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A Legendary Viking Shieldmaiden<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nLagertha, sometimes spelled as Lathgertha or Ladgerda, is a legendary Scandinavian warrior. Her story is tied with Ragnar Lothbrok<\/a>, one of the most famous Vikings in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHer story has been retold many times, but Lagertha<\/a> was really a figment of Danish theologian and historian Saxo Grammaticus\u2019s imagination. Grammaticus wrote Gesta Danorum<\/a>, presumably between the 12th and 13th centuries. The work contains 16 books:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Books 1 to 9: Norse mythology and some legendary Danish history<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Books 10 to 13: Medieval history<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Books 14 to 16: Danish conquests<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Ragnar is the star of Book 9 of Gesta Danorum, which is also where readers are introduced to Lagertha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lagertha\u2019s Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSwedish King Fr\u00f8 killed Norwegian King Siward, who was Ragnar\u2019s grandfather. Not satisfied with slaying the Norwegian leader, Fr\u00f8 punished the female Norwegians to work in a brothel. Lagertha was one of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But these women were fighters. Ragnar ascended to the throne in Denmark after Siward\u2019s death. He then rallied the troops and went to Norway to avenge his father. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Norway, some of the women escaped the brothel and, dressed in male garb, met Ragnar in his camp. They also provided their services in battle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ragnar<\/a> was so impressed by Lagertha that he attributed Norwegian\u2019s win to the woman warrior. In his book, Grammaticus wrote: \u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nRagnar and Lagertha: Warriors in Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe romantic relationship between Ragnar and Lagertha is more pronounced and drawn out in the TV series Vikings than in the book on which it was based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Gesta Danorum, Ragnar courted Lagertha from afar, sending messages to her home. Lagertha had a bear and hound guard her home to prevent suitors from pursuing her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as a true warrior, Ragnar killed both beasts: the bear with a spear and the hound with a chokehold. That impressed Lagertha, who then agreed to marry him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two had a son named Fridleif and two daughters who remained unnamed in the book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Separation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRagnar had to leave Norway and his home with Lagertha three years after their marriage. There was unrest in Denmark, where Ragnar was still king. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While they seemed like a perfect match, Ragnar divorced Lagertha to marry Thora Borgarhj\u00f6rt. She was the daughter of the Earl of G\u00f6taland (King Herod of Sweden). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ragnar had to kill a serpent to ask for Thora\u2019s hand in marriage. Ironically, Ragnar separated from Lagertha because he was still furious that she had a bear and a hound set out to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this point in the book, Lagertha was no longer a main character but made a minor appearance later. Lagertha remarried and ruled Norway with her new husband after the divorce from Ragnar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reunion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nRagnar and Lagertha maintained a deep respect for each other as warriors even after their divorce. Ragnar also continued to be impressed with Lagertha as a Viking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After much difficulty taking control of his homelands, Denmark and Sweden, Ragnar asked Lagertha for help. She sent 120 ships with warriors to aid Ragnar, whom Grammaticus described at this point as \u201cthe man who had once put her away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lagertha played a significant role in Ragnar\u2019s win. As Grammaticus wrote: \u201cLadgerda, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lagertha the Ruler<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn Grammaticus\u2019s ending of Lagertha\u2019s character arc in Gesta Danorum, he wrote that the shield-maiden returned to Norway and met with a hostile husband. After all, she was away for a long time trying to help her ex-husband win a war her homeland was not involved in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, they fought. One day, Lagertha hid a spearhead under her dress and murdered her husband. She then used her husband\u2019s name and started ruling the country herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grammaticus ended Lagertha\u2019s story with this line: \u201c…usurped the whole of his name and sovereignty; for this most presumptuous dame thought it pleasanter to rule without her husband than to share the throne with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lagertha in Media<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nEven as a supporting character in Ragnar\u2019s story, no one can deny Lagertha\u2019s rich characterization. It is no surprise that Lagertha has become a compelling female lead in various adaptations of her story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
TV Series: \u2018Vikings\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nVikings is a TV series that ran for six series from 2013 to 2020. Lagertha was the second lead and survived through all six seasons. In the show, she was portrayed by Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nJust like in the source material, Vikings <\/em>portrayed Lagertha as Ragnar\u2019s first wife. She left Ragnar after learning that he cheated on her with Aslaug, who became pregnant with Ragnar\u2019s child. She settled in Hedeby and became the Earl, calling herself Earl Ingstad. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHistorical Drama: \u2018Lagertha\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nChristen Henriksen Pram was a Norwegian-Danish writer and was often referred to as the first Norwegian novelist. He wrote the historical novel Lagertha, based on Grammaticus\u2019s writing. It was published in 1801. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ballet: \u2018Lagertha\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Her story has been retold many times, but Lagertha<\/a> was really a figment of Danish theologian and historian Saxo Grammaticus\u2019s imagination. Grammaticus wrote Gesta Danorum<\/a>, presumably between the 12th and 13th centuries. The work contains 16 books:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnar is the star of Book 9 of Gesta Danorum, which is also where readers are introduced to Lagertha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Swedish King Fr\u00f8 killed Norwegian King Siward, who was Ragnar\u2019s grandfather. Not satisfied with slaying the Norwegian leader, Fr\u00f8 punished the female Norwegians to work in a brothel. Lagertha was one of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But these women were fighters. Ragnar ascended to the throne in Denmark after Siward\u2019s death. He then rallied the troops and went to Norway to avenge his father. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Norway, some of the women escaped the brothel and, dressed in male garb, met Ragnar in his camp. They also provided their services in battle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnar<\/a> was so impressed by Lagertha that he attributed Norwegian\u2019s win to the woman warrior. In his book, Grammaticus wrote: \u201cA 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The romantic relationship between Ragnar and Lagertha is more pronounced and drawn out in the TV series Vikings than in the book on which it was based. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Gesta Danorum, Ragnar courted Lagertha from afar, sending messages to her home. Lagertha had a bear and hound guard her home to prevent suitors from pursuing her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But as a true warrior, Ragnar killed both beasts: the bear with a spear and the hound with a chokehold. That impressed Lagertha, who then agreed to marry him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The two had a son named Fridleif and two daughters who remained unnamed in the book. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnar had to leave Norway and his home with Lagertha three years after their marriage. There was unrest in Denmark, where Ragnar was still king. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While they seemed like a perfect match, Ragnar divorced Lagertha to marry Thora Borgarhj\u00f6rt. She was the daughter of the Earl of G\u00f6taland (King Herod of Sweden). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnar had to kill a serpent to ask for Thora\u2019s hand in marriage. Ironically, Ragnar separated from Lagertha because he was still furious that she had a bear and a hound set out to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point in the book, Lagertha was no longer a main character but made a minor appearance later. Lagertha remarried and ruled Norway with her new husband after the divorce from Ragnar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ragnar and Lagertha maintained a deep respect for each other as warriors even after their divorce. Ragnar also continued to be impressed with Lagertha as a Viking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After much difficulty taking control of his homelands, Denmark and Sweden, Ragnar asked Lagertha for help. She sent 120 ships with warriors to aid Ragnar, whom Grammaticus described at this point as \u201cthe man who had once put her away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lagertha played a significant role in Ragnar\u2019s win. As Grammaticus wrote: \u201cLadgerda, 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Grammaticus\u2019s ending of Lagertha\u2019s character arc in Gesta Danorum, he wrote that the shield-maiden returned to Norway and met with a hostile husband. After all, she was away for a long time trying to help her ex-husband win a war her homeland was not involved in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, they fought. One day, Lagertha hid a spearhead under her dress and murdered her husband. She then used her husband\u2019s name and started ruling the country herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Grammaticus ended Lagertha\u2019s story with this line: \u201c…usurped the whole of his name and sovereignty; for this most presumptuous dame thought it pleasanter to rule without her husband than to share the throne with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even as a supporting character in Ragnar\u2019s story, no one can deny Lagertha\u2019s rich characterization. It is no surprise that Lagertha has become a compelling female lead in various adaptations of her story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Vikings is a TV series that ran for six series from 2013 to 2020. Lagertha was the second lead and survived through all six seasons. In the show, she was portrayed by Canadian actress Katheryn Winnick<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like in the source material, Vikings <\/em>portrayed Lagertha as Ragnar\u2019s first wife. She left Ragnar after learning that he cheated on her with Aslaug, who became pregnant with Ragnar\u2019s child. She settled in Hedeby and became the Earl, calling herself Earl Ingstad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Christen Henriksen Pram was a Norwegian-Danish writer and was often referred to as the first Norwegian novelist. He wrote the historical novel Lagertha, based on Grammaticus\u2019s writing. It was published in 1801. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Lagertha\u2019s Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ragnar and Lagertha: Warriors in Love<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Separation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reunion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lagertha the Ruler<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Lagertha in Media<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
TV Series: \u2018Vikings\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Historical Drama: \u2018Lagertha\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ballet: \u2018Lagertha\u2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n