Vikings does not concern itself with strict historical setting! At least, that's my impression from the history I've gleaned from Wikipedia and a book on the Vikings by Robert Ferguson I have, though the historical record itself is quite spotty as most of the primary sources were written decades after the events. E.g. Ragnar Lothbrok is possibly mythical (or his historical basis is an existing person, e.g. possibly King Horik, who is another character in the show; Ragnar's sons are historical, though), ditto Lagertha his first wife, Rollo the founder of Normandy as mentioned above was probably not really connected to Ragnar but is his brother in the show, there are multiple accounts of Rollo in Paris and who he marries, etc. It's more a tapestry of important events in pre-medieval Europe that involve the Vikings, put together to form a narrative through Ragnar and his extended family and the people he comes in contact with.
The series starts just before Ragnar and his Vikings raid the Lindisfarne monastery (and capture Athelstan) which would be 793. The first season is largely this first expedition there and to Northumbria and the domestic political fallout, the second season is set about 10 years later with further raids and attempts at settlement in Wessex and Mercia, the third season they go to Paris, and the fourth season includes things happening back in Britain (not focusing on Vikings) and a second raid on Paris, and ended(?) with a timeskip of another 10-15 years (Ragnar's sons are now young men) and Bjorn Ironside planning to go to the Mediterranean. (The question mark is because all prior seasons were 10 episodes but IMDB shows 20 for S4.)
As far as epic brotherly battles go, S2 begins with one - it's set up as Rollo being envious of Ragnar's primacy and success and even Lagertha, who Rollo had wanted. And then after Rollo stays in Paris after S3 and converts to Christianity and assists the Emperor in fighting off the Northmen, that is the setup for another epic battle which was the season/midseason finale (which I just watched). There is a LOT of sibling rivalry in this show. Also lots of violence, lots of character death, and lots of scenery porn, many women being exceedingly badass, some sex and nudity but not on the scale of Game of Thrones or Black Sails.
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The series starts just before Ragnar and his Vikings raid the Lindisfarne monastery (and capture Athelstan) which would be 793. The first season is largely this first expedition there and to Northumbria and the domestic political fallout, the second season is set about 10 years later with further raids and attempts at settlement in Wessex and Mercia, the third season they go to Paris, and the fourth season includes things happening back in Britain (not focusing on Vikings) and a second raid on Paris, and ended(?) with a timeskip of another 10-15 years (Ragnar's sons are now young men) and Bjorn Ironside planning to go to the Mediterranean. (The question mark is because all prior seasons were 10 episodes but IMDB shows 20 for S4.)
As far as epic brotherly battles go, S2 begins with one - it's set up as Rollo being envious of Ragnar's primacy and success and even Lagertha, who Rollo had wanted. And then after Rollo stays in Paris after S3 and converts to Christianity and assists the Emperor in fighting off the Northmen, that is the setup for another epic battle which was the season/midseason finale (which I just watched). There is a LOT of sibling rivalry in this show. Also lots of violence, lots of character death, and lots of scenery porn, many women being exceedingly badass, some sex and nudity but not on the scale of Game of Thrones or Black Sails.
Uh, probably more than you wanted to know. :-)