Lathgertha
Encyclopedia
A semi-legendary female Danish
Viking
and shieldmaiden
, one time wife of the famous Viking Ragnar Lodbrok
.
, Saxo Grammaticus
A notorious Skjaldmær (shieldmaiden
alleged Valkyrie
) and one time wife of Ragnar Lodbrok
, Lathgertha's career as a warrior evidently started when Frodo, a Swyddian (Swithian) chieftain, invaded Norway and killed the local jarl
around 840 AD. Frey announced his intention to place the women of the former jarl's family into a brothel for public humiliation. Ragnar Lodbrok came to fight the Swedes with an army, and many of the local women dressed themselves in men's clothing and fled to his camp in order to avoid this humiliation, some choosing to fight among the men.
and Ivar the Boneless
and Sigurd Snakeye.
or Kraka. Ragnar journeyed to Sweden to win the hand of his new love, which he did after numerous adventures including the slaying of the serpents which earned him his cognomen, but upon returning to Denmark was again faced with a civil war. He lacked a great deal of support at home, so he sent to Westfold Anglia for reinforcements. Lathgertha, who apparently had a soft spot for her two- timing ex husband, rushed to Denmark to assist him, bringing her new husband and her son, and allegedly 120 ships with her to fight.
"....With a measure of vitality at odds with her tender frame, roused the mettle of the faltering soldiery by a splendid exhibition of bravery. She flew round the rear of the unprepared enemy in a circling maneuver and carried the panic which had been felt by the allies into the camp of their adversaries".
"Ladgerda, who had a matchless spirit though a delicate frame, covered by her splendid bravery the inclination of the soldiers to waver. For she made a sally about, and flew round to the rear of the enemy, taking them unawares, and thus turned the panic of her friends into the camp of the enemy."
The ensuing battle of Laneus was hard-fought. At the height of the battle, Ragnar's son Siward was wounded and fell, causing the troops to waver. At this key moment Lathgertha counterattacked, rallying the troops, routing the enemy. Upon returning to Norway, she quarreled with her husband, and slew him with a spearhead she concealed in her gown, and usurped his power as jarl, "…for this most presumptuous dame thought it pleasanter to rule without her husband than to share the throne with him.. " (History of the Danes
, Saxo Grammaticus
)
Daner
The Danes were a North Germanic tribe residing in modern day Denmark. They are mentioned in the 6th century in Jordanes' Getica, by Procopius, and by Gregory of Tours....
Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
and shieldmaiden
Shieldmaiden
A shieldmaiden was a woman who had chosen to fight as a warrior in Scandinavian folklore and mythology. They are often mentioned in sagas such as Hervarar saga and in Gesta Danorum. Shieldmaidens also appear in stories of other Germanic nations: Goths, Cimbri, and Marcomanni. The mythical Valkyries...
, one time wife of the famous Viking Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok was a Norse legendary hero from the Viking Age who was thoroughly reshaped in Old Norse poetry and legendary sagas.-Life as recorded in the sagas:...
.
Early life
History of the DanesGesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history...
, Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
A notorious Skjaldmær (shieldmaiden
Shieldmaiden
A shieldmaiden was a woman who had chosen to fight as a warrior in Scandinavian folklore and mythology. They are often mentioned in sagas such as Hervarar saga and in Gesta Danorum. Shieldmaidens also appear in stories of other Germanic nations: Goths, Cimbri, and Marcomanni. The mythical Valkyries...
alleged Valkyrie
Valkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who decides who dies in battle. Selecting among half of those who die in battle , the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin...
) and one time wife of Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok
Ragnar Lodbrok was a Norse legendary hero from the Viking Age who was thoroughly reshaped in Old Norse poetry and legendary sagas.-Life as recorded in the sagas:...
, Lathgertha's career as a warrior evidently started when Frodo, a Swyddian (Swithian) chieftain, invaded Norway and killed the local jarl
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
around 840 AD. Frey announced his intention to place the women of the former jarl's family into a brothel for public humiliation. Ragnar Lodbrok came to fight the Swedes with an army, and many of the local women dressed themselves in men's clothing and fled to his camp in order to avoid this humiliation, some choosing to fight among the men.
Marriage to Ragnar Lodbrock
Lathgertha joined Ragnar's forces in the ensuing battle, leaving a strong impression upon Ragnar. "Ladgerda, a skilled Amazon Amazigh, who, though a maiden, had the courage of a man, and fought in front among the bravest with her hair loose over her shoulders. All-marveled at her matchless deeds, for her locks flying down her back betrayed that she was a woman.". Impressed with her courage, Ragnar courted her from afar. Lathgertha feigned interest but when Ragnar arrived to seek her hand, he was set-upon by a bear and a great hound which she had guarding her home. He killed the bear with his spear and choked the hound to death, and thus won the hand of Lathgertha in marriage. It is unclear if any of Ragnars famous sons were born by Lathgertha. Ragnar had possibly as many as seven children, including the famous warriors Björn IronsideBjörn Ironside
Björn Ironside was a semi-legendary king of Sweden who would have lived sometime in the 9th century. Björn Ironside is said to have been the first ruler of a new dynasty...
and Ivar the Boneless
Ivar the Boneless
Ivar Ragnarsson nicknamed the Boneless , was a Viking leader and by reputation also a berserker. By the late 11th century he was known as a son of the powerful Ragnar Lodbrok, ruler of an area probably comprising parts of modern-day Denmark and Sweden.-Invader:In the autumn of AD 865, with his...
and Sigurd Snakeye.
Divorce and military Alliance with Ragnar
After returning to Denmark to fight a civil war, Ragnar was allegedly still annoyed at having had beasts set against him, and divorced Lathgertha in favor of a young Swedish Princess named Thora, also known as AslaugAslaug
Aslaug, Aslög, Kraka, Kráka or Randalin, was a queen of Scandinavian mythology who appears in Snorri's Edda, the Völsunga saga and the saga of Ragnar Lodbrok.-The Legendary Aslaug:...
or Kraka. Ragnar journeyed to Sweden to win the hand of his new love, which he did after numerous adventures including the slaying of the serpents which earned him his cognomen, but upon returning to Denmark was again faced with a civil war. He lacked a great deal of support at home, so he sent to Westfold Anglia for reinforcements. Lathgertha, who apparently had a soft spot for her two- timing ex husband, rushed to Denmark to assist him, bringing her new husband and her son, and allegedly 120 ships with her to fight.
"....With a measure of vitality at odds with her tender frame, roused the mettle of the faltering soldiery by a splendid exhibition of bravery. She flew round the rear of the unprepared enemy in a circling maneuver and carried the panic which had been felt by the allies into the camp of their adversaries".
"Ladgerda, who had a matchless spirit though a delicate frame, covered by her splendid bravery the inclination of the soldiers to waver. For she made a sally about, and flew round to the rear of the enemy, taking them unawares, and thus turned the panic of her friends into the camp of the enemy."
The ensuing battle of Laneus was hard-fought. At the height of the battle, Ragnar's son Siward was wounded and fell, causing the troops to waver. At this key moment Lathgertha counterattacked, rallying the troops, routing the enemy. Upon returning to Norway, she quarreled with her husband, and slew him with a spearhead she concealed in her gown, and usurped his power as jarl, "…for this most presumptuous dame thought it pleasanter to rule without her husband than to share the throne with him.. " (History of the Danes
Gesta Danorum
Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history...
, Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus
Saxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
)