Lathgertha (b. around 665)

views updated

Lathgertha (b. around 665)

Queen of Denmark and Sweden. Name variations: Hladgerd. Born around 665 (other sources claim 800s); became 1st wife of Regner or Ragnar Lothbrok (Leather Breeches, c. 660–715), king of Denmark and Sweden (his 2nd wife was Aslaug, his 3rd was Thora, 4th was Svanloga); children: Fridlef.

Appears in the writings of Saxo Grammatricus as a skilled Viking warrior "who bore a man's temper in a woman's body"; in Ragnars saga, she is named Lathgertha; in Hálfdanar Saga, she is named Hladgerd.

More From encyclopedia.com