Warning: spoilers for Vikings: Valhalla season 3.

Vikings: Valhalla has come to an end with its third season, and though it gave interesting new adventures to its main characters, most of their stories were left inconclusive. Set over 100 years after the events of Vikings season 6, Vikings: Valhalla told some of the most notable stories from the final years of the Viking Age, but with many changes for narrative (and dramatic) purposes. With the conflict between pagans and Christians as the backdrop, Vikings: Valhalla introduced viewers to Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), Freydis Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter), King Canute (Bradley Freegard), and Emma of Normandy (Laura Berlin).

Vikings: Valhalla season 2 ended with Leif and Harald in Constantinople, Freydis taking over Jomsborg, King Canute returning to England, and Emma finding out that Godwin (David Oakes) was the one who planned her assassination attempt so he could infiltrate the Royal Family. Season 3 reunited with all of them and introduced new characters, most notably Erik the Red (Goran Višnjić), and brought back Olaf’s son, Magnus (Set Sjöstrand), now older and more ambitious. Not all of Vikings: Valhalla’s main characters survived the final season, and the stories of those who did were left unfinished.

Explaining King Canute’s Two Funerals

King Canute Passed Away In Vikings: Valhalla Season 3

After skipping most of Vikings: Valhalla season 2 as he fought in Denmark, King Canute took a bigger role in season 3, though with a sad ending. Following his visit to the Vatican to make a deal with the Pope, Canute’s health began to deteriorate, and as he knew he would die soon, he summoned all his sons, Emma’s sons, and their son Harthacanute to Kattegat, as he had to decide who would take the throne of England after his passing.

King Canute died in England with Emma by his side, but not before letting Godwin know that he knew of his plans to join the Royal Family so one of his sons would become king one day. King Canute was the first Viking King of England, but he was also a Christian Viking, so he got the official, Christian burial of a king of England, attended by Godwin, Emma, the king’s court, and many others.

Not long after, Canute got a second funeral, though a private one. Emma gave him a Viking funeral, with his body on a Viking ship set on fire by his Viking warriors. This second funeral was attended by Emma and Canute’s Viking warriors only. By giving him a Viking funeral, Emma honored Canute’s Viking legacy and his place as England’s first Viking king.

There’s no historical record of Cnut the Great getting a Viking funeral. He was buried in the Old Minster, Winchester. During the English Civil War, Roundhead soldiers scattered Cnut’s bones on the floor and were spread among the various other mortuary chests. After the monarchy was restored, the bones were collected and replaced in their chests.

Who Succeeded King Canute As King Of England In Real Life?

King Canute’s Sons Wanted The Throne Of England

Canute’s son Harefoot fought Emma’s son Edward to show who had the physical strength required to be King of England. Emma stopped Harefoot from killing Edward, but this fight didn’t define who would succeed Canute, much to Harefoot and Edward’s frustration. 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.

In a final twist, Emma asked Edward to be brought to England to rule once Canute passed away, as she knew the earls would turn against her, but Godwin had one final move planned. Godwin didn’t let Emma’s message get to Edward and, instead, brought Harefoot to be crowned king. In order to not give up the throne of England, Vikings: Valhalla implied Emma and Harefoot got together, despite him being her stepson. In real life, Cnut was succeeded by Harthacnut (who reigned as Cnut III) in Denmark, though Magnus Olafsson took over after a war with Scandinavia.

In England, Emma fled to Bruges due to pressure from supporters of Harefoot, regent in England from 1035 to 1037, taking the throne in 1037 and reigning until his death in 1040. Harthacnut claimed the throne of England in 1040, bringing together 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.

The Golden Land Explained: Where Leif & Freydis Are Going

Leif & Freydis Embarked On Their Most Important Journey

Vikings: Valhalla took too long to give Leif a purpose and prepare him for his most important journey of all: his discovery of North America. The introduction of Leif and Freydis’ father, Erik the Red, served to explore parts of their backstory, including how Leif had already seen America once. Leif shared that, one time, while traveling with his father, they were blown off course, and he saw an unknown land in the far distance, with tall trees and more that he had never seen in Greenland. Leif referred to it as the “Golden Land”, and though Erik never believed him, 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 after Magnus poisoned them. 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 there, far from Magnus and all the Christians going after them. The Golden Land they refer to is North America, as 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), but what happened to her depends on the source. According to the Saga of the Greenlanders, once there, Freydis betrayed her people and massacred them, while the Saga of Erik the Red says she fought the natives that attacked them when they arrived at Vinland.

Harald Hardrada’s Rule As King Of Norway

Harald Finally Became King Of Norway

Since Vikings: Valhalla season 1, Harald made it clear he wanted to take the throne of Norway, but his biggest obstacle was his half-brother, Olaf Haraldsson (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), who also wanted the throne. Olaf’s death in season 2 didn’t leave the path to the throne free for Harald, as Canute’s son, Svein, was king, with his mother, Queen Aelfgifu, as regent, and Olaf 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, but his plans took a violent turn when he was framed by George Maniakes (Florian Munteanu) for the Emperor’s murder. Harald was sentenced to death, which marked a turning point in his story as he became cold and ruthless. Harald escaped and confronted Maniakes, killing him in front of Empress Zoe (Sofya Lebedeva), and fled to form his army. Harald arrived in Kattegat after Svein was killed by Magnus, who claimed the throne of Norway.

The Jarls voted that both Magnus and Harald were entitled to the throne, suggesting they ruled together. They agreed, but Magnus had three conditions: that Olaf’s shrine was consecrated, that Harald promised Norway would never go back to its old ways, and that he burned “the pagan witch” (Freydis). Leif rescued Freydis during her execution and 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.

The real Harald Hardrada also became King of Norway, but he co-ruled with his nephew, Magnus. Less than a year later, Magnus died without an heir, but it was decided before his death that Sweyn would inherit Denmark and Harald would get Norway. However, Harald not only declared himself King of Norway but also of Denmark, and announced his plans to gather an army and oust Sweyn. For this, he led violent raids on the Danish coasts, but 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, where they would retain their respective kingdoms with the former boundaries. What followed was Harald maiming and killing his people to send a warning to those who dared disobey him, and he maintained control through the use of a private standing army, and 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, considered the event that marked the end of the Viking Age.

What Happens To Empress Zoe & Constantinople?

Empress Zoe Was Last Seen Witnessing Harald’s Escape

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, but there was a twist. Emperor Romanos revealed to Harald that he knew about their affair because he asked the Empress to seduce Harald, as 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, and she was last seen witnessing Harald kill Maniakes.

The real Empress Zoe married Emperor Romanos Argyros when she was 50, and 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 (and Romanos had a mistress himself). Zoe fell in love with a servant named Michael, and 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.

However, as 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, but he feared she would betray him as she did to Romanos, so he excluded her from politics and sent her back to the gynaeceum under strict surveillance. Michael’s health worsened and, to make sure he wouldn’t lose power, John forced Zoe to adopt his nephew, Michael Kalaphates. When Michael IV died, Kalaphates was crowned emperor as Michael V.

Michael V banished Zoe to a monastery, where she was forcibly tonsured and sworn into a religious order. This caused an uprising in Constantinople, with the people supporting Zoe and her sister, Theodora, and revolting 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 Sets Up A Fourth Season That Isn’t Happening

Vikings: Valhalla Still Had A Lot More To Tell

Unfortunately, and despite Vikings: Valhalla being planned to last just three seasons, 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, while 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, while 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, though 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, leaving that also to historical records.