Brynhild: Viking Valkyrie Who Was Punished to Live A Mortal Life

Viking legend had it that Brynhild and Sigurd the Dragon Slayer had a daughter whose name was Aslaug. And yes, this Aslaug was the wife of Ragnar Lothbrok in the saga of Ragnar Lothbrok. 

Sigurd was the foster son of a dwarf king. And it was Sigurd who killed the dragon Fafnir who guarded the hoard of gold. Although the love story of Brynhild and Sigurd didn't go on very well, they became a famous Viking legend. 

Regarding Brynhild, she was mentioned as a Valkyrie of Odin the Allfather. 

In Norse mythology, Odin had many valkyries who lived in Valhalla the Golden Hall of the Fallen. There, the Valkyries would welcome the brave fallen warriors to the hall and entertain them with mead and meals. 

The valkyries were Odin's female helping spirits who would choose the fallen warriors to Valhalla the Great Hall

The Valkyrie would also come to the battle in the land of humanity and chose the dead warriors to Valhalla. This made the scholars to define the Valkyries as female helping spirits of Odin the Allfather. 

Brynhild was one of the important valkyries in Valhalla. Instead of playing the harp and dressing gently, the valkyries would wear the armour and wield their weapons. Brynhild was not only beautiful but also wise and mighty in the valkyries' line. 

Legend had it that once Brynhild was ordered to the land of humans to decide the winner of a battle. While Odin preferred this king to win, Brynhild chose the other. This enraged Odin to the point that Odin abandoned him to the land of Midgard and lived a mortal life. 

And this became a chance for Brynhild to meet Sigurd the Dragon-slayer who nearly became her husband. Yet, Brynhild was tricked by Sigurd to marry another king who was a friend of Sigurd. 

But this secret was finally revealed which enraged Brynhild to the point that she finally decided to have Sigurd killed. After the death of Sigurd, Brynhild allegedly killed herself.