April
18
/ 2016
Gunnhild, known also as Gunnhild Gormsdóttir or Gunnhild konungamóðir (meaning ‘mother of kings’), is a character who is found in a number of Norse sagas. In these stories, Gunnhild is depicted as the wife of Eric Haraldsson, nicknamed Eric Bloodaxe, the second King of Norway who reigned during the 10th century AD. Whilst Eric’s existence can be ascertained (for instance, based on coins bearing his name), the historicity of his wife is more open to question, as, at present, there is only literary evidence to rely on. During the 19th century, the bog body of a woman was discovered, and was identified as belonging to Gunnhild, though this would later be proven to be wrong. History of Norway The Historia
