.

To gain entry, he sends messengers to the bishop to say that he had died, had a deathbed conversion, and wished to be buried on consecrated ground within their church.

He is brought into the chapel with a small honor guard, then amazes the dismayed Italian clerics by leaping from his coffin and hacking his way to the town gates, which he promptly opens, letting his army in.

Flush with this victory and others around the Mediterranean (including in Sicily and North Africa), …