Historical Speculation on Vikings: Valhalla's Hypothetical Fourth Season Ending, Based on Authentic Accounts
In the world of historical drama, the Netflix series Vikings: Valhalla has come to an end, concluding the stories of Leif Erikson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir, and Harald Hardrada. Set more than 100 years after the original Vikings, this spinoff from Michael Hirst's series explores the lives of these iconic Viking figures and their impact on the world.
Leif, bound for the 'Golden Land' of his dreams, which he would call Vinland and we would know as North America, sails with Freydís, one-time ruler of Jomsborg, the semi-legendary stronghold of the Jomsvikings. According to the sagas, Freydís was part of the first attempt to settle in Vinland and led the second attempt herself. However, it is worth noting that Leif reached Vinland but not with Freydís.
Historian Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir says that Freydís behaves in astonishing ways in both sagas, whether presented in a positive or negative light. Her steely nature is common to both narratives. In Vikings: Valhalla, Freydís and Leif reunite in Kattegat one last time before stepping into the historical stories we know them best for.
Harald Hardrada, after becoming sole king of Norway, turned his attention to England at the behest of Harold II's brother, Tostig Godwinson. After returning from exile in the Byzantine empire as captain of the Varangian Guard, Harald finally claimed the crown of Norway, adopting the mantle by which we best know him - Harald Hardrada.
The series depicts Harald invading England with 300 Viking longships and 12,000-18,000 warriors, but was defeated and killed at the battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Historian Marc Morris writes that Edward's preferred successor in 1051 was not William of Normandy, but his great nephew Edgar Aetheling. After Edward's death in January 1066, the witan ratified the claim of Harold Godwinson, Earl Godwin's son and successor to the earldom of Wessex, who became Harold II.
It is important to note that Vikings: Valhalla is a historical drama inspired by real Viking figures and events but takes creative liberties, so not everything depicted is strictly true or historically accurate. It blends fact and fiction for storytelling purposes. In the series, the Norse Gods are falling into obsolescence, replaced by creeping Christian fervour.
For those who wish to delve deeper into the Viking period, HistoryExtra Academy offers a four-week course taught by Professor Ryan Lavelle. The original Vikings, which explored the era of Ragnar Lothbrok and the Great Heathen Army, serves as a precursor to Vikings: Valhalla. There is currently no news about a season 4 of Vikings: Valhalla.
As we bid farewell to the characters of Vikings: Valhalla, we are left with a sense of the grandeur and the complexity of the Viking age. The series serves as a testament to the enduring fascination with these historical figures and the world they inhabited.
