The Bridal Wreath · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset.
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Kristin Lavransdatter
major
Also known as Kristin, Loptsgaard Kristin, little Kristin, Kristin Sigurdsdatter, Kristen
Kristin grows up at Jörundgaard as her father's favorite, riding behind him to church and playing at mass with the priest's grandchildren by the roadside stone. Her mother's heavy silence and her father's warmth shape a girl who trusts her own heart over counsel. When she meets Erlend Nikulaussön, that trust becomes both her glory and her undoing, setting the whole saga in motion.
Erlend Nikulaussön
major
Also known as Erlend, Erlend of Husaby
Erlend comes to Kristin already entangled in old shames, including a stolen woman and a dead rival, yet he woos her with a fervor that sweeps aside every warning. He confesses his sins to a priest and promises a secret wedding, but his habit of rushing headlong into desire leaves others to bear the wreckage. His love forces Kristin to choose between her father's world and a future no one will bless.
Lavrans Björgulfsön
major
Also known as Lavrans, Holy Cross Lavrans Björgulfsön
Lavrans is the man neighbors come to for help, even those who have feuded with him, and he gives without asking return. His faith is not harsh but lived, and his tenderness toward Kristin makes her secrets unbearable to her. When he learns what she has done, his grief and steadiness force the novel's central reckoning between love and honor.
Ragnfrid Ivarsdatter
supporting
Also known as Ragnfrid
Ragnfrid corrects and chides where Lavrans plays and jests, and Kristin grows up feeling the weight of her mother's silence without knowing its source. The birth of little Ulvhild briefly restores Ragnfrid's bloom and gentleness, showing what joy might have been hers. Her grief and her sharp judgments of Erlend shape Kristin's sense of what a wife must endure and what a mother can forgive.
Lady Aashild Gautesdatter
supporting
Also known as Lady Aashild of Haugen, Aashild, Moster Aashild
Lady Aashild takes Erlend into her closet and dismantles his plans with brutal practicality, warning that a secret wedding will leave Kristin a concubine in the eyes of the law. She has said too many things in her time, she admits, and now her careless words have helped push the lovers toward ruin. Her clear-eyed skepticism gives the novel its sharpest moral counterweight to romantic self-justification.
Simon Andressön
supporting
Also known as Simon Darre, Simon, Truly Simon
Simon is the good match Lavrans arranged, comely and of good kindred, and he loves Kristin with a patience she never returns. When he finds her with Erlend at Fluga's house, he does not rage but forces Erlend to promise a proper suit, then walks Kristin home through the fog to spare her father shame. His steadiness becomes the standard against which Erlend's recklessness is measured throughout the early and middle arc.
Brother Edvin
supporting
Also known as Edvin, Jörundgaard Brother Edvin
Brother Edvin arrives at Jörundgaard a dying man, and the household tends him with such tenderness that his hearth-room becomes a place of pilgrimage for the whole parish. His speech is dark and veiled, yet everyone who listens feels strengthened, because they can see he is wholly filled with the love of God. He asks for news of the drought and the old abominations in the hills as readily as he asks for the Miracles of the Virgin, and in his childlike suffering he becomes the story's quiet measure of what holiness actually costs.
Eline Ormsdatter
supporting
Also known as Eline
Eline belongs to the world of Erlend's life before Kristin — a world of obligations and entanglements that neither love nor distance has fully dissolved. She never appears as a rival in the ordinary sense; she is a fact, a prior claim, the kind of thing a proud young woman like Kristin cannot simply will out of existence. Her shadow falls across the early happiness of Kristin and Erlend, forcing the reader to ask what it means to love a man whose past is not clean.
Ulvhild Lavransdatter
minor
Also known as little Ulvhild, Ulvhild
Kristin's younger sister, crippled by an accident and later dies young.
Ingebjörg Filippusdatter
minor
Also known as Ingebjörg, the flighty Ingebjörg
Kristin's lively friend at the convent, later a nun.
Arne Gyrdsön
minor
Also known as Arne, VI Arne
Loyal farmhand at Jörundgaard, secretly in love with Kristin.
Sira Eirik
minor
Also known as Eirik
Local priest at the church near Jörundgaard, a trusted spiritual figure.
Sir Munan Baardsön
minor
Also known as Munan, Sir Munan, Dumpy Munan
Erlend's worldly and scheming uncle, involved in political intrigues.
Bentein Priestson
minor
Also known as Bentein, Bentein Priest
Troublemaking son of a priest, who causes conflict for Kristin's family.
Lady Groa Guttormsdatter
minor
Also known as Groa, the Lady Groa
Wealthy widow and relative of Lavrans, hostess at a key gathering.
Sir Björn
minor
Also known as Björn, Björn Gunnarsön
Knight and friend of Erlend, involved in his adventures.
Sister Potentia
minor
Nun at Nonneseter convent, teacher and supervisor of the novices.
Aasmund Björgulfsön
minor
Also known as Aasmund
Lavrans's younger brother, a priest and later bishop.
King Haakon the Old
minor
Also known as King Haakon, Haakon
Aging king of Norway, appears briefly in court scenes.
Father Ingjald
minor
Also known as Ingjald, our reverend Father Ingjald
Monk and spiritual advisor to Lavrans and his family.
Trond Ivarsön of Sundbu
minor
Also known as Trond Ivarsön, Trond
Ragnfrid's brother, a gruff but supportive uncle to Kristin.
Ulf Haldorsön
minor
Also known as Ulf
Erlend's loyal servant and companion, later a friend to Kristin.
Brynhild Fluga
minor
Also known as Brynhild, Fluga
Woman at a feast who gossips about Kristin and Erlend.
Sira Sigurd
minor
Also known as Sigurd, Saksulvsön
Priest at the convent where Kristin stays, stern but fair.
Sister Cecilia Baardsdatter
minor
Also known as Cecilia, Sister Cecilia
Nun at Nonneseter, relative of Erlend, helps Kristin.
Sir Erlend
minor
Also known as Erlend
Erlend's father, mentioned but appears in flashback.
Inga of Finsbrekken
minor
Also known as Inga, Finsbrekken
Poor woman who nurses Ulvhild after her accident.
Sir Andres Gudmundsön
minor
Also known as Sir Andres, Andres, Andres Darre
Simon Darre's father, a wealthy landowner.
Tordis
minor
Servant woman at Jörundgaard, loyal to the family.
Sir Baard Petersön
minor
Also known as Baard, Sir Baard
Knight and friend of Erlend, accompanies him on travels.
Gyrd
minor
Son of Lavrans's neighbor, briefly a suitor to Kristin.
Didrek
minor
Servant at Jörundgaard, involved in farm work.
Halvdan
minor
Farmhand at Jörundgaard, loyal to Lavrans.
Ramborg
minor
Also known as little Ramborg
Kristin's younger sister, later marries Simon Darre.
Isrid
minor
Servant woman at Jörundgaard, helps raise the children.
Old Gunhild
minor
Also known as Gunhild
Elderly servant at Jörundgaard, known for her wisdom.
Helga
minor
Young servant girl at Jörundgaard, companion to Kristin.
Guldsveinen
minor
Nickname for a mysterious man who appears at a wedding.
Sister Astrid
minor
Also known as Astrid
Nun at Nonneseter, kind to Kristin during her stay.
Lady Halfrid
minor
Widow and friend of Lady Aashild, hosts a gathering.
Lady Angerd
minor
Woman at a feast, gossips about Kristin's scandal.
Sira Jon
minor
Also known as Jon, old Jon
Priest at a nearby church, performs marriages.
Sigurd of Loptsgaard
minor
Also known as Sigurd, Loptsgaard
Neighbor and friend of Lavrans, a landowner.
Queen Margret Skulesdatter
minor
Also known as Margret, Queen
Queen of Norway, appears briefly at court.
Lady Ingebjörg Haakonsdatter
minor
Also known as Ingebjörg, Lady Ingebjörg in Sweden
Swedish noblewoman, mentioned in political context.
Sir Laurentius
minor
Also known as Laurentius, the Lagmand
Lawman and judge, appears in a legal matter.
Ivar Sir Alfsön
minor
Also known as Ivar
Son of a knight, briefly a suitor to Kristin.
Gunnulv
minor
Servant at Jörundgaard, helps with farm tasks.
Tomas
minor
Servant at Jörundgaard, accompanies Kristin on trips.
Lady Katrin
minor
Also known as Lady Katrin the Ready-witted
Witty noblewoman at a feast, comments on Kristin.
Gyrid of Skog
minor
Also known as Gyrid, Skog
Woman from a neighboring farm, appears at a gathering.
Trond Gjesling
minor
Also known as Trond
Member of the Gjesling family, involved in a feud.
Björgulv
minor
Servant at Jörundgaard, mentioned in passing.
Steinulv
minor
Servant at Jörundgaard, helps with errands.
Geirhild Drivsdatter
minor
Woman from a distant farm, briefly mentioned.
Gissur Arnfinsön
minor
Also known as Gissur
Man from a neighboring district, appears in a legal matter.
Ivar Gjesling
minor
Member of the Gjesling family, mentioned in a feud.
Canon Martein
minor
Church official, appears in a religious context.
King Magnus Haakonsön
minor
Also known as King Magnus
Son of King Haakon, briefly mentioned as heir.
King Inga
minor
Also known as Inga
Historical king, mentioned in passing.
Duke Eirik
minor
Also known as Duke
Norwegian duke, appears briefly in court.
Haftor
minor
Servant at Jörundgaard, mentioned in passing.