Despite being some 3,000 nautical miles away, way back in the early days of Europe’s Middle Ages, the Vikings sailed from Scandinavia to Canada, likely with a stop or two along the way in Iceland and Greenland. Given that they were best known for their conquest of the British Isles, it can seem almost far-fetched to think that, while they were famed seafarers, the Vikings would make it all the way to the North American mainland.
Yet, there is plenty of evidence on Greenland and in one place in Canada in particular that showcases the conquest prowess of the Vikings. Even though the Norse culture wouldn’t ultimately colonise Canada or the rest of the continent, these ancient warriors and their myths continue to have a big presence in the country today, primarily thanks to the quality of Canadian-facing productions.
Finding Canada’s Viking Settlement
While the Vikings didn’t sail far south enough down the coast to enter the Gulf of St Lawrence and establish a base in Nova Scotia, as far as we know, they did make the jump over to Newfoundland. Almost certainly setting sail from one of the many Greenland settlements and heading southwest across the Labrador Sea, they landed in modern-day L’Anse aux Meadows. Evidence suggests that they first felled a tree there in 1021 AD.
This was about 470 years before Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean to be hailed as the discoverer of the New World. However, the Vikings weren’t exactly settlers in Canada for very long. They were thought to have ventured out for resources like wood and meat to sustain their new and growing Greenland colony. Some theorise that there was a discussion as to colonising this area known as Vínland, but it didn’t go anywhere.
In southern Newfoundland, the sparse Viking outposts will have likely come to blows with the Indigenous populations, who would have numbered far larger and had better knowledge of the land. The Saga of Erik the Red at Live Science makes mention of a battle between the Europeans and North Americans, which led to the Vikings deciding to focus on Greenland and not bother with the established population present in Newfoundland.
Vikings Left, but Their Legends Didn’t
The tales of Vikings sailing out to conquer and their high-drama, high-action myths continue to pique interest around the world. So, even though they didn’t settle in Canada, they continue to have a huge presence. Easily the biggest showcase of this comes in the form of the Canada-made show Vikings. Canada’s channel History invested heavily in British writer Michael Hirst’s story, and it became a colossal hit worldwide.
Not only this, but Vikings paved the way for dramatised historical series getting heaps and heaps of investment. While not all true to history, Vikings did hit on many of the key events that built the legends of the main characters. It helped to further spur interest in the setting, which has bolstered Norse-themed creations elsewhere. This is easily most prevalent at a real cash online casino like Betano.
At any point in time, you’ll find a new Norse or Viking game in the new games section or one in the trending or most popular section. At the time of writing, the New Trending Games section features early access to Thor: Realms of Fortune, while Fury of Odin Megaways and Asgardian Stones are perpetually popular on the Canadian online gaming platform.
The Vikings may have met a rather hostile crowd when they landed in 1021 AD, but these days, Canadian entertainment-seekers welcome the warmongering conquerors with open arms.
