Vikings is a Canadian-Irish historical drama television series created and written by Michael Hirst. The show premiered on March 3, 2013, and concluded on December 30, 2020, spanning six seasons with a total of 89 episodes. It originally aired on the History Channel in Canada and was later available on Amazon Prime Video in various regions. The series is inspired by the sagas of Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Norse hero known for his raids in England and France. Portrayed by Travis Fimmel, Ragnar starts as a farmer and rises to become a Scandinavian king, leading his family and fellow warriors on epic adventures. The narrative later shifts focus to his sons as they continue his legacy across different territories .