Viking Shieldmaidens: 6 Women of War

The Viking Age is often remembered for its fierce warriors, longships, and daring raids—but not all its warriors were men. Viking shieldmaidens, female warriors who fought alongside men in battle, have long captured the imagination of historians and storytellers alike. While some accounts of shieldmaidens come from sagas and legends, archaeological finds and medieval chronicles suggest that women did take up arms in the Norse world. As Saxo Grammaticus wrote in the 12th century, “there were among them women who dressed themselves to look like men and spent almost every minute cultivating soldiers’ deeds.”

This article explores six of the most famous or noteworthy shieldmaidens whose stories have endured through time. From Lagertha’s rise to power in Denmark to the mysterious warrior woman discovered in a grave at Birka, each represents a different facet of Viking bravery. Their stories blend myth and reality, but each one reflects the strength and spirit of Norse women who stood at the forefront of history.

What Is a Viking Shieldmaiden?

A Viking shieldmaiden was a woman who took up arms and fought in battle during the Viking Age. She stood apart from most women of her time by embracing the warrior’s life, wearing armor, wielding weapons, and riding into combat. Shieldmaidens are primarily known from Norse sagas and medieval chronicles, where they are portrayed as fierce and honorable fighters who demanded respect on and off the battlefield.

The concept of the shieldmaiden reflects the Norse worldview, where courage and strength were highly valued. While most Viking warriors were men, stories of women fighting alongside them reveal a culture that made room—at least in legend—for women who defied expectations. These accounts often emphasize a shieldmaiden’s loyalty, bravery, and skill, framing them as equal to their male counterparts in both leadership and valor.

Historical evidence for the existence of shieldmaidens is debated among scholars. Many of the references come from literary sources written centuries after the events they describe. However, these texts offer insight into how Viking societies may have viewed gender and warfare. The recurring image of women in battle suggests that the idea of female warriors, whether literal or symbolic, held meaning in Norse culture.

In a world shaped by war, honor, and reputation, the shieldmaiden represented the possibility that women, too, could shape their fate through courage. Whether myth or reality, her role challenges modern assumptions about gender roles in history and offers a striking image of female strength in a brutal era.

6 Viking Shieldmaidens of Legend & Lore

Lagertha: The Most Famous Viking Shieldmaiden

Lagertha is perhaps the most renowned shieldmaiden in Viking legend. Her story comes to us primarily from Gesta Danorum, a 12th-century work by the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus. In his account, she is described as a fierce warrior who fought beside Ragnar Lothbrok during a civil war in Norway. When Ragnar faced overwhelming odds, Lagertha led a surprise counterattack that helped secure victory—earning not just battlefield glory but also Ragnar’s admiration.

Saxo portrays Lagertha as both beautiful and deadly, writing that “though a maiden, she had the courage of a man.” After the war, Ragnar pursued her as a bride, impressed by her martial skill. They married and had children, but their union was brief. According to Saxo, Ragnar later left her to marry another woman—though not without regret, as he admitted that Lagertha had saved his life.

The historical accuracy of Lagertha’s existence remains uncertain. Saxo’s work blends history with myth and often reflects Christianized and romanticized views of the pagan past. Still, the consistency of her depiction as a powerful, independent woman makes her stand out among Norse figures. Her story may have drawn on oral traditions or symbolized the idealized traits of a warrior woman in Viking culture.

Whether she lived or was simply legend, Lagertha endures as a cultural icon. She embodies the spirit of the shieldmaiden—brave, capable, and unafraid to take her place on the battlefield. Her legacy continues to inspire depictions of Viking women in books, television, and popular memory.

Hervor: Wielder of the Cursed Sword Tyrfing

Hervor is one of the most compelling shieldmaidens from Norse legend, remembered for her boldness, independence, and connection to a deadly artifact. Her story is told in the Hervarar saga, a legendary saga composed in medieval Iceland. According to the tale, Hervor was raised unaware of her warrior lineage. Upon learning of her heritage, she armed herself, dressed as a man, and sailed to the haunted island of her ancestors to claim the cursed sword Tyrfing, forged by dwarves and fated to bring misfortune.

In one of the saga’s most dramatic moments, Hervor stands at the burial mound of her father, Angantyr, and demands he return the sword to her. The scene is shrouded in supernatural tension—flames erupt from the grave and voices warn her of the sword’s curse. But Hervor refuses to back down. Her courage impresses even the undead, and she leaves with Tyrfing in hand, fully stepping into her role as a warrior.

Hervor’s life is marked by both valor and tragedy. After reclaiming the sword, she fights in battles across the Norse world. Eventually, she gives up her warrior ways, settles down, and has children. Yet the saga reminds readers that Tyrfing’s curse lingers; it ultimately leads to destruction in future generations, highlighting the high cost of pride and power.

Though likely a fictional creation, Hervor represents an ideal of Viking womanhood that challenges modern assumptions. She’s not only brave but intellectually sharp, commanding respect from men and spirits alike. Her tale remains one of the most vivid illustrations of a woman stepping into roles of violence, fate, and legacy in the Norse mythological world.

Brynhildr: The Mythic Shieldmaiden of Fire and Fate

Brynhildr, often called Brynhild or Brynhildr Buðladóttir, is one of the most iconic figures in Norse mythology—part shieldmaiden, part valkyrie. Her story appears in the Völsunga saga and the Poetic Edda, where she is portrayed as a warrior-maiden punished by the god Odin. Cast into a magical sleep and surrounded by a ring of fire, she vows to marry only the man brave enough to cross the flames—a test that sets in motion one of the most tragic love stories in the Viking mythos.

Though more mythological than historical, Brynhildr is closely tied to the ideals of honor, vengeance, and doomed romance that shaped Viking lore. She is eventually awakened by the hero Sigurd, whom she loves deeply. But their relationship unravels through betrayal, sorcery, and fate. When Sigurd marries another under pretenses, Brynhildr’s heartbreak turns to fury. Her revenge leads to a deadly spiral that claims both their lives and devastates their kin.

Unlike other shieldmaidens tied to battlefield exploits, Brynhildr’s strength is forged in emotional fire and divine wrath. She commands respect as a chooser of the slain and a figure of almost supernatural beauty and intellect. Her story resonates through later literature, influencing works like the Nibelungenlied and even Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Brynhildr’s legend endures not because she led armies, but because she symbolizes the profound interplay between destiny and agency in Norse culture. As a shieldmaiden born of myth rather than history, she represents the timeless themes of power, loyalty, and the high cost of love.

Freydís Eiríksdóttir: The Fierce Defender of Vinland

Freydís Eiríksdóttir, the daughter of famed explorer Erik the Red and sister to Leif Erikson, is one of the few Viking women whose exploits are recorded in historical sagas. She appears in The Saga of the Greenlanders, where her bold actions in North America—then called Vinland—have cemented her reputation as a fearsome figure in Viking lore. Though not a traditional shieldmaiden, her bravery in the face of danger earns her a place among the legendary women warriors of the Norse world.

In the saga, Freydís is part of an expedition to Vinland that comes under attack by indigenous peoples. While many of her male companions fled in fear, Freydís stood her ground—even though she was heavily pregnant. According to the account, she picked up a fallen sword and struck her bare chest with it, screaming in defiance. Her display of courage reportedly shocked the attackers into retreat. This moment, whether wholly factual or partly mythologized, showcases the Norse ideal of unflinching bravery.

Freydís’s legacy is complex. In other saga versions, she is portrayed less heroically—sometimes even violently. The Saga of the Greenlanders contrasts sharply with The Saga of Erik the Red, which casts her in a more ruthless and morally ambiguous light. These conflicting portrayals make it difficult to separate the real Freydís from the literary figure shaped by oral tradition and medieval storytelling.

Despite this ambiguity, Freydís remains a compelling figure. Her defiance and strength in Vinland exemplify the spirit of Viking women who refused to be confined by expectations. While she may not have worn the armor of a shieldmaiden, her actions speak to a warrior’s heart—making her an enduring symbol of courage on the edge of the known world.

Sigrdrífa: The Valkyrie Scholar of the Poetic Edda

Sigrdrífa, sometimes considered synonymous with Brynhildr, is a prominent valkyrie figure found in the Poetic Edda. Her story unfolds in the Sigrdrífumál, where she is discovered by the hero Sigurd, sleeping in armor behind a wall of flames. Unlike other warriors, Sigrdrífa is not only a shieldmaiden but also a wise teacher. Upon awakening, she shares a trove of runic knowledge, divine blessings, and practical advice—blending the martial with the mystical.

Her character reveals much about how Norse mythology blurred the lines between warriors and the divine. Sigrdrífa had disobeyed Odin by striking down the wrong warrior in battle, and her punishment was to sleep until a man brave enough to pass the flames could wake her. In this, she represents both fate and consequence, ideals deeply woven into Viking belief systems.

Sigrdrífa is more than a mythical warrior; she embodies the spiritual guidance and esoteric knowledge often linked to the valkyries. Her runic instructions to Sigurd cover everything from healing and protection to wisdom and love. Through her, we see how shieldmaidens in legend were not just warriors, but carriers of ancient wisdom. Her presence in the sagas reinforces the high regard held for female figures who could stand as equals in both battle and lore.

Visna, Veborg, and Hetha: Warriors of the Battle of Brávellir

Among the earliest recorded Viking-age shieldmaidens are Visna, Veborg, and Hetha—fierce female warriors whose bravery was captured in Gesta Danorum by Saxo Grammaticus. They are said to have taken part in the legendary Battle of Brávellir, a vast and bloody clash between King Harald Hildetand of Denmark and King Sigurd Ring of Sweden. Though this battle likely blends history and myth, Saxo’s account presents these women not as outliers, but as central figures in a grand narrative of war and valor.

Veborg is portrayed as particularly fierce in combat, engaging in prolonged single combat with the warrior Starke. Her fighting is described in vivid detail, showcasing her as equal to any male warrior. Hetha, meanwhile, is said to have commanded troops and been elected a chieftain—an indication that her leadership extended beyond the battlefield. Visna, though less elaborated upon, is grouped with these heroic women as part of a cohort of shieldmaidens who defied expectations.

Saxo’s recounting may reflect more of a literary tradition than literal history, but the presence of such women in his work speaks volumes about how Norse society envisioned female strength. These accounts, whether entirely factual or not, helped to shape the enduring legend of the Viking shieldmaiden: a warrior capable of commanding respect through courage and skill. Their legacy lives on not only in old texts but in the evolving understanding of women’s roles in the Viking world.

Legacy of the Viking Shieldmaidens

In 2017, DNA analysis of the famous Birka Warrior Grave (Bj 581) in Sweden stunned the historical community. Long assumed to contain a male warrior due to its rich array of weapons and battle gear, the grave was revealed to hold the remains of a woman. Although her name is lost to time, this discovery reignited the debate about the historical reality of shield maidens and their role in Viking society. It also challenged long-held assumptions about gender roles in warfare during the Viking Age.

While only a handful of named shieldmaidens—fewer than ten—appear in surviving texts and sagas, their cultural significance far outweighs their number. Figures like Lagertha, Hervor, and Freydís blend the boundary between myth and memory, embodying the fierce independence and martial skill that Norse tradition celebrated. Whether rooted in history or legend, these warrior women continue to capture the imagination, reminding us that the Viking world valued courage and strength, regardless of gender.