Denmark’s First Viking Queen Was Likely More Powerful Than the King, Research Finds
- Queen Thyra mentioned on more rune stones than husband and son
- Study adds proof of gender equality in 10th century Denmark
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In Denmark, which has Europe’s oldest monarchy, new research shows that royal women in the age of the Vikings were much more powerful than previously assumed.
Queen Thyra, mostly known as the wife of the first Danish king, Gorm the Old, was likely more important than her husband and son, according to a publication by the National Museum of Denmark. Researchers found Thyra was mentioned on four rune stones — a Viking monument of power — which is more than any other person at the time.