With its medieval world of historical Nordic gods, fierce shield-maidens, axe-wielding warriors clad in cosy leather-based, and a largely untamed North Sea, the Historical past Channel’s “Vikings” presents a bewitching account of legendary determine Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel). The collection, which imagines Ragnar’s journey from easy farmer to the Scandinavian king accountable for Vikings raiding and in the end colonizing communities all through Europe and past, wove collectively six seasons’ value of tales from medieval Scandinavian sagas.
The Netflix sequel “Vikings: Valhalla” picks up the Viking saga lengthy after Ragnar’s dying. And very like the tough “Vikings” timeline, the timeline of the later collection, which recounts the exploits of the final nice legendary heroes of the Viking Age, condenses historic occasions in a approach that may be onerous to comply with at occasions.
Like “Vikings,” most of the plotlines in “Valhalla” are related to actual historic occasions. The three-season collection, which primarily follows famed Viking siblings Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett) and Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), begins a couple of century after Ragnar’s dying with the St. Brice’s Day Bloodbath of 1002 C.E. However whereas the tip of the collection depicts Harald’s (Luke Harmon) ascension to solo Viking king after the dying of his co-ruler and nephew Magnus (Set Sjöstrand), which traditionally occurred in 1047 C.E., the ages and experiences of the characters don’t precisely line up with their real-world counterparts. In different phrases, it’s greatest to not look too carefully on the timeline.
The Valhalla story follows Ragnar’s exploits
To know the place “Valhalla” matches in, it’s vital to revisit “Vikings.” When the collection begins, seasonal raids are already basic to the Viking lifestyle. Towards his earl’s needs, Ragnar leads a westward raid aboard a brand new longship, a gambit that results in many profitable sacks of England. Ragnar’s raids rapidly help his rise to energy, first to earl and in the end to king of Kattegat. Finishing the Seer’s prophecy that Ragnar would have many sons, he has 5 sons between his first spouse Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) and second spouse, Aslaug (Alyssa Sutherland).
Impressed by the land in Wessex, Ragnar begins efforts to determine a colony there on land granted by King Ecbert earlier than main Vikings from Scandinavia to the Siege of Paris, which they efficiently raid on their third try utilizing Ragnar’s “dying” as a Computer virus. Afterward, Ragnar’s brother Rollo (Clive Standen) turns in opposition to him in alternate for a title and a princess bride from Emperor Charles (Lothaire Bluteau) — an occasion that results in the institution of the Norman settlement.
Years later, Ragnar’s execution in England through a snake pit leaves his sons determined for vengeance. Collectively, they lead the Nice Heathen Military — an enormous coalition of Vikings from throughout Scandinavia — to defeat the 4 English kingdoms, ensuing within the institution of Danelaw. By the tip of the collection, Ragnar’s son Bjorn (Alexander Ludwig) turns into king of Kattegat whereas his son Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) explores Iceland and North America.
The timeline of Vikings: Valhalla
In actual life and each of the “Vikings” collection, a part of the important thing to the Vikings’ success was their skill to combine into different cultures and communities. After the preliminary shock of the violent raiding and sacking, Norsemen had been pretty expert at adapting to different cultures inside a technology or two. However this got here with a worth: the lack of the outdated Viking methods. Whereas Ragnar’s raids had been impressed by his perception within the outdated gods and Odin, these methods are dying out by the point of “Vikings: Valhalla” a mere century later — particularly after King Æthelred II (Bosco Hogan) wipes out a long-established group of Viking settlers.
As Vikings collect at Kattegat to plan their response, siblings Leif Erikson and Freydís Eiríksdóttir journey from Greenland to take revenge on the Christian Jarl Olaf Haraldsson for his violent assault on Freydis. From there, Leif sails to England with Harald Sigurdsson whereas Freydis turns into the chief of the final secure place for pagan pilgrims, Jomsborg. Leif and Harald journey to Constantinople and Sicily, the place they lead their Varangians (Scandinavian Russians) alongside the Byzantine military in opposition to the Saracen fortress. Pressured from Jomsborg whereas fleeing Christian assaults, Freydis finally reunites together with her brothers, and, along with the opposite pagan refugees, they set out for Greenland on the finish of the collection.
The historical past behind Vikings: Valhalla
Just like the legendary sagas the collection relies on, “Vikings” doesn’t all the time line up exactly with the actual historical past behind it. In the identical spirit, “Valhalla” takes loads of liberties with historic dates. Whereas the collection provides a great introduction to most of the well-known names related to Viking historical past and the legendary Scandinavian sagas, any effort to make the timeline make sense will solely result in confusion. Very like King Arthur of Arthurian legend, whether or not Ragnar Lothbrok was an actual human being or an inspiring fantasy is up for debate, even when his story appears to coincide with actual occasions just like the 885 Seige of Paris.
Whereas the historicity of Leif Erikson’s existence is taken into account seemingly, the story of his and Freydis’ adventures comes from the 2 medieval Vinland sagas: the Saga of the Greenlanders and the Saga of Erik the Crimson. The prospect is supported by Newfoundland’s L’Anse aux Meadows Nationwide Historic Web site, the place a 1000-year-old Viking settlement was first found within the Nineteen Sixties. Since a lot of “Valhalla” focuses on Freydis’ dedication to retaining the outdated religion alive, it makes narrative sense to attach her story to the St. Brice’s Day bloodbath of 1002. Freydis and Leif arrive in Kattegat because the Vikings collect to plan their revenge, and she or he turns into pregnant shortly thereafter.
In line with the sagas, Jomsborg’s destruction befell in 1043 — greater than 40 years later. However Freydis’ son Harald remains to be younger, and it’s clear 40 years haven’t taken place for the reason that starting of the collection. To additional confuse issues, the Varangian guard traditionally fought with the Byzantine military in 1034 as a substitute of across the identical time as Jomsborg’s fall. Whereas it could possibly be that the Vikings took a really very long time to plot their revenge or Freydis and Leif age very nicely, her son Harald’s age throws a wrench within the timeline, additional ruining the collection’ historic authenticity.
