Image credit: Netflix

It probably won’t be Emma.

The final Season 3 of Vikings: Valhalla ended on a sad note: King Canute the Great, who ruled England, Denmark and Norway, passed away. Before his death he appointed his wife Emma as the sole ruler of England.

At the same time, in the last Episode 8, it was made clear that she would not hold on to power. So who will become Canute’s successor after the events of the season?

What Happened in the Season 3 Finale?

Canute the Great became the first Viking King of England. At the same time, he was one of the first Scandinavian kings to accept baptism and therefore received a traditional Christian burial. In fact, there was no body in the coffin.

Emma secretly organized a funeral for her beloved husband according to Viking traditions – his body was cremated in water. However, Canute’s second funeral is not mentioned in historical materials. According to the historical facts, he was buried in the Old Minster Cathedral in Winchester.

Before his death, Canute made Harthacanute, his son by Emma, king of Denmark. He made his son by his first marriage, Harald Harefoot, the boy’s regent. His son by his first marriage, Svein Knutsson, continued to rule Norway, but after Canute’s death he was killed by Magnus Olafsson. Magnus shared power with Harald Hardrada.

Emma was supposed to lead England, but the queen understood that the earls would not allow her to rule the country. Therefore, after the death of Canute, she sent a message to her son from her first marriage inviting him to England for the coronation.

However, Earl Godwin did not allow her invitation to reach her son and brought Harefoot to the coronation. Godwin became part of the royal family: in Season 2, he married Princess Gytha, Canute’s niece.

Godwin gained Harefoot’s trust, and it was important to him to promote Harefoot and bring his family closer to the crown – he wanted his children to have the right to lead England in the future.

Emma is Unlikely to Maintain Power

However, in the Season 3 finale, it was hinted that Emma had decided to get closer to Harefoot – in a romantic or friendly way, it is still difficult to say. In this way, Emma can form an alliance with her stepson and thus retain power and ensure a better future for her sons.

However, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that Emma fled to Bruges after Canute’s death due to pressure from Harefoot’s supporters, who ruled England from 1037 until his death in 1040.

He was replaced by Harthacnut: he united England and Denmark, which he ruled from 1035. So, after the events of Season 3 of Vikings: Valhalla, Emma will not be able to maintain sole power.