PORUNN: HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY AND CHARACTER IN VIKINGS - ARTE - 2025

Porunn is a character in the History Channel series Vikings, a servant and future partner of Björn Ragnarsson. It is not easy to trace Þorunn's name in the Norse Sagas. In fact, the few sources that exist mention that it is the female voice of the god Thor, whose meaning is "thunder". There are also derivations of this name, such as Thorun or Torunn. Þorunn, having a Norse name, could have been captured in a war or even born in captivity.

The view of Viking society has varied greatly over the years. For some, the predominant character in them was being ruthless, although others may refer to them with words like the "kind" Vikings.

Porunn in the Vikings series. Source: Picbear

Historical Porunn Biography

Captured to be slaves

Viking raids in some areas of the Baltic or Finland allowed them to capture women, kidnap them to be used as workers, concubines, cooks or sometimes also to marry them.

Slave of Aslaug

This would be the case of the slave Þorunn, who in the Vikings series we know that he works for Aslaug. As the Vikings were polygamous, it was usual that those captured female slaves could easily become their wives.

Annals of Ulster

Written sources corroborate these abductions. For example, in The Annals of Ulster, chronicles that provide information from the year 431 to 1540, it is clearly read that the Vikings captured large numbers of women near Dublin, in Ireland, around 821.

What can be read in some sources asserts that Viking slaves, like Þorunn, received a good treatment because they required necessary labor, that is, they could do very well in the kitchen and even take care of children. On the farms they helped with all kinds of tasks and they used to be the owners' lovers.

Slavery

Also during Viking times a woman could become a slave if she committed a crime and did not have money to pay for the crime. Or if she contracted some kind of debt, she could also become a slave.

Transactions, as in the series, were frequent, and it was normal for some masters to buy the freedom of their slaves. This is how Vikings Aslaug pays for Þorunn's freedom.

Marriage as a business agreement

The usual marriage in Viking times was between people of the same social class, a question that Björn takes into account in the series. The unions were considered a commercial agreement, sometimes for convenience and even to avoid confrontations between kingdoms. The case of Þorunn in the series is that of the slave and a love that cannot go further because society considers it taboo.

Þorunn in the Vikings series

Season 2

This season there is a dinner that Ragnar has called. There Þorunn appears having a little mishap with Björn, as he spills a beer on her. Then Björn approaches her again and asks her where she sleeps and her name.

He also asks her if she has a boyfriend and she, in a mocking tone, answers yes. Although Ragnar is a bit uneasy about his son's desire to flirt, Aslaug is the one who pushes his worries away by saying that at least the girl is pretty.

Björn later tells him if he wants to sleep comfortably at home, but Þorunn isn't sure. He does not want to force her, he prefers that she choose for herself without any pressure. They finally go home and she undresses. It is not clear in any case whether or not they have slept together.

In love with Þorunn

Þorunn is a slave and is below Björn's condition; not for that reason he stops falling in love with the girl. Lathgertha then realizes that her son has intentions for something else with the girl and asks her about the type of relationship they have; Björn says that she is only a servant although she makes it clear that she loves her.

Björn's departure for England allows Þorunn to devote himself to sword training on the beach. Then Aslaug wants to know what Þorunn is doing to which she replies that her wish is to be like Lathgertha. She, perhaps upset, wonders why many want to look like Björn's mother.

Doubts of Duorunn and reconciliation

Þorunn's feelings are unclear. She's not sure she loves Björn, and he gets upset because he's been used to having all kinds of girls.

Then Björn apologizes and they challenge to a duel in the forest. There they fight for a long time, although she runs off at some point and he leaves behind, all to end up asking for forgiveness, reconciling and making love in the forest.

Season 3

After Þorunn's training with Lathgertha, he decides to join Ragnar's army on a campaign for Wessex. Björn is concerned and fears for his safety, although he is a very capable and fearless warrior. There is a possible pregnancy that will later be confirmed and therefore Björn's concern. They argue about it also several times. Then he asks her to marry him.

During the battle Þorunn is severely beaten and is knocked unconscious. Björn saves her but her father Ragnar reprimands him, considering that a pregnant girl would not have to be in such a fight. Then she looks very down and rejects the girl that is born.

A beautiful daughter

Siggy is born, a beautiful and healthy daughter. Þorunn nevertheless remains downcast and sad, a matter that Björn does not understand, as she tells him that he loves both of them, her and her daughter, and that she must get well and go out to feel good.

Things don't seem too good because Þorunn and Björn stop having sex. It is then that Björn finds Torvi and they join in a passionate kiss. He confesses that, although all that has happened, he loves his wife.

Þorunn tells Aslaug that he doesn't want his daughter, asks him to take care of her. Aslaug reprimands her for being selfish, as what she is doing is not right considering that Björn loves them both.

References

1. Blain, MA. (2015). Vikings. Bjorn and Porunn. Recovered from Youtube.com
2. Eledelis (2014). Viking Society (I). The role of women in Viking Scandinavia. Recovered from thevalkyriesvigil.com
3. Eledelis (2015). Vikings series characters (VII): Þorunn, Kwenthrith of Mercia and Gunnhild. Recovered from thevalkyriesvigil.com
4. FANDOM (sf). Þorunn. Recovered from vikings.fandom.com
5. McDermott, A. (2016). Thralls: the slaves of the ancient Vikings. Recovered from ancient-origins.es