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King Canute played a bigger role in Vikings: Valhalla season 3 than in season 2. He had a sad ending though. After a visit to the Vatican, Canute's health began to deteriorate. Knowing that he was going to die, he summoned his sons, Emma's sons, and his son Harthacanute to Kattegat. Canute needed to decide who would take the throne of England after he passed.
Canute died in England with Emma by his side. However, before he died he let Godwin know that he was aware of Godwin's plan to infiltrate the Royal Family. Canute was the first Viking King of England. He was also a Christian Viking, so he got a formal, Christian burial as the King of England. Many people attended including Godwin, Emma, the king’s court, and many others.
Not long after, Canute got a second funeral. This one was a private Viking funeral. Emma honored Canute's Viking legacy and his place as England’s first Viking king. She had Canute's body placed on a Viking ship that was set on fire by his Viking warriors. Emma and Canute’s Viking warriors were the only people in attendance.
Historical records show that Cnut the Great was buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. During the English Civil War, Roundhead soldiers scattered Cnut’s bones on the floor and spread them among the various other mortuary chests. After the monarchy was restored, the bones were collected and replaced in their chests.
Canute's son Harefoot fought Emma's son Edward to prove who was strong enough to be King of England. Emma stopped Harefoot from killing Edward, but it did not determine who would succeed Canute. Canute decided that Harthacanute would be king of Denmark, Harefoot would be Harthacanute’s regent in Denmark, Edward and Alfred (Emma’s sons with Aethelred) would be sent to Normandy, Svein would continue to rule Norway, and Emma would govern England.
Emma asked for Edward to be brought to England to rule after Canute's death. She knew the earls would turn against her. Godwin had one final trick planned though. He didn't let Emma's message get to Edward and, instead, brought Harefoot to be crowned king. To keep the throne of England, Vikings: Valhalla implied Emma and Harefoot got together, even though he was her stepson.
In real life, Cnut was succeeded by Harthacnut (who reigned as Cnut III) in Denmark. Magnus Olafsson took over after a war with Scandinavia. In England, Emma fled to Bruges due to pressure from supporters of Harefoot. Harefoot was regent in England from 1035 to 1037. He became king in 1037 and reigned until his death in 1040. Harthacnut claimed the throne of England in 1040. This reunited the crowns of Denmark and England as his father did until his death in 1042. Following his death, Hartacnut was succeeded by Magnus in Denmark and Edward the Confessor (Emma’s son) in England. As Edward died without an heir, he was succeeded by Harold Godwinson, Godwin’s second son.
Vikings: Valhalla took a long time to give Leif a purpose. It also prepared him for his most important journey: his discovery of North America. The introduction of Leif and Freydis’ father, Erik the Red, served to explore parts of their backstory. This included how Leif had already seen America once.
Leif shared that while traveling with his father, they were blown off course. He saw an unknown land in the far distance. The land had tall trees and more that he had never seen in Greenland. Leif referred to it as the “Golden Land”. Erik never believed him, but Freydis did.
While Leif decided to find the Golden Land after the traumatic event of the attack on Syracuse, Freydis was looking for a new home for the Jomsvikings. The Jomsvikings were poisoned by Magnus. Freydis remembered the Golden Land Leif had told her about and decided to travel to find it and establish a new home for her people. They wanted to be far from Magnus and all the Christians going after them. The Golden Land they refer to is North America. The real Leif Erikson was the first European to set foot on continental America, about half a millennium before Christopher Columbus.
As for Freydis, she also traveled to Vinland (coastal North America). What happened to her depends on the source. According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, Freydis betrayed her people and massacred them. The Saga of Erik the Red says she fought the natives that attacked them when they arrived at Vinland.
Since Vikings: Valhalla season 1, Harald made it clear that he wanted to take the throne of Norway. His biggest obstacle was his half-brother, Olaf Haraldsson. Olaf also wanted the throne. Olaf’s death in season 2 didn’t leave the path to the throne free for Harald. Canute’s son, Svein, was king, with his mother, Queen Aelfgifu, as regent. Olaf also had a son, Magnus, who could claim the throne.
After spending seven years in Constantinople serving Emperor Romanos, Harald had gotten the funds he needed for his army. His plans took a violent turn when he was framed by George Maniakes for the Emperor’s murder. Harald was sentenced to death, which marked a turning point in his story. He became cold and ruthless. Harald escaped and confronted Maniakes, killing him in front of Empress Zoe, and fled to form his army. Harald arrived in Kattegat after Svein was killed by Magnus. Magnus claimed the throne of Norway.
The Jarls voted that both Magnus and Harald were entitled to the throne. They suggested they rule together. They agreed, but Magnus had three conditions. He wanted Olaf’s shrine to be consecrated, he wanted Harald to promise that Norway would never go back to its old ways, and he wanted Harald to burn “the pagan witch” (Freydis). Leif rescued Freydis during her execution. They left, while Harald confronted Magnus and turned the king’s guard against him. Harald imprisoned Magnus and claimed himself the only king of Norway as Harald Hardrada.
“Hardrada” translates to “hard ruler”. This is fitting with Harald’s dark turn in Vikings: Valhalla and his rule as King of Norway in real life. Harald not only declared himself King of Norway but also of Denmark. He announced his plans to gather an army and oust Sweyn.
The real Harald Hardrada also became King of Norway. However, he co-ruled with his nephew, Magnus. Less than a year later, Magnus died without an heir. It was decided before his death that Sweyn would inherit Denmark and Harald would get Norway. Harald not only declared himself King of Norway but also of Denmark. He also announced his plans to gather an army and oust Sweyn. He led violent raids on the Danish coasts. Even though he was victorious in most of his attacks, he never successfully took Denmark.
Harald and Sweyn reached an unconditional peace agreement in 1064. They would retain their respective kingdoms with the former boundaries. Harald maimed and killed his people to send a warning to those who dared disobey him. He maintained control through the use of a private standing army. His power-struggle with the Norwegian aristocracy is what got him the reputation of “hard ruler”. Harald was killed during the Battle of Stamford Bridge. This is considered the event that marked the end of the Viking Age.
At the end of Vikings: Valhalla season 2, a secret romance between Harald and Eleana/Empress Zoe was implied to happen in season 3, and it did. However, there was a twist. Emperor Romanos revealed to Harald that he knew about their affair. He asked the Empress to seduce Harald because he couldn’t give her a child. This, followed by his death sentence, led to Harald’s dark turn, while Zoe ended up marrying Maniakes after he threatened her. She was last seen witnessing Harald kill Maniakes.
The real Empress Zoe married Emperor Romanos Argyros when she was 50. She desperately tried to get pregnant, going as far as to use potions, amulets, and magic charms. Zoe’s failure to have a child caused an estrangement between the couple, and so Zoe had various affairs. Romanos had a mistress himself. Zoe fell in love with a servant named Michael. She openly spoke about making him emperor. When Romanos became ill, it was believed Zoe and Michael were conspiring to poison him. Michael and Zoe got married the same day Romanos died, and Michael took power as Michael IV.
Michael was unprepared to become Emperor. He delegated much of his activities to his brother, John the Orphanotrophos. Zoe believed Michael would be a more devoted husband than Romanos. However, he feared she would betray him as she did to Romanos. He excluded her from politics and sent her back to the gynaeceum under strict surveillance. Michael’s health worsened. John forced Zoe to adopt his nephew, Michael Kalaphates, to make sure he wouldn’t lose power. When Michael IV died, Kalaphates was crowned emperor as Michael V.
Michael V banished Zoe to a monastery. She was forcibly tonsured and sworn into a religious order. This caused an uprising in Constantinople. The people supported Zoe and her sister, Theodora, and revolted against Michael. In 1042, Zoe and Theodora were crowned, and Michael V was forced to take refuge in a monastery. Zoe continued to rule until her death in 1050 at the age of 72.
Vikings: Valhalla was planned to last just three seasons, but the stories of its main characters were left unfinished. Leif and Freydis were last seen sailing to Golden Land in the boat provided for Leif by Canute. Stigr was found by Harald Jr., but it’s unknown if Freydis returned for her son or not. Harald took over as king, but his reign won’t be explored without more seasons. Emma’s future was left uncertain as she was implied to be seducing Harefoot. Godwin realized the big mistake he had made.
All the loose ends and unanswered questions left by Vikings: Valhalla season 3 will have to be solved by historical records. There are some, like Harald Jr.’s fate, that will be left to the audience’s imagination as he’s a fictional character. Vikings: Valhalla also didn’t get to cover the end of the Viking Age. That is also left to historical records.
Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, Vikings: Valhalla chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings ever chronicled. As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory.