Maritime Madams: Lagertha

Lagertha was a Viking shield-maiden who is said to have ruled in the 9th century AD in what is now Norway She was the first wife of Ragnar Lothbrok, King of the Vikings and a skilled warrior and sea commander. In one such instance, Ragnar sent to Norway for support in a battle he was losing, and Lagertha came to his aid with 120 ships playing a decisive role in the victory of this battle.

For Further Reading:

• Lagertha - World History Encyclopedia
• Who was Lagertha, legendary Viking shield-maiden and wife of Ragnar Lothbrok?
• The Danish History, by Saxo Grammaticus

This month, we’re talking about Maritime Madams. Whether through scientific study, aquatic exploration, or legendary prowess, they harnessed the power of the bodies of waters that cover our earth. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hello for Wonder Media Network. I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this
is Wamanica. This month we're talking about maritime madams. Whether
through scientific study, aquatic exploration, or legendary prowess, these women
harness the power of the bodies of water that cover
our earth. Today, we're talking about a Viking woman whose
skills as a warrior on the field and at sea

(00:27):
made her the stuff of legends, so much so that
we're not certain whether she existed at all. Please welcome Lagerta.
Over a thousand years ago, medieval Scandinavia was rife with
the feuds of warring Viking kingdoms and tribes. Fruh, the

(00:48):
King of Sweden, once invaded the Norwegian Kingdom and killed
their king Seaward. He then jailed all of the women
in Seaward's family in a brothel. News of Fro's brutality
traveled to ragnar le Brook. King Seward's grandson, Ragner, was
a famous Viking warrior notorious for his piracy and violent raids.
When Ragner heard of his grandfather's murder and his family's humiliation,

(01:11):
he led his army to Norway to seek revenge. Lagarta
was one of the women locked away in the brothel.
To escape, she and the other women disguised themselves as
men and joined Ragnar's army in the battle against King Hrauh.
Ragner was so impressed by her skill and ferocity as
a warrior that he credited their victory to her alone.

(01:32):
He began to court her, sending frequent letters to her
home in the Gwla River valley in western Norway. Knowing
Ragner would eventually show up to claim her as his bride,
Lagerta installed a great bear and a hound as guards
at her door. When Ragner arrived to seek her hand
in marriage, he was not deterred by her animal sentries.
He killed the bear with a spear and strangled the

(01:54):
hound to death. Now it was Lagarta's turn to be impressed.
She felt Ragner had proven his might as a warrior
and accepted his proposal. They married and had three children,
two daughters and a son. They lived together peacefully for
a few years before Ragner was called back to his
kingdom in Denmark. While away, he fell in love with

(02:15):
another woman, thora the daughter of the new king of Sweden.
Ragner and Lagerta divorced, and Lagerta also eventually remarried In
the meantime, Ragner was facing growing descent in his home
kingdom that had blossomed during his absence. War was coming
and he needed help. He asked Lagerta for aid, and
she came to the rescue with a fleet of more

(02:37):
than one hundred and twenty ships. Once again, her military
savvy one Ragner a decisive victory. When she returned home
from the epic battle, she killed her second husband, took
his name, and ruled their kingdom on her own. What
we know of Lagerta's story ends here. It was recorded

(02:58):
in the twelfth century in the Guesta to Norum, a
key source of Danish history, and was written by a
historian and author named Saxo Grammaticus. We don't know much
about his sources. It's very possible that Saxo invented Lagerta completely,
taking inspiration from other Norse legends to embellish Wragner's story.
Another theories that the medieval Christian Church had an influence

(03:21):
in Lagerta's creation. By creating a barbaric warrior woman, Saxo
could contrast her pagan society to a more civilized Christian
one where women were meek and obedient. Today historians don't
even agree on whether Viking warrior women existed. Nevertheless, the
legends of Lagerta and other fierce Viking shield maidens have

(03:42):
persisted for centuries in the popular imagination, continuing to inspire
new generations of storytellers. All month, we're talking about maritime Madams.
For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at
Wamanica Podcast special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister
and co creator. Talk to you tomorrow, m HM.