Bergþóra Skarphéðinsdóttir

Bergþóra Skarphéðinsdóttir (anglicised as Bergthora Skarphedinsdottir) was a 10th-century Icelandic woman who appears as a character in Njáls saga as an inciter of its main feud.

[4] Despite Gunnar's and Njal's efforts to peacefully settle the disagreement, Hallgerðr and Bergþóra escalate it to violent proportions.

[5] The feud reaches its peak with people from Gunnar's household burning Njáll and his family inside their house.

Bergþóra is offered the opportunity to leave the house, but chooses to remain with Njáll and share his fate.

[8] Bergþóra's influence is demonstrated in her power over her household, which allows her to hire servants for use as assassins,[9] and in her ability to goad her sons.