The Real Characters And History Of 'Vinland Saga'
Image Source: CultureSlate
Vinland Saga is one of the most underrated anime released in the last decade. The anime is absolutely stunning, and the english dub cast are some of the best VAs ever. It is based on the manga, which was created by Makoto Yukimura and was released from April 2005 to July 2025. It follows the story of Thorfinn, who begins a journey of revenge at a very young age that leads him to different corners of northern Europe and into horrible situations. I can’t say much without spoiling it, but it is one the most interesting anime I have watched.
The story itself is fascinating and features many events and people that existed throughout history. Let’s take a look at the history present in Vinland Saga and explore the lives of some of the characters who were real. It is important to note that Yukimura did not intend for this manga to be historically accurate and instead was inspired by an old anime, Vicky the Viking. He used this to inspire the desire to create a Viking-based story and then used his personal experiences as well as real historical elements to create this masterpiece.
RELATED:
True History
Image Source: Adventure Canada
The anime takes place during the Viking conquest of the British Isles, which occurred in the early 1000s. There are two Icelandic texts referred to as the “Vinland Sagas:” The Saga of the Greenlanders and The Saga of Eric the Red. They were written between 1220 and 1280 AD, and they covered events that took place from 970 to 1030 AD.
Most of the characters featured in the anime came from these tales about Norse voyages to Vinland. It is believed that the land referred to as “Vinland” is eastern Canada, and that is due to Viking ruins that were discovered in L’Anse aux Meadows. It is thought that these ruins were possibly made by Leif and Thorfinn, both characters who are heavily featured in the anime.
Leif Erickson
Image Source: CultureSlate
Leif Erickson is a vital part of the Vinland Saga story because he is not only present for the action that is the catalyst for Thorfinn’s revenge, but he is also the only person who looks for Thorfinn after he leaves. If it were not for Leif in the anime, Thorfinn’s story may not have ever had an actual ending. In real life, Leif did not meet Thorfinn until he was an adult, and he was not a storyteller in the young man’s village.
He was an avid explorer who would tell the tales of his voyages to anyone who would listen. He voyaged to America in the year 1000 and would name many parts of the continent before making his way back to Greenland. It is believed by many historians that he was the first European to reach North America.
Thorfinn
Image Source: CultureSlate
Thorfinn is the main character of the anime, and thankfully, he did not embark on a decades-long journey for revenge in real life. In the anime, Thorfinn watches as a close family member is murdered and he vows to kill the person regardless of what he loses along the way. He becomes a weapon used by the very person he has sworn to kill and ends up taking more lives than he can count.
In real life, Thorfinn Karlsefni was an avid explorer known for his voyages to Vinland. His father was named Thors, like in the anime, and he was a wealthy merchant, not a former warrior. Thorfinn would marry Leif’s former sister-in-law, and the two would have a child named Snorri, who is considered be the first European born in North America.
Thorkell
Image Source: CultureSlate
Thorkell is not one of the main characters of the anime, but he is the character who we know the most about in real life. He was a prominent member of the Jomsvikings, which is heavily mentioned throughout the anime. He was present at two battles, the Battle of Huörungavágr in 986 and the Battle of Svolder in 999. In 1009, he was assigned to an army by King Sweyn Forbeard of Denmark (who is a character in the anime) to invade England.
He fought for the King for years before being named the Jarl of East Anglia by King Cnut (often Anglicised as Canute) the Great, son of King Sweyn. He only served in this position for a year before he disappeared from historical records. The anime covers almost 100% of these events and does a great job of exploring the important roles that Thorkell played in helping Denmark take over much of England.
Prince/King Canute
Image Source: CultureSlate
Canute is easily the most hateable character in the anime which is interesting because in real life he wasn’t nearly as insufferable. The real Cnut was an avid warrior, and he was so talented that it was rumored he had actually been trained by Thorkell the Tall. He took part in many battles while his father was King, and there is no record that his father ever attempted to have him killed – nor did Cnut murder anyone to gain standing within his royal family.
When King Sweyn died, his brother Harald (briefly featured in the anime) was made King of Denmark. Cnut became King of England in 1016 after he had successfully conquered the majority of the country. He would eventually marry and have a child who would go on to become the next King of England and Denmark.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
