DO YOU WANT TO DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF THE MOST FAMOUS VIKING WOMEN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN VIKING SOCIETY?The image of the Viking woman has been for centuries a mixture of reality and myth, constructed from medieval accounts, archaeological discoveries and the interpretation of historians over time. Often depicted as a fierce warrior with a sword in hand and a shield to her chest, the female figure of Viking society has inspired stories of bravery, independence and ferocity in battle.
However, behind this legendary image lies a more complex and fascinating story, a reality in which Viking women played pivotal roles in all aspects of life: from warfare to trade, politics and exploration. Medieval accounts, such as the Norse sagas and the chronicles of Christian monks, have bequeathed us a vision of these women that oscillates between adoration and awe. The Icelandic sagas, written centuries after the Viking Age, tell stories of skjaldmö or squire maidens, women who fought like warriors and defied the norms of their time.
Characters such as Lagertha, supposed wife of Ragnar Lodbrok, or Hervor, the heroine of the Hervararar saga, have nurtured the idea of women warriors who fought duels and led armies. In these stories, the Viking woman is depicted as a figure of strength and honor, but also of cunning and strategic intelligence. However, the sagas are not always reliable sources of reality, as in many cases they were written with a strong literary and legendary component.
It was not until the archaeological discoveries of the 19th and 20th centuries that the vision of the Viking woman began to transform in a more concrete way. Until relatively recently, traditional historiography considered Viking society to be predominantly patriarchal. Beyond warfare, Viking women played pivotal roles in the social structure of their time. Over time, the image of the Viking woman has been reinterpreted again and again in popular culture.
In these pages you will discover how advances in research and recent discoveries have helped us to establish the role of women in Viking society, challenging myths and recognizing them as an important part of the creation of Viking history. In this book you will discover: Viking society and gender roles, rights and freedoms. Goddesses and heroines: the influence of mythology on the perception of Viking women.
The role of Viking women in warfare The relevance of Viking women in exploration and conquest The distribution of political power in the Viking Age: queens and clan chieftains Marriage and family in Viking society Lagertha and her supposed relationship with the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok The prophetess and wise queen Aslaug The explorer of Vinland, Freydís Eiríksdóttir The Viking who came to America: Gudrid Thorbjarnardóttir Unn the Wise, pioneer in Iceland Ingegerd Olofsdotter and Eastern European Diplomacy Estrid Sigfastsdotter and the demonstration of commercial power Thyra Danebod and her importance for the development of Denmark The legend of the Skjaldmö warriors Archaeological evidence for the importance of the Viking woman The presence of Viking women in naval warfare The end of the Viking Age and the importance of women in transition All this and much more in a book that will allow you to discover the important role of women in the legendary Viking society!