I’ve been slowly catching up on Vikings. I don’t have the History Channel so I have to use Hulu. Swagnar has had some interesting lady troubles, mostly due to him not being able to practice monogamy. I felt bad for Lagertha, his first wife. She is a strong and inspiring character and Ragnar — despite my love for him — does not deserve her. So this week’s selection is dedicated to her.
May contain spoilers!
Stats:
Full Name: Lagertha
Age: Unknown
Occupation: Shieldmaiden, Earl
Who is She?
Lagertha is a historical legend out of Norway. Her life was chronicled in a historical work called the Gesta Danorum. Both in the show and in history she was the first wife of Ragnar Lothbrok. She is a strong, sword-wielding shield maiden who doesn’t put up with male oppression. She is played by Katheryn Winnick on the show.
Fun Facts:
- Lagertha kicked the tar out of two bandits who came to her house.
- Lagertha identifies with the Valkyries very much the way Ragnar believes he is descended from Odin.
- Katheryn Winnick played on another one of my favorite shows, Bones!
- Shieldmaidens are a famous part of Scandinavian culture, the most famous being Brynhildr (Brunhilda).
- Lagertha was all for a good time involving Ragnar and the priest Athelstan.
Why So Crushworthy?
Lagertha is a smart, sassy, and beautiful shieldmaiden. She believes she is the equal of any man and acts that way. She doesn’t take nonsense from Ragnar or anyone else. She lives up to her Valkyrie reputation. Even though Ragnar was a knave to her she rushed to help him in his time of need. She has more honor than ten men. Instead of being bitter about Ragnar’s new life she takes the high road. She probably also felt she could not let harm come to the father of her son. Winnick plays both sides of Lagertha perfectly — the mother and the fighter. Lagertha’s character inspires me with my own character creations.
I have a small hobby that involves researching Nordic myths and history. I especially love tales of the Valkyries and shieldmaidens, so it was rather easy to love Lagertha’s character. Her character never disappoints me. She is worth one hundred of Aslaug. I guess Ragnar really likes having sons more than having a good wife. Lagertha’s fierce passion makes her a fascinating character worth watching.
