A vivid reconstruction of Scandinavia’s Viking Age past can be gleaned from the Old Norse kings’ sagas, and the distinctive place of women in their internal political scene still holds some surprises. In this talk Markus draws on his recent research on Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla and other sagas to explore their vision of royal and aristocratic women as protagonists who used social networks, interpersonal bonds, and political rituals to play the political game and claim political influence on par with with men.

Markus Eldegard Mindrebø is Associate Professor of Medieval History at the University of Stavanger, Norway. His research focuses on women, social networks, and political participation in the medieval Old Norse kings' sagas, as well as the representation of the medieval world in modern video gaming. Markus completed his PhD at Royal Holloway and is the author of Women, Politics, & Social Networks in the Sagas of Norwegian Kings, published earlier this year.

Admission is free but booking is essential.