Vikings: Valhalla - What The Timeline Reveals | Den Of Geek

King Canute married Emma of Normandy in 1017. This union appears to have been forged with wider concerns than mere romance, as Emma previously had been married to King Ethelred, and had borne him two sons, both of whom had been – until the latest invasion – heirs to the English throne. Emma’s second marriage not only helped her hold on to power and influence, but also arguably saved the lives of her children. This political and familial jostling should make for an interesting dynamic as the show hurtles through the years.

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And hurtle the show must, if William the Conqueror is to feature in its narrative, given that the man behind the Norman Conquest of England wasn’t born until 1028, the same year that King Canute added Norway to his collection of kingdoms. 1066 will doubtless be a key date, given that it was not only the beginning of William’s conquering, but also the official end of the era of the Vikings.

Interestingly, or perhaps confusingly, William the Conqueror was a descendant of Rollo, whom you might remember from a little show called Vikings? – although the character was more of a semi-mythical mish-mash than a faithfully depicted historical figure.

Way out Norway

Vikings: Valhalla isn’t going to forget about Norway, or the descendants of the Norwegian Vikings who first settled Iceland and then set off westward in search of adventure and riches.

Greenland is now an established Viking colony, and there we’ll meet Leif and Freydis. As they hail from a fiercely pagan family, their story and dynamic will put a spotlight on how Viking society is adjusting to, and struggling against, the inexorable erosion of the old ways and Gods; as will a focus on Kattegat, where its ruler, Jarl Haakon (Caroline Henderson), isn’t quite ready to let Odin go gentle into that good night.

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Leif and Freydis will, of course, lead us to the New World, where our erstwhile Viking adventurers, Ubbe and Floki, once tread. While Leif is the person whom the sagas afford the lion’s share of the fame and credit for ‘discovering’ the western reaches of North America, Freydis’ real-world ‘history’ indicates that she will be the more fun character to watch. The sagas reveal a woman who was intrepid, brave, and fearless, but almost supernaturally sociopathic. Just ask the Skraelings…