By the final season of Vikings, one of the biggest questions in the series became the rightful King of All Norway - and who would be able to unite all the rulers and warriors of the country to fight off the invasion from Ivar and the Rus. It marked a huge change from the first season, where individual Earls ruled over their own lands, and shows just how much of an impact the Sons of Ragnar had on their people.
In the end, King Harald Finehair was the one who technically won the election, becoming the first King of All Norway, just as he had always dreamed. However, as Gunnhild says after Bjorn's death, having sacrificed himself to bring the people together and save the county, he was truly the first King of Norway. So which was it? Does Harald win on a technicality, or was Bjorn truly the first King?
Bjorn: He Had The Bloodline For It
Bjorn is the oldest of the sons of Ragnar, and for many of the Vikings (who believed that Ragnar himself was a descendant of Odin), this was reason enough. Ragnar himself was never able to unite all of Norway under his rule, but he was someone who definitely could have - and as his son, Bjorn carried on his legacy and his name.
Harald: He Always Wanted To Be
From the first moment that fans meet Harald in Vikings, he announces that he intends to unite Norway, and become the first King. Admittedly, just having the ambition to be a King doesn't make someone a King, but in Harald's case, it definitely gives weight to his claim. Whereas Bjorn never particularly wanted to rule, Harald was the one who was actively pushing this into becoming a role in the country to begin with.
Bjorn: He Inspired True Loyalty
Harald was definitely not someone who inspired a huge amount of loyalty. He wasn't hated by his people, but he wasn't truly beloved by them, either.
Bjorn, meanwhile, inspires an incredible amount of loyalty from everyone that he meets - to the extent that even Harald's own brother, who was incredibly devoted to him, ended up leaving him behind and traveling with Bjorn.
Harald: He Fought For A Democratic Election
Admittedly, Harald fought for an election purely so that he could rig it to win, which isn't particularly democratic in and of itself, but he did actually attempt to give his people a voice - as a good King would. Bjorn would have been comfortable to simply assume command and act as King, whereas Harald wanted to show the people that he was the King that everyone wanted.
Bjorn: He Embodies Viking Life
In many ways, Bjorn is the ideal Viking - and as such, makes for the best First King. He is physically imposing and an incredible warrior, and able to literally kill a bear with his bare hands. He earns the name 'Ironside' through his incredible prowess in battle, and is a strategist, too. He is also an explorer and raider, taking the Vikings further than almost anyone else (and further than anyone who returns). And of course, he married multiple times and fathered many children (although none survived to adulthood).
Harald: He Was Able To Sacrifice Everything For Kingship
Harald was so driven by his goal of becoming the first King of Norway that he was willing to give up absolutely everything to become King. He lost his brother, he failed to find a woman who loved him (and Gunnhild even swam out to her death rather than marry him), he lost a lot of his friends along the way - he proved that he was willing to put his kingship ahead of anything else in his life.
Bjorn: He Was Buried Like A Legend After His Death
Both Bjorn and Harald died before the end of the series, but Harald's funeral and burial isn't seen - or likely to be anywhere near as huge as the one thrown to celebrate Bjorn's life.
Bjorn is also the only character on the show to get the kind of tomb that he did - a huge structure that was created to truly pay homage to a great man. That is the tomb of a King.
Harald: His Manipulation Proved He Understood Power Better
Harald's decision to manipulate the election by promising everyone what they wanted (with no intention of following through) may have been an underhanded way to win, but it was one that showed Harald actually understands human nature. Unlike Bjorn, who believes that everyone is as straightforward and honest as he is, Harald understands what his people want - even when it is conflicting.
Bjorn: He Brought The Vikings Together
Bjorn was heralded as the true king because, at a point where it seemed that the Rus army would be able to overrun the Vikings in Norway, he was actually able to bring the Vikings together to fight them off. He was able to use his presence, despite receiving a deadly wound, to terrify the opposing army, and without him, the Rus may have won. These are the actions of a true King, who takes his last breath on the battlefield, having been the first to unite every Viking warrior to fight for Norway.
Harald: He Won The Election
No matter who is better suited to Kingship, or who fought harder for it, Harald did technically win the election. He may have done so underhandedly, and surprised many of the leaders (including Bjorn himself), but he did win. Everyone also accepted this win, and therefore made him King - and even if he was a very short-lived King, he did hold the title.