There's been a lot of debate back and forth about if the skjaldmær (shieldmaidens) actually existed, and thanks to DNA it looks as if this is indeed the case. Don't try and mess with a viking woman (I was going to post this in the science thread, but there still seems to be debate, on if anthropology is considered a "hard science"):
https://www.rt.com/news/402521-sweden-viking-warrior-woman
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.23308/full
https://www.rt.com/news/402521-sweden-viking-warrior-woman
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.23308/full