Startling revelations about the lives of ancient Viking women

Ancient Viking women had many rights such as inheriting property, asking for divorce and reclaiming dowry if the marriage broke down…

While hunting, fighting, doing business, and farming, ancient Viking women could also own property, were allowed to request a divorce, and reclaim their dowry if divorced.

Viking women often married when they were 12 – 15 years old. Usually, parents arrange marriages for their children.

When divorcing, a woman will need witnesses to witness this event, including her family members as well as her husband’s family members. In front of everyone, she announced her divorce from her husband and was recognized by everyone.

Vikings often made a marriage contract in case of divorce, which would be the basis for dividing property between husband and wife.

Viking women played an important role in the family. They not only do the work of raising children, cooking, cleaning the house… but also take care of all big and small matters in the family, especially when the husband is not home.

When the husband dies, the wife becomes the head of the family, in charge of business and agricultural production activities.

Many Viking women were buried with key-shaped rings when they died – symbolizing their role and power in the family.l

Some documents also record Viking women becoming warriors. In it, historian Saxo Grammaticus recorded that some Viking women dressed as men, fighting fiercely in the war with the Bulgarians in 971.