Vinland Saga Characters Based On Historical Figures

Vinland Saga is a rare historical anime. It unfolds during the age of the Vikings, portraying their European conquests and worldwide explorations in a typically stylized fashion. With that attachment to history comes many characters based on real figures. The series uses many prominent Vikings of the time for its cast.

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The Vikings in Vinland Saga accomplish many amazing feats, but the backstories of these guys are arguably more incredible. In fact, people may be surprised not only by the liberties taken but by how faithful these versions are in certain areas.

Updated 14th August 2024 by David Heath: News is still quiet over whether Vinland Saga will get a third season. There's certainly plenty of material to work with, as the manga finally reached the titular Land of Vines a while back. Canute, Askeladd, and slavery in England might feel like a distant memory to fans who kept reading, while viewers have been struggling to resist spoiling themselves. Still, with its streaming success, it seems likely Vinland Saga Season 3 will happen at some point.

It shows fans new and old loved it, and even the staff liked it, with animator Takahiko Abiru calling it his favorite project out of all the ones he's done in his career. Which is high praise given he's worked on the likes of Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. That 3rd season will bring in more characters, more of whom are based on real historical figures. So, this list has been updated with more key characters, and how they compare and contrast to their non-fictional equivalents.

1 Thorfinn

Vengeance Seeker To Adventurer

• In the Manga/Anime: A young man seeking revenge for the death of his father
• In History: An explorer who settled in 'Vinland' centuries before the other European explorers

The main protagonist of the series, Thorfinn, starts as a young boy who wants to be a great hero like his father, Thors. After witnessing his dad's death, the child casts himself into a life of hardship and survival. He trains as one of Askeladd's crew, hoping to attain the skills needed to finally achieve vengeance on him. This is where he fundamentally differs from the source.

The character is based on Thorfinn Karlsefni, who was less a warrior and more an explorer. He followed Leif Erikson's route to Vinland--or North America--to establish a Viking settlement. The accounts of his journey, along with that of Leif's father, Eric the Red, became known as the "Vinland sagas", hence the name of the manga and show. With Leif as a helpful presence to Thorfinn, the anime's little killer-turned-slave may turn pioneer after all.

2 Askeladd

Violent Warrior, Charismatic Mentor

• In the Manga/Anime: The man responsible for the death of Thorfinn's father, and for Thorfinn's growth as a warrior
• In History: Based on the Icelandic hero Olaf the Peacock, possibly inspiration for King Arthur

This is the roguish mercenary who kills Thorfinn's father. In following him, the young Viking positions Askeladd as an unorthodox teacher. There are plenty of worse characters to choose for this role. Askeladd is a charismatic leader who enjoys a good fight and takes on virtually any challenge if it pays. His name comes from Askeladden, a figure from Norwegian folktales. Yet his personality more resembles Olaf "the Peacock" Hösskuldson, hero of the 'Laxdæla Saga'.

This merchant was famous for his pride and flamboyant decorations and would become one of the wealthiest landowners in Iceland. However, the series eventually reveals another inspiration for Askeladd. It turns out his mother named him "Lucius Artorius Castus." This was the Roman officer thought to have inspired King Arthur. Though to further complicate things, the saga says his grandfather was 'Mýrkjartan', or Muirchertach mac Néill, King of Ailech in northwestern Ireland, which might be more likely than inspiring Camelot.

3 Thorkell

A Not-So-Gentle Giant

• In the Manga/Anime: A jolly giant man who loves to fight
• In History: A mighty mercenary who served both sides in the Danish-English Conflict

Thorfinn's grand-uncle is known for his mighty stature and battle prowess. Due to his love of combat, he serves as the right hand of Prince Canute, aiding him in his quest to become the ruler of the Danes. Which is fairly accurate for the historical sagas. The character comes from Thorkell the Tall, a Jomsviking lord who raised Canute at his court.

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They fought on opposite sides when the young prince invaded England with his father, Sweyn Forkbeard. In Vinland Saga, it was because he thought aiding the weaker English forces would be more interesting than another Viking victory. In history, it was because of the death of his hostage, Elfheah, the Archbishop of Canterbury, which disillusioned him from the Danish cause. In both, Thorkell would rejoin Canute's forces and become formidable again.

4 The Jomsvikings

The Legendary Viking Mercenaries May Just Be Legend

• In the Manga/Anime: The ruthless band of warriors for hire who made up the Danish forces in the Battle of Hjörngavágr
• In History: The likely mythical band of warriors who may have fought at the equally hard-to-pin-down Battle of Hjörngavágr

Though they were just one of many seafaring bands of Norse warriors, the Jomsvikings are pretty much what most people picture when they imagine what a Viking is. Ruthless, hard-fighting, hard-drinking warriors who serve anyone if the price is right. However, they had a strict code potential applicants had to live up to, like only accepting men between 18–50 years old. A 12-year-old called Vagn managed to join their ranks after beating an older Jomsviking in a duel, so it's not impossible for Askeladd to manipulate Thorfinn into his team.

However, most of what people know about the Jomsvikings comes from legend and sagas, like their own 'Jomsvikings Saga', 'King Olaf Trggvasson's Saga' (which inspired Vinland Saga in the first place), and excerpts from the Flatley Book. They have enough mentions in other sources to suggest there's a kernel of truth to them, given Thorkell was a real person. But overall, most details surrounding them, from the pivotal Battle of Hjörngavágr to their stronghold of Jomsborg, are considered 'semi-legendary' at best.

5 Ragnar

Canute's Loyal Retainer

• In the Manga/Anime: A protective guardian of the young Canute, acting like a father figure
• In History: Thorkell the Tall

Here's where things get a little funny. In Vinland Saga, Ragnar is more like Canute's father than his blood father, Sweyn Forkbeard. He's overbearing and overprotective of his young charge but keeps a level head to raise the young prince right. The timid young boy grew more courageous under his watch and, following Ragnar's death was set on the path to becoming Canute the Great. But Canute didn't have a right-hand man called "Ragnar" in history, or at least not one who fits Vinland Saga's mold.

Both Ragnar and his younger brother Gunnar were based on Thorkell the Tall. He grew quite close to Canute after he rejoined the Danish cause, and aided in his re-invasion of England, becoming Jarl (Earl) of East Anglia. He'd fall out with Canute again in 1021 but would reconcile in 1023, and become the Jarl of Denmark and foster father to Canute's son, Harthacnut. He disappears from the historical record in 1024.

6 King Harald Of Norway

Fierce With Fine Hair

• In the Manga/Anime: A giant, fierce warrior who became the first king of Norway through violent conquest
• In History: The possibly mythical first king of Norway

King Harald is more of a background figure at the start of the series. A descendant of the Swedish Yngling clan, he conquered the country of Norway village by village through pillage and other ruthless tactics. He gave the conquered people a choice: accept his rule or leave their land forever. Leif revealed to Thorfinn that his ancestors chose the latter and eventually discovered Iceland.

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This brutal ruler is based on King Harald "Fairhair" of Norway, a figure mentioned in multiple sagas written between the 9th and 14th centuries, from the Hrafnsmál (which described Harald as a Yngling) to the Flateyjarbók (how he defeated his neighbors to secure Norway, and what became of his sons). But sagas aren't historical records. Their conflicting issues with each other and with harder evidence (the "Fairhair" tag may apply to the later Norwegian king Harald Hardrada) suggest he may be a myth akin to Britain's King Arthur.

7 Sweyn Forkbeard

Cruel & Calculating

• In the Manga/Anime: An ambitious, brutal king who would give up his son to achieve his goals
• In History: An ambitious, cunning king who overthrew his father to achieve his goals

Canute's father is villainous even by Viking standards. Sweyn is a ruthless ruler who managed to conquer England and is willing to sacrifice anything for his ambition, including his son, as Canute's sentimentality and failure to understand his station disgusted him. This is a far cry from history, as King Sweyn Forkbeard and Canute worked together to invade England.

The king even left Canute in charge at several points. He was more brutal towards his father, King Harald Bluetooth (yes, the wireless tech is named after him). He'd end up revolting against him and taking his throne, leaving his father to die in exile. Forkbeard asserted himself as a calculating leader who won many battles and territories, claiming much of Norway and all of England and Wales. This laid vital groundwork for his son to expand on.

8 Harald Svendsen

Stuck Between A Rock And A Hard Place

• In the Manga/Anime: The eldest son of Sweyn Forkbeard, who was poisoned by Canute
• In History: The eldest son of Sweyn Forkbeard, and King of Denmark until 1018

Vinland Saga doesn't spend much time with Canute's elder brother, Harald. He was the heir to Sweyn's throne, inherited it when he died, and then got poisoned by his younger brother, who had his own plans for Denmark, England, and the rest of his territories. That's pretty much all history knows about Harald Svendsen. Except the poisoning was an invention for the series, as it seems the two brothers actually got on quite well.

Together, they planned out the conquest of England, which Canute succeeded in doing during Harald's reign. He died in 1018, give or take a year or two, with speculation suggesting he was murdered, and Canute seeking to avenge his fate. But there's nothing set in stone. Ultimately, he was so overshadowed by his more famous father and younger brother that he was nearly completely in the dark.

9 Canute

A Great Cnut

• In the Manga/Anime: A genteel prince who becomes a cunning leader
• In History: A cunning prince who became the ruler of an empire

The anime's rendition of Canute is a gentle-looking prince who grows into a confident leader. He wants to create a great kingdom in homage to God. That's why he takes command of the Viking army, albeit through unscrupulous means. Nevertheless, like his historical namesake Canute (or Cnut) The Great, he would take control of England, making it the first of many lands in his domain.

Canute was a revolutionary Viking who united various factions. Through careful strategy and intense determination across 12 years, he would become King of England, Denmark, and Norway in a vast North Sea Empire, earning the nickname "Cnut the Great". However, his religious faith kept him mindful of his limits. In legend, he demonstrated this by trying to order the tide to go back, only for it to come in as (to him) God ordained. As of the anime's season 2, he's become 'The Great', but has yet to make any orders on the beach.

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10 Ethelred II

Unprepared, Unwilling, And Unready

• In the Manga/Anime: The deposed King of England poisoned by Canute
• In History: The deposed King of England who'd try to fight back, but would ultimately fail

Vinland Saga tweaks some characters for drama, but it didn't need to do much to make King Ethelred II of England as hopeless as his historical counterpart. He gets deposed from the throne after Sweyn and Canute's invasion of London, and then tries to reclaim the throne after Sweyn's death, only to be poisoned to death by Canute's order. His lack of care and planning would earn him the title of "Ethelred the Unready."

Historical records used "unready" (or "unræd") to mean "badly advised", blaming his counsel for proposing to pay Sweyn to leave England alone ("Danegeld"). It might've worked if Ethelred hadn't also ordered the murder of Danish settlers in 1002. This led to the invasion that would depose him 11 years later. He would manage to reclaim parts of England, but he'd pass away from (allegedly) natural causes in 1016, leaving his son Edmund to fight Canute for control.