Is Vinland Saga historically accurate? Is it based on a true story?

Vinland Saga became popular in 2019 and paved the way for anime with historical settings to get more recognized as it portrays a dramatic, heart-wrenching tale of revenge with the Viking era as its backdrop.

Many characters in Vinland Saga are inspired by their real-life counterparts that existed centuries ago. But how accurate are they?

Vinland Saga is historically accurate and based on a true to some extent, like its setting in 1013 England during the Viking Era, the portrayal of Vikings, their lifestyle, and characters like Thorfinn, Lief, etc., who are based on real-life historical figures.

Some events of the Vinland Saga stay true to real-life facts. Still, the series isn’t historically accurate as a whole, as Makoto Yukimura exercised creative liberty to enhance the plot.

To begin with, let’s debunk the myths surrounding Vinland.

1. Is Vinland A Real Place?

Vinland is a real place in Northern America, named by the Icelandic Norseman, Leif Erikson in 1000 AD. Present day, it is known as Newfoundland and Labrador, the easternmost province of Canada.

Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, discovered and named the region Vinland, which means the “Land of Grapes,” as the region was abundant in grapes, which also symbolized fertility, prosperity, etc.

This was inspired by two Viking sagas:

1. The Saga of the Greenlanders,
2. The Saga of Eric the Red.

Saga means “Tale” in Old Norse, and these two sagas combined are known as the “Vinland Sagas,” which explains the title of the anime Makoto Yukimura named it perfectly.

In these sagas, Vinland was described as a Nirvana, a perfect heaven for the Vikings to settle as the land was fertile and lush.

However, Vinland was not a true Nirvana, as the Norse conflicted with the natives.

later, when Thorfinn Karlsefni led another expedition there, their colony failed because of the backlash from the natives.

In contrast, the anime portrayed Leif Erikson and the place Vinland as accurately as it could.

2. What Inspired Vinland Saga?

The creator of Vinland Saga, Makoto Yukimura, was inspired by the works of Katsuhiro Otomo and Olaf Tryggvason, a king of Norway from 995 to 1000 AD.

Olf Tryggvason had been a king who had fallen from his throne down to a slave and had risen back to power, inspiring Yukimura to create Thorfinn as a Slave.

However, Yukimura’s editor loathed the initial outline, as revealed in an interview with Anime Trending,

“ When I first approached my editor to write the story of Vinland Saga, the story didn’t start where [Thorfinn] was fighting the English in England. Instead, I was planning on a story that started with him being a slave.

So, the editor I spoke to at Kodansha said, “Well, that’s not going to sell! A story that starts from being a slave? I thought this story was about the Vikings and fighting, and you’re not going to go into that? How am I going to explain this to my editor-in-chief?”

That was the first reaction that I received from my editor. ”

Yukimura then spiced the story up, incorporating the Viking history, theme of violence, revenge, etc., as he had been fascinated by the Vikings and their streak of violence.

3. How accurate is the Vinland Saga Historically & Geographically?

Vinland Saga is historically and Geographically accurate to some extent, which we have covered extensively in the following points.

A. Historical Accuracy

Vinland Saga takes place in 1013 England. The conflicts between Denmark and England weren’t uncommon during this period.

Though Vinland Saga more or less portrays the historical events accurately, the backstories and motivations of the individual characters are mostly fictional.

I. The Danish invasion of England

The Danish Invasion of England has been portrayed more or less accurately throughout the anime; according to historical accounts, these raids originally started in 830, but they didn’t attain full force until Sweyn took over the position of the Danish King.

Prince Canute becoming the king of England is also historically correct, but how he becomes the king differs from the original source.

The original Canute the Great became a king because his father actually supported him.

II. Portrayal of Vikings

The Vikings have been depicted accurately as raiders who plundered villages and used longships.

They also served as mercenaries for various armies and committed atrocities typical of any early-medieval European warrior, so the portrayal of Vikings was quite accurate.

Most of the characters of the main cast are Vikings, such as Canute the Great and Thorkell the Tall.

Though the series tries its best to tone down the violence, we still see the Vikings pillage and burn down villages without mercy.

B. Geographical Accuracy

In terms of Vinland Saga’s geographical accuracy, the anime depicts Iceland, England, Denmark, and Vinland (North America) more or less accurately.

I. Iceland

During the early 1000s, Iceland was far removed from the conflict between Denmark and its neighboring countries. It mostly served as a settlement for the Viking explorers.

In Vinland Saga, the commander of Jomsvikings, Thors, deserted his comrades to start a new life in Iceland along with other Vikings.

So, the anime followed the actual history of Iceland. Thorfinn Karlsefni, Thorfinn’s historical counterpart, was also born in Iceland.

II. England

England was subjected to Denmark’s constant and violent raids during the Viking Age. Eventually, the Danish forces led by King Sweyn took over the English monarchy.

However, it was Canute who ruled over England. These events occurred in the exact order in Vinland Saga.

III. Denmark

Denmark was the Vikings’ place of origin. During the late Anglo-Saxon period, Denmark was ruled by King Sweyn and then by his son, King Harald.

The Danish army of this period consisted mostly of Vikings, just like the anime.

IV. Vinland (North America)

North America didn’t act as an actual setting in the anime. Still, many characters mentioned it throughout the series, and Thorfinn yearned to find Vinland, just like his counterpart Thorfinn Karlsefni, who led expeditions to Vinland.

4. Characters in Vinland Saga who are based on Real Historical  People

Here is a list of characters based on real Historical People who helped shape the anime.

I. Thorfinn

The protagonist, Thorfinn, was initially going to be based on the real-life Norwegian King, Olaf Tryggvason, but was later changed and based on the real-life Icelandic explorer, Thorfinn Karlsefni.

Thorfinn Karlsefni was mentioned in the two Viking Saga: The Saga of the Greenlanders and The Saga of Eric the Red.

He married a woman named Gudrid in Greenland and then led expeditions to find Vinland after being inspired by Leif Erikson, son of Erik the Red, who had discovered it.

Thorfinn and the other Vikings had failed to colonize Vinland due to clashes with the natives, so they returned to Iceland and settled there instead.

In contrast to the anime, the streak of violence and revenge in Thorfinn was a product of Yukimura’s creative liberty.

Yukimura weaved in the Norwegian King, Olaf Tryggvason’s past, as just like Olaf, Thorfinn had been enslaved after he had attacked Canute, who had killed Askeladd.

Olaf had fallen from this throne, been a slave, and returned to power; the process made him a pacifist.

Similarly, when Thorfinn had been enslaved, he changed from a revengeful beast to a pacifist.

Thorfinn then sought the land Vinland, an ideal place to attain freedom, as he had heard about from his uncle Leif Erikson’s adventures.

II. Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson, a father-like figure to Thorfinn, is based on a real-life Norse explorer with the same name who is known for discovering and naming Vinland in the year 1000 AD.

The real-life Leif Erikson and his expedition to Vinland have been talked about in the Viking saga.

He was the first European to set foot in Northern America. However, their colony couldn’t survive for long as they were engaged in conflict with the natives.

Present-day the region is a historic site called “L’Anse aux Meadows” in the Newfoundland and Labrador province, the easternmost part of Canada.

In the anime, Lief inspired Thorfinn to explore the world and broaden his horizons by narrating his adventures to Vinland. He even had a feather-like headdress and a tobacco pipe that he brought from Vinland.

III. Prince Canute

Prince Canute is based on the real-life King Canute the Great of Denmark, who ruled over England, Denmark, and Norway and kept their ties strong.

He was the son of the Danish prince, Sweyn Forkbeard. Canute had helped in strengthening the English currency and had good ties with the Church, making Christianity a popular religion at the time.

In the anime, Prince Canute is shown as a gentle, almost feminine-like king who undergoes significant change after the death of his bodyguard, Ragnar.

His depiction is historically accurate in the sense that Canute becomes stronger over time and takes his place as a tactful King who unites the neighboring regions.

In the anime, he is also contrasted with Thorfinn, as Canute is a pacifist, whereas Thorfinn was initially a revengeful beast blazing with wrath.

IV. Thorkell

Thorkell, the grand uncle of Thorfinn, is based on the real-life Thorkell the Tall, who was the commander-in-chief of the Jomsvikings and was a gallant general of King Canute.

In the anime, Thorkell has been portrayed similarly. The event where he betrayed the Danes and joined the English side to fight ‘better battles’ is also accurate to some extent.

As the real-life Thorkell betrayed the Danish forces to join England’s side. But his reason for doing so was different.

Originally, Thorkell’s important hostage, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was killed against his will by his subordinates.

Consequently, the original Thorkell fought for England to prevent mutiny.

V. Askeladd

Askeladd, the main antagonist of Vinland Saga, is not based on one historical person as Yukimura based his name after Askeladden from a famous Norwegian folklore and based his background on Olaf the Peacock.

Olaf was an Icelandic merchant and the son of an Irish princess and a Viking Chieftain.

Written about in the Laxdæla Saga, he was given the nickname “Olaf the Peacock” as he wore ostentatious clothing.

Yukimura combined Olaf’s style and weaved it into Askeladd, making him a charming villain.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I. Does Askeladd Love Thorfinn?

Askeladd shares an intricate relationship with Thorfinn; he doesn’t care for Thorfinn however, there are moments when he admires Thorfinn’s skills, which is why he keeps him in his band of mercenaries.

In the end, Askeladd’s death shaped Thorfinn’s future, made him a better man and taught him the futility of violence.

II. Was Thors based on a Real Historical Figure?

Thors was not based on a real historical figure, even though Thorfinn’s real-life counterpart’s father’s name was Thord Horsehead Snorrason, which resembles the name because Thord was not a Valiant warrior as opposed to Thors in the anime.

III. Is Thorfinn Stonger Than Throkell?

Thorfinn is stronger than Thorkell by the end of Season 2 as he has gained strength on Ketil’s farm.

IV. What Religion Does Vinland Saga Follow?

Most of the characters in Vinland saga follow Norse Paganism, like Thors, Askeladd, Thorfinn, etc. However, some of them even followed Christianity, like Prince Canute.

V. How old is Thorfinn?

Thorfinn was about 6 years old when his father, Thors, was killed, and by the end of Season 2, he was about 22 years old. 

6. About Vinland Saga

Vinland Saga is a Japanese historical manga series written and illustrated by Makoto Yukimura. The series is published under Kodansha in its monthly manga magazine – Monthly Afternoon – aimed at young adult men. It currently has 26 volumes in tankōbon format.

Vinland Saga is set in ancient Viking times, where a young Thorfinn’s life goes astray when his father Thors – a well-known retired warrior – is killed while on a journey.

Thorfinn then finds himself under the jurisdiction of his enemy – his father’s killer – and hopes to seek revenge on him when he grows stronger. The anime is loosely based on the expedition of Thorfinn Karlsefni in his search for Vinland.