Lathgertha

A semi-legendary female Danish Viking and shieldmaiden, one time wife of the famous viking Ragnar Lodbrok.

"....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".Ragnar’s Saga

“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.”
History of the Danes, Saxo GrammaticusNationality: Norwegian Period: Awakening Aka: Ladgerda

A notorious Skjaldmær (shieldmaiden) and one time wife of Ragnar Lodbrok, Lathgertha’s career as a warrior evidently started when Frey, ‘king’ of Sweden, 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 these 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.Lathgertha was one of these, and she joined Ragnar’s forces in the ensuing battle, leaving a strong impression upon Ragnar. "Ladgerda, a skilled Amazon, 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." (from the History of the Danes, Saxo Grammaticus). 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. They had at least four children, including Björn Ironside and Ivar the Boneless.After returning to Denmark to fight a civil war, Ragnar was allegedly still annoyed at having had beasts set against him, and divorced the ornery Lathgertha in favor of a young Swedish Princess named Thora. Ragnar journeyed to Sweden to win the hand of his new love, which he did after numerous adventures, 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 Norway for reinforcements for his rag tag army of old men and boys. 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!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)