Lathgertha o Lagertha was a 9th century Viking warrior famous for her bravery on the battlefield. To trace the origin of Lathgertha we have to stick to information from the Norse sagas, primary sources for many of the stories about the Danish Vikings..
A text by Saxo Grammarico from the 12th century assures that she was a renowned Valkyrie, the wife of Ragnar Lodbrok. This text tells that a leader of the Suiones named Frodo, when invading Norway killed the jarl (which in the Nordic language was a style of count or duke) in 840. Then he ordered the women to be sent to a brothel.
It is at this moment that her future husband, Ragnar Lodbrok, enters the scene, since it was he who entered into confrontation with the army of the jarl. The women took the opportunity to join Ragnar's army in his camp and thus avoid his humiliation. Later, the sagas tell, Ragnar fell in love with that reckless squire who was not afraid of anything.
However, to ask for her hand, Ragnar was not at all easy, because when he went home he had to face a bear and a dog, who were guarding the woman. The Viking, using his spear, killed the bear and strangled the dog, until he could finally ask for his hand..
The figure of Lathgertha was associated with a semi-divine figure, Skjaldmö, a virgin who fought as a warrior and inspired many Scandinavian women on the battlefield..
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Lathgertha married Ragnar Lodbrok and they had a son named Fridleif, as well as two daughters whose names are not known or recorded. However, the couple, established in Denmark, separated shortly after. Ragnar after the divorce married Thora Borgarhjört, daughter of a jarl from Götaland.
According Gesta Danorum, written by Saxo Grammarico, Lathgertha was a key player in the Battle of Laneus. It was the warrior who in a skillful maneuver surrounded the enemy and attacked him from the rear when they were very weak before the fall of one of Ragnar's sons.
Gramatico said that the Viking had flown over her enemies, a clear sign that she resembled a Valkyrie.
The sagas claim that Lathgertha returned to Norway and faced her new husband. As their relationship was already very bad, she decided to kill him to proclaim herself the new jarl. Grammarian said that she was a presumptuous lady who preferred to rule without a husband than to share the throne.
In the Vikings or Vikings series, Lathgertha is a skilled warrior in battle. Like Ragnar Lodbrok, her husband, she has great ambition and great desires to rule.
Her personality is that of someone fierce in war and compassionate and loving to her children and her husband. Shows understanding with non-Nordics, for example with an Anglo-Saxon woman, whom he protects from rape.
Lathgertha is seen in the series relentless with her enemies and at times impulsive, making decisions without weighing consequences. He was able to assassinate Earl Kalf, castrate Einar and narrowly kill Rollo when they were attacking Paris..
It is the 8th century in Scandinavia and Björn, Lathgertha's son, just turned 12 years old. His father, Ragnar Lodbrok, wants to take him to Kattegat to pledge allegiance to King Earl Haraldson and earn the arm ring..
Ragnar and Björn left home; Lathgertha is with her daughter Gyda and two men arrive who try to rape them. He then discusses with Ragnar about the possibility of going West; they do not reach any agreement. She wants to go, but Ragnar tells her that she better stay at the farm..
Athlestan is a slave that Ragnar decides to bring home. Since they now have Athlestan at home, Lathgertha can go on a trip to England with Ragnar.
Upon arrival they are invited to join King Aelle, but there is a lot of mistrust on both sides, an issue for which they end up facing each other. Lathgertha captures Knur for having raped a Saxon girl and will end up killing him when he tries to rape her herself..
Arriving in Scandinavia, Earl realizes that his half-brother Knur has not returned. Ragnar takes full responsibility for the murder and confesses to Earl that he killed him because he tried to rape Lathgertha.
Earl tries to destroy Ragnar and his entire family. He invades their home, but Lathgertha flees with Athelstan and their children to Floki's home. Ragnar wants to fight Haraldson, but she dissuades him and asks him not to. However, they fight and Ragnar wins, crowning himself the new count..
There is a party and Lathgertha announces her pregnancy; Ragnar is happy and says that the Seer announced that the creature would be a son. Lathgertha after pregnancy is left alone on the farm while Ragnar goes to England.
Earl's ex-widow, Siggy, enters to serve at Lathgertha's home. She has unfortunately lost the son and when Ragnar returns he is devastated, he is not sure that she is the one who is going to give him a son. On the pilgrimage to Uppsala they ask the gods to allow them to have a child.
Björn tells her mother about Ragnar's infidelity. The father has had affairs with Aslaug, but he loves the two women. Lathgertha however gets angry and decides to abandon Ragnar.
She remarried Count Sigvard and settled in Hedeby. Relations between the two are not going well, although Sigvard assures that he loves her.
Kattegat is taken over by Jarl Borg and Ragnar is in trouble. Lathgertha asks Sigvard for help, but he doesn't listen to her and tries to rape her. She refuses. He then arrives in Kattegat to help Ragnar.
Although the atmosphere is tense between Lathgertha and Aslaug, the latter thanks him for loving the children. Lathgertha can't stand Sigvard's violence and at a dinner she stabs him in the eye; then Einar arrives and cuts off his head. Thus will Lathgertha be proclaimed as the new Countess.
Lathgertha asks the Seer if she will have any more children, but they say no. In addition, he asks him to tell him when he will die, although he is denied the answer again. The Seer says that in any case the gods have already decided his death.
He then takes several men and women to Wessex, to make a deal with Ecbert. This king is interested in her and shows it with a few looks. The king shows the fertile land to Lathgertha and they conclude that it is a better gift than jewels..
King Ecbert's gifts continue. Later he visits her and tells her that both she and Athelstan will always be welcome in his castle. He accepts the invitation and is then seen how Ecbert shows them the castle. They will have sex while taking a bath.
Lathgertha later discovers that Björn is wounded in battle, in the attack on Frankia. She claims Ragnar because she has neglected him, although he argues that he is already a man and can defend himself. Kalf will then declare love to Lathgertha.
After the invasion, Lathgertha returns to Hedeby. Kalf will allow Lathgertha to kill Einar. He tells her to get married, but before it happens she kills him and will be the new countess.
He will then join Ragnar in the attack on Paris. They do it both by land and by sea, but Rollo's army is very powerful. The Frankish army capsized the Viking ships and Lathgertha decided to retreat. She will then have a miscarriage and will be wounded in battle along with Halfdan and Floki..
Many years pass. Lathgertha and Aslaug are making a sacrifice for their children to the gods. He tells Aslaug that he cannot forgive her for taking Ragnar. Imprison Ubbe and Sigurd in order to gain access to the throne.
Lathgertha will kill Aslaug and then she will be challenged by Ubbe. Order fortresses to be built around Kattegat and she will be challenged by Ivar. The latter and Ubbe try to kill Lathgertha, but Björn will stop them..
King Harald returns to Kattegat and meets Lathgertha. He wants the throne, so they must reach an agreement, which does not happen because she stops him. Ubbe arrives in Kattegat and asks for warriors to conquer a new land, although Lathgertha refuses to help..
He then warns Margrethe that if she continues to plot against her he will cut off her hand and make her a slave. She is informed that Ivar will attack Kattegat, so she has to discuss with her warriors how to defend herself..
Although in a first fight they win, finally Lathgertha's army will lose the battle against Ivar and Harald.
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