Extract from the Laxdæla (Laksdøla, Laksdæla or Laxardale) Saga, written on Iceland between 1230 and 1260. Some transphobic accusations document that the Medieval had clear ideas about crossdressing and gender variance.
The story takes place around 1000.
The Intrigue of Tord and Gudrun
'In the western part of Saurbær, on the farm Hol, lived the brothers Torkel Hvalp and Knud, along with their brother-in-law Tord Ingunssøn. Tord was a handsome and brave man, skilled and adept in legal matters. His wife, Aud, was the sister of the aforementioned brothers. She was neither beautiful nor remarkable, and Thord did not care much for her. He had married her for her wealth.
Thord Ingunssøn became good friends with Thorvald and Gudrun and spent much time with them, leading to much gossip about a romantic relationship between Thord and Gudrun. One time, when Gudrun demanded jewelry from her husband, he slapped her and said that her extravagance had gone far enough. Gudrun retorted, "You have given me, by your standards, a great adornment—a good complexion. Rest assured, I will trouble you no further."
Feminizing Thorvald, Gudrun's Husband
That evening, Thord visited Gudrun. She recounted the humiliation she had endured and asked what revenge she should take. Thord laughed and said, "I have a good suggestion: sew him a low-cut shirt [skyrta]! When you see him wearing it, you can demand a divorce and exercise your rights."
[A Swedish translation puts it this way: "'I know a good piece of advice,' answered Thord, the legal expert, 'make him a shirt with a neck opening, so wide that you can get a divorce because of it, because the law permits such when a man dresses as a woman. Then declare yourself divorced from him.'"]
Gudrun followed this advice and was divorced from Thorvald that spring. She returned to Laugar after being married to Thorvald for two years and received half of his estate, which had increased significantly.
That summer, Gæst traveled to the assembly [Thing] and, as usual, stopped at Hol in Saurbær, where he borrowed horses. Thord Ingunssøn accompanied Gæst, and they traveled to Laugar in Sælingsdalur. Gudrun also wanted to attend the assembly, and Thord accompanied her.
Aud with the Trousers
One fine day, while riding over Blue Fores Heath, Gudrun suddenly said, "Is it true, Thord, that your wife Aud frequently wears trousers with a flap on the back and straps down into her shoes?" He replied that he had not seen it.
"Then it must be idle talk if you haven’t seen it," said Gudrun. "But why then do people call her Trousers-Aud?" Thord replied, "That name probably hasn’t been used for long." Gudrun commented, "But she will be called that for much longer."
They continued to the assembly. Thord often visited Gæst's booth and spoke with Gudrun. One day, he asked her what punishment a woman could expect if she wore trousers like a man. Gudrun replied, "The same punishment as a man who wears a woman's low-cut shirt, exposing his chest. Both acts give grounds for divorce."
Thord then asked, "Should I declare myself divorced from Aud here at the assembly [the Thing, ie. the law assembly and court], or should I wait until we return home, where I might gather more support, as strong forces are on her side?" Gudrun replied, "He who hides something for night gives it to the cat."
Tord immediately went to the law rock [the Thing], took witnesses, and declared himself divorced from Aud because she wore men’s trousers. Aud's brothers, Thorkel Hvalp and Knud, were very upset but did nothing. Thord left the assembly with Gudrun’s brothers. When Aud learned of the divorce, she said, "Well, now I know it, I shall remain alone."
Thord returned to Saurbær with eleven men to divide the property, which was done without difficulty since he did not care how it was distributed. He took many cattle to Laugar.
Later, he proposed to Gudrun and easily gained Osvif’s consent—Gudrun also had no objections. Toward the end of summer, a grand wedding was held at Laugar, and Thord and Gudrun lived well together. Thorkel and Knud did not challenge Thord because they lacked the necessary allies.
Aud's revenge
The following summer, the men from Hol went up to the mountain pastures in Hvammsdal, and Aud went with them. Laugar had a mountain pasture in Lammedal, to the west in the mountains. Aud asked the shepherd if he ever met the herder from Laugar. He replied that he often did, which was natural enough since there was only one mountain ridge between the pastures.
Aud said, “Make sure to speak with him today and find out who is at home and who is at the pastures, but speak well of Thord, as it is your duty.” He promised to do so, and in the evening, when he returned, he said, “I have good news to tell you. There is a wide floor between Thord’s and Gudrun’s beds, as she is at the pasture, but he is busy building. He and Osvif are alone at the farm.”
“You’ve done well,” she said. “Keep two horses saddled when the people go to bed.” The shepherd did as she instructed, and just before sunset, they both mounted their horses; at that point, it could be that Aud was wearing trousers.
She rode so fast that the shepherd struggled to keep up with her on the other horse. They did not stop until they reached Laugar’s enclosure. There she dismounted and asked the man to hold the horses while she went inside.
Aud went to the door, which was unlocked, continued to the firehouse, and then to the sleeping room where Thord lay sleeping. This room was closed, but there was no latch on it. Thord was sleeping on his back. Aud woke him, but he turned onto his side when he realized another person was there.
She then drew a large knife and stabbed Thord, wounding him severely in his right arm and both nipples. She struck with such force that the knife stuck fast in the bed frame. Afterward, Aud went out, mounted her horse, and rode home.
Thord tried to rise when he was wounded, but he was unable to do so due to blood loss. Osvif woke and asked what had happened, and Thord explained that he had been stabbed with a knife. Osvif asked, while tending to his wounds, who had done it. Thord replied that it was likely Aud. Osvif wanted to ride after her, reasoning that she probably only had a few men with her, so it would not be difficult to overpower her. But Thord asked him to let it go, saying that, in truth, she was within her rights to act as she had.
Aud arrived home at sunrise, and her brothers asked where she had been. Aud replied, “To Laugar,” and explained what she had done. They approved of her actions but thought she had not been harsh enough. Thord lay bedridden for a long time due to his injuries. The wounds on his chest healed fairly well, but his arm never fully regained its former strength.'
- Based on the Danish translation by Thøger Larsen.
- Another Danish translation can be found here.
- Swedish translation
- Muriel A. C. Press’ complete translation into English can be found here. (Although it does not have the shirt/nipples story)
- Stefan Frich’s translation into New Norwegian.
- Erik Solbakk on the The Laxdæla saga
There are variations between the various translations which may reflect different manuscripts. The translation above does cover the relevant paragraphs, though.
