Story of the Week: Ladgarda

The Viking shieldmaiden Lagertha (1913)

by Morris Meredith Williams (1881-1973).

“Ladgarda,” Christine Rains's Viking adventure story in Luna Station Quarterly, begins with an act of assistance and ends with something quite different. Set amid the various Viking kingdoms warring for control of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, “Ladgarda,” tells of the legendary shieldmaiden Ladgarda's stormy relationship with Ragnar Lodbrok.

According to the 12th-century Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, Ladgarda (a.k.a. Lagertha, Lathgertha, Ladgertha, and Ladgerda) was the daughter of the Norwegian king Siward. The Swedish king Freyr invaded Norway, killed Siward and placed the women of Siward's family into a brothel. Ragnar Lodbrok arrived on the scene with an army to avenge his grandfather. Ladgarda, dressed as a man but with her locks flowing down her back from under her helm, fought with Ragnar and distinguished herself with her courage and skill. Ragnar married Ladgarda after passing some trials and fathered several children with her. He later divorced Ladgarda to marry the daughter of a king.