Friends,

Shield Maidens.

A popular term that has reemerged due to hit Netflix shows such as Vikings and Game of Thrones—women warriors who exceed expectations with their beauty, cunning, and fighting ability. I won’t lie- watching these women in action makes me want to learn how to wield a sword and battle axe.

But did Shield Maidens ever exist? We know that they are mentioned in myths and legends. We have names such as Lagertha, the first wife of Ragnar Lothbrok, who was immortalized by Saxo Grammaticus, a 12th-century historian, in a book about Danish history. Or Gurdrid Thorbjarnardóttir (b. c. 970/980 CE), one of North America’s earliest explorers, according to The Saga of the Greenlanders and Erik the Red’s Saga.

I was happily researching the extraordinary lives of these women, noting their various accomplishments and deeds, when I ran across an article by Judith Jesch, a professor of the Viking Age at the University of Nottingham, and my heart was broken. She stated in an article, “I have always thought (and to some extent still do) that the fascination with women warriors, both in popular culture and in academic discourse, is heavily, probably too heavily, influenced by 20th-and 21st 21st-century desires.”

And lo and behold, Jesch is not alone in this thought process. Many other historians and archaeologists believe women were not accepted as Warriors in the Viking age. Suppose, by some miraculous miracle, a grave is found of a woman buried in a traditional warrior manner, meaning with swords, horses, and other items typically reserved for military leaders. In that case, that doesn’t mean they were warriors—it means they were most likely buried with their husbands’ items.

Sad really.

But it got me thinking—did women warriors exist? Or were tales of great feats of bravery and cunning only created in overactive imaginations?

Here’s where I humbly disagree with professionals whose academic accomplishments far outweigh my own. Let me explain why. I, too, believe that the hype over women warriors during the Viking era has been popularized by modern pop culture. The need for women to have a place in this world, one that expands past the commonly believed portrayal of maid, mother, and wife, has been overwhelming. The idea that any woman can fight in a day-long battle and still walk away with their hair perfectly braided and not looking a mess is laughable.

But that is not to say that shield maidens didn’t exist. They did.

And let me prove to you how I know this to be a fact, regardless of what ‘myth’ was written, or what artifacts were buried with women.

Milunka Savić was a Serbian heroine who fought in the Balkan Wars and World War I and is considered the most decorated female warrior in the history of warfare. She is not buried with a sword.

Tomoe Gozen- a legendary Japanese samurai warrior who fought heroically during the Gempei War (1180-1185). No one knows where she was buried, but it is thought she went into hiding, became a nun, and died at the age of 90. I am pretty sure she wasn’t buried with horses and a sword, but she was the first woman featured on a bank note in Japan.

Boudicca- Queen of Britain. In 60-61 CE she led the Iceni and other people in a revolt against Roman rule. Unfortunately, no one knows where she was buried- but there are theories she was buried under King’s Cross Station in London or Stonehenge. However, no one knows for sure.

Artemisia I of Caria- Queen and naval commander who played a critical role in the Greco-Persian Wars. She is buried at the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (modern-day Turkey) in a grand tomb she built for her husband after his death. The Mausoleum is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. She may have been buried with a sword….

Night Witches- WWII, Night Witches was the German nickname of the all-female military aviators of the 588th Night Bomber Regiment of the Soviet Air Force. Their remains are buried in various places, but I am willing to bet they weren’t buried with their planes or the bombs they were so good at dropping on enemy forces.

I could go on and on highlighting the remarkable achievements of women on the battlefield—some of which I saw myself on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. And yet, these women were not buried with swords, horses, and battle axes. They are buried under white crosses that only mention their name, rank, and highest military award.

Does that diminish their achievements? Does that mean they were not shield maidens? Women who were willing to cross the line on the battlefield to face their enemy?

No—it just means they were buried as they lived, humbly and without the need for fanfare to prove their worth.

What about the women who stayed behind and held the fort while their husbands were in battle? The women who had to protect their homes and families while the men were away… were they not shield maidens? What about women who hunted for food and came face to face with dangerous animals to provide for their village? Were they not shield maidens?

Shield Maidens are not reserved for just the Viking period. Shield Maidens are all women worldwide who were faced with extraordinary odds and laughed in the face of the fates. They don’t need gold and silver, swords, or battle axes to be buried with them to prove they were worthy of the title warrior. They were who they were, and for that, they deserve the title.

In a world of princesses, be a shield maiden!

Until next time, Keep Reading and Stay Caffeinated.

If you’re looking for your next favorite read, I invite you to check out my book, The Raven Society. This spellbinding historical fantasy series takes us on a heart-pounding journey through forgotten legends and distorted history. Uncover the chilling secrets of mythology and confront the horrifying truths that transformed myths into monstrous realities. How far will you go to learn the truth?

The Writer and The Librarian (Book 1):

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Signed copies at:

https://rlgeerrobbins.com/product/the-writer-and-the-librarian-the-raven-society-book-1/

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