Real Valkyrie: The Hidden History of Viking Warrior Women

In 2017, DNA tests revealed that a Viking warrior in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden, was actually a woman. The Real Valkyrie weaves together archaeology, history, and literature to reinvent her life and times, showing that Viking women had more power and agency than historians have imagined. Nancy Marie Brown links the Birka warrior to Viking trading towns and their trade route east to Byzantium and beyond, imagining her adventures intersecting with larger-than-life but real women, such as Queen Gunnhild Mother-of-Kings, the Viking leader known as the Red Girl, and Queen Olga of Kyiv. Her short, dramatic life shows that much of what we have taken as truth about women in the Viking Age is based on nineteenth-century Victorian biases, rather than data.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 336 pages
\n Publication date: 17 September 2021
\n Publisher: The History Press Ltd
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In 2017, a groundbreaking discovery shook the academic world to its core when DNA tests revealed that a Viking warrior buried in a high-status grave in Birka, Sweden, was, in fact, a woman. This revelation came as a shock to many scholars who had long believed that the Viking Age was a male-dominated society. However, The Real Valkyrie, a captivating book by Nancy Marie Brown, seeks to challenge these misconceptions and reimagine the life and times of this remarkable woman. Through a meticulous blend of archaeology, history, and literature, Brown unveils the true power and agency of Viking women, revealing a side of their history that has been largely overlooked by historians.

Brown identifies the Birka warrior as Hervor and traces her connections to Viking trading towns and the vast trade route that extended eastward to Byzantium and beyond. She imagines Hervor's adventures intersecting with larger-than-life yet historical women, such as Queen Gunnhild Mother-of-Kings, the Viking leader known as the Red Girl, and Queen Olga of Kyiv. Hervor's short but dramatic life serves as a powerful testament to the fact that much of what we have traditionally believed about women in the Viking Age is rooted in nineteenth-century Victorian biases rather than empirical data.

Rather than being confined to the role of household guardians, Viking women in history, the sagas, poetry, and myth wielded weapons and played significant roles in warfare. Brown's compelling narrative brings these valkyries and shield-maids to life, offering a fresh perspective on the Viking Age and challenging our preconceived notions about gender roles and societal structures.

In conclusion, The Real Valkyrie is a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the hidden history of Viking women. Through a meticulous exploration of archaeology, history, and literature, Brown provides a fresh perspective on the lives and contributions of these remarkable individuals. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the Viking Age, gender roles, and the power of women in history.

\n Weight: 656g\n
Dimension: 165 x 241 x 33 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780750997911\n \n