Vikings takes characters from legends and real-life, but in some cases, the characters’ stories are a combination of both – so, in which category does Lagertha fall into? Created by Michael Hirst, Vikings made its debut on History Channel in 2013, and even though it was originally planned to be a miniseries, it was so well-received by critics and viewers that it was quickly renewed for a second season, and so the audience got the chance to follow the journey of characters like Ragnar, Lagertha, and Floki.
Vikings initially followed legendary Norse figure Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) and his travels and raids alongside his Vikings brothers, from the Lindisfarne raid (an event featured in season 1), onward. As the stories evolved, Vikings began to shift its focus to Ragnar’s sons and their own travels, making them the protagonists, more so after Ragnar died in season 4. As it happens in many TV shows, most of the main characters of Vikings introduced in season 1 didn’t make it to the final episode, among those Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), who was killed by Hvitserk in season 6. Lagertha became a fan favorite and her death broke many hearts, but a big question arose: is Vikings' Lagertha based on a real character?
Lagertha is believed to have been a Viking shield-maiden and ruler of what is now Norway. Lagertha’s story can be found in Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, which details how she met Ragnar and what he did in order to win her hand, an event that is mentioned in the first seasons of Vikings: according to the Gesta Danorum, Ragnar killed the bear and hound that guarded Lagertha’s home, and so they got together. According to this same source, Ragnar and Lagertha had a son, Fridleif (not Björn, like in the series), and two daughters whose names are not recorded. Just like in the series, Ragnar and Lagertha eventually divorced, and he asked for her help when he needed it during a civil war, with her coming to his aid with 120 ships.
However, the veracity of Saxo’s works has been disputed, and more so in Lagertha’s case as Ragnar most likely wasn’t a real person, instead being a combination of different real-life figures. According to modern historians, Lagertha wasn’t real either, and she’s a reflection of tales about Viking warrior women or even the Norse deity Thorgerd, especially as the description of Lagertha coming to Ragnar’s aid “with flying hair” is similar to how Thorgerd (and her sister, Irpa) was described when assisting Haakon. It’s also possible that Lagertha is a representation of the valkyries, female figures who choose who of those who died in battle would be taken to Valhalla, as Saxo described her as “flying around” to the rear of the enemy, attributing to her the power of flight.
Perhaps Lagertha was a product of the legend of Ragnar Lothbrok, or she was a real person whose actions and legacy were used to enhance the tale of Ragnar, thus giving way to a lot of confusion among historians. What’s for sure, however, is that Vikings took many liberties when bringing Lagertha to TV, but that also made her a fan favorite and a truly unforgettable character.