Baduhenna is a Continental Germanic goddess worshipped in Frisia; she is known only because of Tacitus’ writings and is likely to have been a war goddess, perhaps among other attributes.


Baduhenna received offerings in her holy grove; otherwise little is known of her worship.

Baduhenna’s name may have derived from the Proto-Germanic *badwo or “battle.” Additionally, the ending of Baduhenna’s name (hena or henae is common among Germanic goddess names.

It has also been suggested that Baduhenna is etymologically linked to the Irish Celtic Badb whose name derives from the Proto-Celtic *bodwo or “crow,” both likely deriving from a common Proto-Indo-European root, perhaps *bhat or “to hit.”

Tribal and other associations
According to Tacitus, Baduhenna was a goddess of the Frisians.

As a goddess of the Frisians, Baduhenna would have been known in Frisia.

Literary evidence
In his Annals Tacitus states that Baduhenna was honored by the Frisians in a grove dedicated to her where 900 Roman soldiers were slain.

Archaeological evidence