Gunnhild, a Misidentified Bog Body and the Mother of Kings in Norse Sagas

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 Norwegiæ (translated as ‘A History of Norway’), considered by one source to have been written in the 13th century AD, contains an account of Gunnhild’s parentage. In this piece of work, a rather negative description of the queen is given,

“a vicious and most iniquitous woman from Denmark named Gunnhildr, the daughter of the notably foolish Gormr, king of the Danes, and of the notably sagacious woman, Þyri.”  

In the same text, Eric Haraldsson is said to have been the eldest son of Harald Fairhair, the first King of Norway. Following Harald’s death, Eric became king, and married Gunnhild. Together, the couple produced six sons,

“Haraldr, with the nickname ‘Greypelt’, second Gamli, third Sigvarðr Gleam, fourth Gunnrøðr, fifth Erlingr, sixth Gormr”