Queen Gunnhild is a prominent antagonist in Egils Saga. She is the wife of King Erik Bloodaxe, one of Egil Skallagrímsson’s main enemies. Gunnhild is portrayed as a powerful and cunning figure, skilled in both political manipulation and dark magic, which adds a mystical layer to her character.
Conflict with Egil:Gunnhild’s relationship with Egil is marked by deep hostility. After Egil kills her brothers, she becomes his implacable enemy, and her hatred fuels several of the saga’s conflicts.
She plays a critical role in encouraging King Erik to pursue Egil, using her influence to escalate the feud between them. Egil’s killing of her brothers adds personal motivation to her desire for revenge.
Power and Influence:Gunnhild is depicted as a queen with significant authority, often directing or advising King Erik in their interactions with Egil. Her control over court politics is evident, and she is portrayed as one of the most powerful women in the saga.
Her use of sorcery sets her apart from many other characters, giving her a supernatural edge in her efforts to harm Egil and his family. For example, she attempts to curse Egil on multiple occasions.
Complexity of Character:Although she is mainly an antagonist, Gunnhild is portrayed as intelligent and fiercely protective of her family, showing the saga’s nuanced depiction of characters. Her actions, while cruel from Egil’s perspective, are driven by loyalty to her kin and her sense of justice in a brutal Viking world.
Her Role in the Saga:Gunnhild embodies the theme of vengeance, which is central to the narrative of Egils Saga. She is a formidable opponent and an example of a woman wielding significant influence in a male-dominated society. Her interactions with Egil and her ability to match him in wit and power add layers of tension to the saga, making her one of the more memorable figures in Norse literature.
In Egils Saga, Queen Gunnhild’s brothers are central to the feud between her and Egil Skallagrímsson. Their deaths at Egil’s hands intensify Gunnhild’s hatred for him and set the stage for a long-standing conflict.
Gunnhild’s Brothers:
Eyvindr Braggart (Eyvindr skáldaspillir) – The more prominent of the two brothers.
Alf Askman (Álfr askmaðr) – Eyvindr’s brother, also involved in the feud with Egil.
The Conflict:Egil meets Gunnhild’s brothers during his travels in Norway, where he is already on bad terms with King Erik Bloodaxe, Gunnhild’s husband. The hostility escalates during a series of incidents, culminating in Egil’s killing of both Eyvindr and Alf.
Egil’s murder of the brothers occurs during a banquet, where tensions run high, and Egil, true to his fierce warrior nature, responds violently. This act deepens the existing enmity between Egil and Gunnhild’s family.
Gunnhild’s Reaction:Gunnhild is enraged by the deaths of her brothers and takes it upon herself to exact revenge. She uses her political influence and her sorcery to curse and plot against Egil, seeking to destroy him and his family.
Her desire for vengeance becomes a major motivator for the ongoing feud between Egil and the Norwegian royal family, especially during Erik Bloodaxe’s reign.
This event underscores the saga’s themes of family loyalty, vengeance, and the harsh consequences of violent retribution in Viking society. It also emphasizes Gunnhild’s character as a powerful and vindictive figure, whose influence drives much of Egil’s troubles.