Born: Unknown, Norway
Died: Unknown
Country most active: Ireland
Also known as: “Red Maiden”, “Ingean Ruadh”
Viking lore has long indicated that not all warriors were men. One 10th-century Irish text tells of Inghen Ruaidh (“Red Girl”), a female warrior who led a Viking fleet to Ireland. Numerous Viking sagas, such as the 13th-century Saga of the Volsungs, recount stories of skjaldmö (“shield-maidens”) fighting alongside male warriors. According to Saxo, Rusla was the daughter of a 5th or 6th century king of Telemark called Rieg, and sister of Tesandus (Thrond). Rusla formed a pirate fleet to attack Danish ships as revenge for removing her brother from his throne. Rusla was always accompanied by another woman (some sources identify her as Rusla’s sister) Stikla, who was her second-in-command in all raids. Stikla turned to piracy to avoid marriage, and her name is the origin of the Norwegian city Stiklestad (as recorded in the 13th century Gesta Danorum, or “The History of the Danes,” by Saxo Grammaticus; Stikla would have settled in the area some time after Rusla and Stikla’s participation in the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.).
Rusla indiscriminately attacked ships and towns along the coasts of Iceland, Denmark and the British Isles. During a battle arising from a Danish king tricking her brother out of his throne, she sank Tesandus’ ship. Although she saved his life, this loss caused Tesandus to seek revenge on his sister. Tesandus pursued her fleet on ships of his own and eventually captured his sister Rusla, grabbing her by the braids while his crew killed her with blows from rowing oars.
Her nickname comes from the Gaelic “Ingean Ruagh”, and she had a reputation for being bloodthirsty and taking no prisoners. Irish documents also note Rusla and Stickla’s participation in the Battle of Clontarf. They were some of the mercenaries hired by the Vikings who fought against Brian Boru. Rusla went down in history as the most cruel of all warrior Norse women.