The real story of Ragnar 'Lothbrok' right out of the Danish Histories! He sails halfway round the known world to slay a fire breathing dragon for the hand of Princess Aslaug. The Saga of Ragnar 'Lothbrok' Sigurdson is about King Ragnar Lothbrok of...
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Map From Liere Zealand to East Goths of Greutunga (Volsunga)
"Beside men-warriors there were "women-warriors" in the North, as Saxo explains. He describes shield-maidens, as Alfhild, Sela, Rusila, Ladgerda and the three she-captains, Wigbiorg, who fell on the field, Hetha, who was made queen of Zealand, and Wisna, whose hand Starkad cut off, all three fighting manfully at the Battle of Bravalla."
The Nine Books of Danish History by Saxo Grammaticus
(Circa 810 AD) King Ragnar took Princess Aslaug away from Skane and they sailed north up the coast of Thule to Trondheim Fjord with their small fleet and were soon docked just off Jarl Ladgerda's palace in Lade. Ladgerda came out to greet them and she saw immediately the beauty of the golden haired young girl with Ragnar, and she saw the girl wearing her old golden dress that her king had given her years ago. She had to admit that it now fit her better than it had fit herself because of the muscles she now carried through her training as a shield-maiden.
"Jarl Ladgerda, this is Princess Aslaug," Ragnar introduced the two women to each other. "She is from the Land of the Volsungs, just north of the Roman lands."
"Welcome, Princess Aslaug," Ladgerda said. "I see that King Ragnar has found a use for the golden dress he had given me years ago. I daresay, it fits you well."
"Thank you," Princess Aslaug replied, smoothing the dress out against her body. "Your palace looks wonderful from the fjord."
"Come in then," Ladgerda continued warmly, realizing just how young the princess was. "It looks even finer from within."
"I want to take you to Constantinople," Ragnar started, addressing Ladgerda, "and buy you a new dress of gold."
"Well, thank you, husband," Ladgerda said, as though to remind Ragnar that although they were no longer married, they still carried on as though they were. Ladgerda then linked arms with both Aslaug and Ragnar and she walked between them as she led them up the quay and into her longhall. She introduced the princess to young Bjorn and the boy instantly took a liking to the older princess. "Are you my new step-mother?" Bjorn asked Aslaug innocently.
"I hope to be, someday," Aslaug answered and she looked up at Ragnar and smiled.
"Yes, we hope to be," Ragnar stammered. "There is a little matter of a dragon to be slain on our way to Constantinople. Apparently it takes a great hero and a great shield-maiden to do it."
"So I am to earn this Roman dress of gold?" Ladgerda asked.
"Only if you can find it in your heart," Ragnar started, "to help me save the Greutung Oster-Goths of Volsung from this fire breathing dragonship that threatens them." And Ragnar went on to explain the events that had unfolded while he was patrolling the coasts of Denmark and Skane.
