Jarl Kare’s Viking Berserkers have a presence in Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla, but were they real? Here's a breakdown of their historical existence.
Warning: Spoilers for Vikings: Valhalla season 1!
Jarl Kare and his ferocious berserkers made an instant impact in Vikings: Valhalla, but it also raised the question: were they actually real? The image of a ferocious ax-wielding Viking warrior is one of the most synonymous pieces of iconography associated with that period of history. But the real question pertains to how true is Vikings: Valhalla's portrayal of these violent combatants compared to their real-life counterparts.
The berserker archetype can be seen in a vast number of different fantasy films, shows, books, and more. There are even arguments to be made that individuals such as Marvel's The Hulk and She-Hulk are essentially modern-day adaptations of the iconic Viking warriors. However, in the more traditional sense, Viking berserkers are more often than not portrayed as soldiers that would enter battle wearing very little armor, relying on their pure brutality and ferocity to overcome their opposition. This fearless approach to combat is typically bolstered by entering a "berserker rage," induced by consuming certain mushrooms or simply by bloodlust alone.
This being said, Jarl Kare's berserkers in Vikings: Valhalla are portrayed somewhat differently. They are still great warriors, but their primary motivations are centered around the eradication of pagan Vikings in Scandinavia. So, while Viking Berserkers were real, the Netflix series exaggerates their existence, considering there do not appear to be any historical documents that support Vikings: Valhalla's take on them. In fact, it was noted (via Encyclopedia Britannica) that Viking Berserkers were worshippers of Odin, the one-eyed king of the ancient Norse Gods. Vikings often took liberties with their character's real historical counterparts, and Jarl Kare seems to be an entirely fictional character, similar to that of the priest Athelstan in the original Vikings series. This is not to say that there is no basis for the Norse pagan hunters. There are several Saga's that depict Vikings attempting to convert their fellow citizens to Christianity, with varying levels of success.
Jarl Kare may be loosely based on figures such as King Hakon Haraldsson, Olaf Tryggvason, or Olaf Haraldsson. All three men were Viking kings who were devout Christians and attempted to convert their fellow Scandinavians. There's a mention (via History Extra) of the diabolical lengths that Olaf Tryggvason, in particular, would go to punish the pagans who refused to give up the old Gods, stating that he would maim, exile, or execute any who refused to adopt Christianity. This very much matches the actions made by Jarl Kare in Vikings: Valhalla.
Ultimately, there is no historical evidence that directly points to Jarl Kare and his Viking berserker as seen in Vikings: Valhalla having once been real people. However, as is often the case with shows from this era of time, not all characters in the world of Vikings are direct representations of actual individuals. Instead, some characters result from combining influences from multiple historical figures. In the case of Jarl Kare, his profile of being a Christian Viking, hellbent on ridding Scandinavia of its pagan influence closely mirrors that of the aforementioned King Olaf Tryggvason, as well as Kings Hakon Haraldsson and Olaf Haraldsson to a lesser extent. It may be that in the future, Vikings delves further into the historical background of these Christian Viking berserkers. Still, for now, it would be logical to chalk it up to be a loose interpretation of the three Viking Kings.
Next: Did England Have A Viking King? Valhalla's Canute & Edmund True Story
Vikings: Valhalla season 1 is now streaming on Netflix.
