Shieldmaiden

Shieldmaiden

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Historical accounts

There are few historical attestations that Viking Age women took part in warfare, but the Byzantine historian Johannes Skylitzes records that women fought in battle when the Scandinavian ruler of Kiev attacked the Byzantines in Bulgaria in 971. When the Norsemen had suffered a devastating defeat, the victors were stunned at discovering armed women among the fallen warriors.Harrison, D. & Svensson, K. (2007). "Vikingaliv". Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo. ISBN 978-91-27-35725-9. p. 71]

When Leif Ericson's pregnant sister Freydís Eiríksdóttir was in America, she is reported to have taken a sword and barebreasted she scared away the attacking Indians.

Legendary accounts

Examples of shieldmaidens mentioned by name in the Norse sagas include Brynhild in the "Volsunga saga", Hervor in "Hervarar saga", the Brynhild of the "Bósa saga ok Herrauds", the Swedish princess Thornbjörg in "Hrólfs saga Gautrekssonar" and Hed, Visna and Veborg in "Gesta Danorum".

According to Saxo Grammaticus, 300 shieldmaidens fought on the Danish side at the Battle of Bråvalla, in the year of 750.

References

ee also

*List of women warriors in folklore, literature, and popular culture
*Soldadera (Mexican revolution)


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