Rollo Monday #7 - They are willing to be hated.

For Rollo Monday

Shieldmaiden #7: Veborg

Veborg the legendary Shieldmaiden, who was either Danish or Swedish origins is famous for taking part in the Battle of Bravalla, which took place  around 750 A.D. in Sweden.

  The battle was between King Harald Hildetand of Denmark and Sweden and his viceroy, King  Sigurd Hring of Sweden and father of Ragnar Lodbrok. It was at this time that Sweden was made-up of several smaller kingdoms and Harald Hildestand had been elected king over most of them. Because King Sigurd wanted to unite Sweden under one crown and King Harald wanted to keep the possibility of electing a king for each kingdom. Thus the Battle of Bravalla was between unionist and separatists.

  It is said that both sides drew mercenaries from Russia, Germany, England and Ireland and that there were 300 shieldmaidens on the side of the separatists of King Harald. Of these 300 shieldmaidens, the most famous, aside from Visna and Harald's daughter Princess Hed, was Veborg. These three women are described as the generals of the female troops.

  Described in detail is Veborg's contribution to the battle: Ubbe from Friesland, one of the strongest warriors of King Harald's, who defeated three Swedish princes and the fighter Agnar before he was killed by one of the greatest unionist fighters, the warrior Starke. Veborg then rushed forward to kill Starke. She cut off his jaw but he managed to escape her and cut off the arm of Shieldmaiden Visna, who was holding the separatists banner. Veborg is described as being brave and meets her deatha t the hands of the warrior Thorkell the Stubborn in a long and furious struggle that included many wounds and verbal arguing.

Shieldmaiden #6; Louis Chalon Valkyrie on a Horse

 Louis Chalon's bronze and ivory sculptor of Valkyrie on a Horse.

Thorsday Thursday #6

 This time Thor is done by Carl Emil Doepler 'the Elder' from his works for Richard Wagner's opera Der Ring de Nibelungen.

Shieldmaiden Saturday #5

For Shieldmaiden Saturday: A Valkyrie and her horse