Sela was 'a warring Amazon and accomplished pirate' Rusilla fought against her brother Thrond for the thrones of both Denmark and Norway. (source 'Women in the Viking Age' - Judith Jesch - Boydell Press - 0 85115 278 3) (source Saxo Grammaticus 'History of the Danes' written about 1200AD.)Īt the battle of Bravellir between King Harald War-tooth and his nephew Ring, three women, Hethna, Visna and Vebiorg led companies on the Danish side.

'There were once women in Denmark who dressed themselves to look like men and spent almost every minute cultivating soldiers' skills.' Olga, widow of Igor of Russia, raised an army which attacked Drevelian strongholds and ended the revolt in which her husband died, in 945AD. Her military achievements helped her brother Edward the Elder in his Kingship. She led troops against the Vikings during her father's reign and was responsible for the construction of many fortifications. She led her army against the Germans who invaded Sleswick and Jutland.Īround 890 AD she built the Danneverke, a great wall which was Denmark's major defence for centuries.Īethelflaed, eldest daughter of Alfred the Great of England, was known as the Lady of Mercia. Thyra, Queen of Denmark, ruled in her husband's absence. (info given by Linda Queen Aethelburgh destroyed Taunton' Together they turned back the Greek army. Kahula, an Arabian army commander in the battle of Yermonks (circa 600 AD) joined her forces with those of another female commander, Wafeira.

(source - 'Peace Weavers and Shield Maidens' - Kathleen Herbert - Anglo Saxon Books - 1-89) Procopius' history of the Gothic War of 535-552AD includes the story of an English princess, referred to as 'the Island Girl', who led an invasion of part of Jutland and captured the young king, Radigis, who had jilted her after their betrothal. (source Lincolnshire Echo, 20 September 2003. The body of an Anglo Saxon woman (circa 500AD) with a dagger and shield was found just outside Lincoln. (source - The Times newspaper 22/8/00 - see also The West Heslerton Assessment) Women Warriors in the Roman and Celtic World > Women Warriors in the 11th CenturyĭNA studies of corpses in an Anglo-Saxon village at Heslerton, North Yorkshire (AD450-650) found that two bodies buried with spear and knife are women.

Saxon and Viking Women Warriors : provided by Lothene Experimental Archaeology

Women in the viking age judith jesch