Thorgerðr

Thorgerðr is a figure appearing in Old Norse sagas, primarily in the Jómsvíkinga saga and Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar. She is depicted as a sorceress and a powerful priestess of the Æsir, particularly associated with the god Thor.

According to the sagas, Thorgerðr was a formidable woman who wielded considerable influence. In the Jómsvíkinga saga, she is portrayed as the sister of Jarl Hákon Sigurðarson, the ruler of Lade in Norway. She played a crucial role in the Battle of Hjörungavágr, where she is said to have invoked Thor's aid and unleashed a powerful storm against the invading Danish fleet. This magical intervention is credited with securing victory for Hákon.

Later accounts, particularly in Ólafs saga Tryggvasonar, link Thorgerðr to a more antagonistic role against the Christian king Ólafr Tryggvason. She is often described as a pagan leader who resisted the spread of Christianity, sometimes collaborating with her brother or other chieftains. Her worship was a significant aspect of Norse paganism in certain regions, and she was venerated for her magical abilities and protective powers. The stories of Thorgerðr highlight the importance of female religious figures and the role of magic in the societal and military landscape of Viking Age Scandinavia.