'Vikings: Valhalla' Season 3: Did England really have a Viking king? Inside the real-life story
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The Vikings are set to sound their final trumpet as 'Vikings: Valhalla' Season 3 premieres on Netflix on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
The drama, created by Jeb Stuart, follows King Canute (Bradley Freegard), established as the supreme authority among the Vikings, now controlling Denmark, Norway, and England.
Although the idea of a Viking monarch ruling England may seem fantastical and the product of showrunners's imaginations, there were indeed Viking kings who ruled parts of England.
Who is King Canute in 'Viking: Valhalla'?
Canute is regarded as a fearsome Viking warrior who made a memorable debut in Season 1 of 'Vikings: Valhalla.'
Canute, a Christian Viking, and Denmark's monarch is driven by a powerful desire for revenge following the St. Brice's Day massacre.
He leads a successful invasion of England, using Leif Erikson's (Sam Corlett) plan to demolish London Bridge, and later ascends to the throne alongside King Edmund (Louis Davison) until Edmund's death.
Is King Canute's England reign historically accurate?
Canute is remembered as a great and fearsome Viking King who ruled over England (1016–35), Denmark (1019–35), and Norway (1028–35), according to Britannica.
He helped his father, Sweyn I, invade England in 1013. After Sweyn died in 1014, Canute returned to defeat King Ethelred II's son, seizing the English crown in 1016.
At first, Canute ruled with severity, executing English opponents and choosing Danes. However, he later married Ethelred's widow and began to grant earldoms to Englishmen.
He became a successful king, bringing peace and prosperity to England, enacting significant legislation, and supporting the church. He also gained control of the Danish crown with the assistance of England.
How to stream 'Vikings: Valhalla' Season 3?
To watch the program on Netflix, you must have an exclusive membership, as the streaming site offers various subscriptions based on your spending limit.
The Standard Plan with advertising has a monthly membership fee of $6.99 and provides full HD (1080p) streaming.
The Standard Plan, which does not include advertisements, costs $15.49 per month and allows you to use one account on two screens simultaneously while streaming in 1080p/full HD quality.
Viewers can watch 4K Ultra HD content on up to four screens at once with Dolby Atmos and HDR with the $22.99/month Premium Plan.
'Vikings: Valhalla' Season 3 trailer
