Vikings: Every Frankia Native, Ranked By Likability | ScreenRant
In Vikings, Ragnar Lothbrok covets Frankia, the Empire established by Charles the Great, aka Charlamagne, years before the events in the series begin. His desire to rule Frankia keeps increasing after learning about its wealth, so he stages two raids on the nation, particularly its capital of Paris. Unfortunately, success eludes him, leading to his downfall and eventual death.
Through the Frankia raids, fans of the show are introduced to some natives of the empire, some likable and some detestable. As is the case with key characters from other regions, the story arcs of the Frankia natives mostly revolve around power, with some seeking to snatch it and others seeking to keep it at all costs.
7 Roland
Count Odo's chief henchman is first seen fending off attacks from Lagertha and Kalf during the First Battle of Paris. He later leads the Vikings into a crossbow and ballistae trap, causing many of them to die.
Roland's list of annoying deeds goes on and on, making him impossible to like. Being responsible for the death of hundreds of Vikings makes him the ultimate baddie. Even worse is that he appears to have no respect for women's wishes, a trait that is demonstrated when he carries a reluctant Gisla to Rollo's bedchamber, forcing them to consummate their marriage. He is also not loyal as he schemes to topple Count Odo as the Emperor's right-hand man.
6 Count Odo
Count Odo of Paris is the Emperor's right-hand man in the series. Even though he holds a high and coveted position, he still seeks to be the ruler but his ambition quickly leads to his downfall.
Odo might have the grit needed to make him a good ruler, but his hedonism prevents him from achieving anything meaningful, He cares more about satisfying his sexual desires than coming up with detailed strategies not just for himself but the Empire too. Conspiring against the Emperor is a misguided decision too since Charles values him and would have likely kept him in a position of influence until his death.
5 Therese
Therese develops an interest in Count Odo because of his closeness to the Emperor and also because he has been rejected by Princess Gisla. However, she is more attracted to her brother Roland, with whom she develops an incestuous relationship.
Therese is a buff of Machiavellian maneuvers. She seduces Odo not because she loves him but so that she can find dirt on him to help her brother become the new count. Her willingness to be subjected to all kinds of debauchery at Odo's dungeon just so she can bring him down highlights her resilience. Unfortunately for her, the scheming ways soon hit a cul-de-sac when Emperor Charles discovers that she and Roland are not just seeking to expose Odo but to acquire power for themselves. In what could count as one of the most brutal kills in Vikings, he orders for the both of them to be garotted.
4 Prudentius
King Ecbert loves monks, and, at one point, he employs the Frankian Benedictine as his secretary at the Court of Wessex. He also instructs him to teach and mentor Princess Judith.
Prudentius is chauvinistic, making it clear that the only reason he is unwilling to teach Judith is that she is a woman. He isn't at the bottom of the list because he manages to changes his perspective after being advised to do so by Bishop Edmund. He also has a taste for the finer things in life, evident through his wine brand knowledge.
3 Emperor Charles
Emperor Charles II is one of the Vikings' characters that are accurately based on historical figures. He rules over the lush nation of Frankia that is constantly talked about with admiration by people from other lands. With the assistance of those around him, he wages a successful war against the Norsemen.
As the grandson of the great Charlamagne, Charles has big shoes to fill. He doesn't quite manage to fill them due to numerous instances of indecisiveness. Even though he is cowardly, he understands the importance of working with the right people. Letting Gilsa make all the important decisions ensures the kingdom never falls, because she is much wiser than him. Convincing Rollo to betray Ragnar is also the biggest chess move in the series since it leads to the fall of the great Viking leader.
2 Abbot Lupus
The multilingual Frank monk is one of the nobles who serves at Emperor Charles's court. When Rollo becomes indoctrinated into Frankian society, Lupus is tasked with teaching him Frankish (currently known as French).
Lupus' patience makes him adorable to fans. He maintains his cool at all times when dealing with the unreasonable Viking traitor. Unable to master the language quickly due to a genetics-related lack of intelligence, Rollo becomes an unruly student and tears up pages of Frankish books. Lupus doesn't see it as a big deal. Even when Rollo adopts violence and throws Lupus on a table, the monk remains a dedicated teacher and makes sure the future duke eventually learns the language.
1 Princess Gisla
Gisla de Francie Occidentale, commonly known as Princess Gisla, is known for providing wise counsel to her father, Emperor Charles. She rejects her arranged marriage with Rollo and is gloomy for a while despite having one of the most important weddings in Vikings. However, she soon falls in love with him, making them a formidable duo.
An icon of female empowerment, Gisla prefers to do as she pleases rather than dance to the tune of the patriarchal society. She is portrayed as much wiser than her father, offering him guidance when he is clueless about the appropriate action to take, especially during the Paris wars. Despite not stepping into the battlefield herself, it is she that issues a rallying cry to the warriors, presenting them with the Oriflamme of St. Dennis, something that encourages them to achieve victory.