War and religion don't always go hand in hand in the modern age, but in the Viking Age, the two weren't mutually exclusive. In Vikings, Heahmund, the Bishop of Sherborne, is introduced shortly after Ragnar's death as a holy warrior tasked with leading Saxon forces against the vengeful Great Heathen Army led by Ragnar's sons.
Bishop Heahmund quickly establishes himself as one of the best characters on the show, thanks to his superior fighting skills as well as his flaws, specifically his penchant for fornication. The holy warrior also portrays himself as a bold and opinionated man, with most of his remarks being inspired by his faith, courage, or lust.
When He Flirts With Lagertha
"I Fear The Lord, But Now, In This Moment, I Desire You More."
Lagertha and Heahmund fall for each other quite quickly and even though the holy warrior understands he'll be sinning by sleeping with her, he still goes ahead to do so. They keep it going in the coming days, thus making one of the most surprising couples in Vikings.
As a religious zealot, Heahmund is always uncompromising in his beliefs until a woman he desires is involved. With Lagertha, he gets an even bigger temptation because they have a lot in common. The Queen of Kattegat is not only as brave in battle as him but also shares in his philosophical beliefs.
When He Strikes A Deal To Join Ivar's Army
"I Have Free Will. And So I Choose To Fight For You."
After capturing Heahmund, Ivar asks him to join his army so that his fighting skills won't go to waste. He agrees but when Ivar claims the Anglo-Saxon warrior was fated to do so, he disagrees. He claims he is only doing it out of his own free will.
The moment clearly illustrates the vast differences between Christian and Norse beliefs. As believers of Odin, the Vikings believe that one's fate is already decided by the gods and any decision they make doesn't truly matter. Christians, on the other hand, believe that people are in control of their destiny.
When He Reassures King Aethewulf He Is Not Trying To Outshine Him
'I Am But Your Humble Servant."
King Aethewulf isn't too happy when he sees Heahmund calling all the shots as the two are leading armies in pursuit of the Northmen. He calls him out for this and to avoid conflict, the bishop goes on his knees to reassure his king.
As soon as Aethewulf lashes out at him, Heahmund understands he has made the common mistake of outshining the master. He, therefore, makes an effort to correct it as quickly as possible by going on his knees. However, the insecure Aethewulf states that he doesn't believe Aethewulf is humble at all, which is indeed true. Fortunately, the two don't get to clash further.
When He Gets Captured By Ivar's Army
"Heathens!"
Bishop Heahmund isn't too thrilled when his forces get defeated during one of the best battles in Vikings. He yells at them, calling them heathens and daring them to kill him.
The moment shows just how brave and religious the holy warrior is. Both Christians and the Northmen despise each other. Even though he has been defeated, Heahmund despises Ivar and his people because he considers them non-believers who are not worthy of respect. It's also courageous of him to insult them yet he can no longer defend himself.
When He Prays At Ecbert's Grave
"Ecbert, Our Martyr King. Hear Out Prayer."
King Ecbert takes his life just before the Viking forces capture him to avenge Ragnar's death. Later, Heahmund is seen praying at the former king's grave, asking for guidance and protection.
That Heahmund considers Ecbert a saint is understandable since they are both cut from the same cloth. Both are deeply religious but also happen to be very hedonistic. In truth, Ecbert was never moral enough to be considered a saint. It's constantly hinted that Heahmund doesn't deserve his position as bishop either.
When He Pledges Allegiance To Lagertha
"I Will Fight For You, Lagertha. I Will Die For You."
Heahmund quickly falls in love with Lagertha when she stops the Viking forces from killing him. Before the next battle, he declares that he is ready to die for her.
The bishop's words in this particular scene aren't driven by logic but by his feelings of love and lust, which Lagertha has satisfied so well. Logically, he shouldn't be willing to die for Lagertha since she isn't a Christian. By fighting for her, he is also betraying his people. Nonetheless, it's a bold and romantic remark from the holy warrior.
When He Goes To The Woods To Repent
"Lord, Forgive This Pitiful And Miserable Sinner."
Haunted with guilt after sleeping with a widow as well as several other women, Heahmund heads shirtless into the woods to punish and torture himself for the sins he has committed. He prays, asking God for forgiveness before making his way back.
In as much as Heahmund appears to enjoy living a double life, he is not at peace with it. He keeps regretting it every time he sins, making him opt for prayers. Soon, he gets into a cycle of sinning and repenting as he is not willing to stop fornicating. There are consequences too as his lust makes him lose his position shortly.
When He Makes Makes Plans To Go Back To England
"I Have Known Desire For Women Before, And Renounced It, And Found A Path Back To Christ. But You, I Cannot Renounce You."
Since Heahmund and Lagertha can't openly be a couple, he chooses to go back home to regain his position as bishop. However, he feels bad about it and lets her know that she is the only woman with who he never regrets being.
Among the list of Lagertha's lovers in Vikings, Heahmund isn't exactly the most likable one but he makes a case for himself as the most romantic one. He is almost poetic whenever he addresses her and does his best to reassure her that their forbidden relationship is worth it. He is honest on this occasion too because not once has he repented after sleeping with Lagertha. He likes her o much that he suggests she come with him.
When He Has A Private Conversation With Ivar
"I Fear No Man."
As Heahmund is being held in captivity, Ivar has a conversation with the man. He asks him if he truly knows about his reputation, to which Heahmund admits he does, but he doesn't fear him. He only fears God.
Heahmund makes it clear to Ivar that he is ready to be a martyr. He knows that Ivar has a reputation for brutality but also understands that death at the hands of the man would make him a hero. After hearing how he never begged the so-called pagans for mercy, people back home will consider him a saint.
When He Leads English Forces Against The Vikings
"Fight For Your King! For Christ! Fight For Your God! For Wessex! And For England!"
While leading the English forces against the Vikings, Heahmund motivates them in the best way possible. The holy warrior makes sure to mention anything worth fighting for.
It could be argued that the battlefield, rather than the church, is Bishop Heahmund's true calling. He knows how to marshall the forces even better than the king and fights so well that even Ivar admires him. Regrettably, he dies in the late part of Season 5 before he ever finds his true purpose.