How historically accurate is Vikings: Valhalla? Fact-checking all important parts of the show

Vikings: Valhalla, the latest addition to Netflix’s historical drama series, has captivated audiences with its vivid portrayal of the Viking age. Set over a hundred years after the events of the original Vikings series, Valhalla brings to life the epic tales of legendary Norse figures such as Leif Erikson, Freydís Eiríksdóttir, and Harald Hardrada.

The show immerses viewers in the world of early 11th-century Scandinavia, replete with brutal battles, political machinations, and the relentless quest for glory and survival. As with any historical drama, however, it prompts a pressing question: how much of what we see on screen is rooted in historical fact, and how much is a product of creative license?

While Vikings: Valhalla aims to present an enthralling narrative filled with dynamic characters and intense conflicts, it also takes significant liberties with historical timelines and events. The series intertwines documented history with dramatized fiction to create a compelling story, often bending facts to enhance its storytelling.

Vikings: Valhalla: Several characters are based on historical figures

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The three main protagonists, Freydís, Leif, and Harald, are indeed based on historical figures. However, their historical timelines did not overlap as the show suggests. Leif Erikson was a real Viking explorer along with his sister Freydis Eriksdotter, children of Erik The Red.

Leif is famous for being among the first Europeans to arrive in North America around 1000 CE where archeological evidence indicates there was a Norse settlement at Newfoundland.

However, Freydís remains a more obscure character. Sagas depict two different images; one shows her as a valiant warrior who saves her group from aborigines’ attacks while another presents her as a vicious woman who conspires to kill some members of their company.

Harald Sigurdsson, famously called Harald Hardrada, was an iconic Norwegian king but he didn’t live at the same time as Leif and Freydís. Harald was born after they had died. Thus, the merging of their timelines in the series is purely for narrative coherence.

Who are Canute, Emma in Vikings: Valhalla?

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King Canute, the Great is a central character in Vikings: Valhalla – was an important historical figure who reigned over a North Sea empire that included England, Denmark, and Norway. Canute did marry Emma of Normandy after she had been married to King Æthelred II.

The show’s portrayal of Canute’s conflict with Edmund Ironside culminating with the Battle of Assandun closely aligns with historical records, although Edmund was not depicted as a boy king. Both men were around 25 and highly skilled soldiers.

However, from what we see in this series, Emma of Normandy appears to be portrayed as more than just a smart political player. Indeed, she was an influential queen and strategist who played a vital role in ensuring her sons took over the English throne.

How real are the historical events in Vikings: Valhalla?

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The first episode of Valhalla dramatizes the St. Brice’s Day Massacre allegedly ordered by King Æthelred that saw Danes killed in England. This event happened actually in 1002, possibly due to Viking invasions ongoing at that time. Also featured is a dramatic battle on London Bridge which found inspiration from the nursery rhyme, London Bridge is Falling Down.

While there are no specific historical records indicating that London Bridge collapsed during a Viking attack, sagas such as Heimskringla suggest that Olaf Haraldsson may have been behind it falling down during warfare.

Warrior women in Vikings: Valhalla

Warrior women in Vikings (Image Via Netflix Valhalla Instagram)

Several female warriors are featured in Vikings: Valhalla, matching well with historians’ perspectives on women’s participation in Viking warfare. Reports from archaeologists have indicated the existence of a group of Viking female warriors as depicted by the presence of graves filled with weapons and war attires near some dead females.

Jarl Haakon is a fictional character whose birth is based on history. The idea of having black Vikings is also supported by some evidence of interactions and trade between various societies.

Exploring more facts and fiction in Vikings

The second season introduces Mariam, who is a scholar and scientist created after Mariam al-Astrulabi, a 10th-century Syrian astronomer renowned for her astrolabe work. However, although Mariam’s meeting with Leif is fictional, her expertise and contributions to science are indeed historically accurate.

These were semi-nomadic people from Central Asia who were defeated by Pechenegs in the series. They did settle like Ukraine, however, this did not stop them from attacking other communities surrounding their settlement areas. This happened during the time when Kurya was friendless and blind Pecheneg who becomes friends with the protagonists in the play.

In reality, Kurya had been one of them; he was a leader among the Pechenegs who betrayed Svyatoslav I of Kiev, which forms part of the show’s reference to Viking skull trophies.

Jómsborg is one significant place shown in this series but it has some elements that make it appear to be more than just legends or tales only. Although where exactly it used to stand cannot be established, some beliefs indicate it existed somewhere around present-day Wolin in Poland.

Those residing at Jómsborg are referred to as Jomsvikings since they were an elite clan of Norse warriors bound by allegiance to Odin.

All episodes and seasons of Vikings: Valhalla are currently streaming on Netflix.

Edited by Prem Deshpande