Vinland Saga is set in England during the year 1013 AD, when Danish King Sweyn Forkbeard seized control of most of the country. As King Sweyn approaches death, his sons, Prince Canute and Prince Harald, begin fighting over who will succeed him. The story draws inspiration from historical accounts like *The Saga of Eric the Red*, *The Saga of the Greenlanders*, and *The Flateyjarbok*.
The tale begins with a small Viking band led by a shrewd commander named Askeladd and a skilled young warrior named Thorfinn. The group stumbles upon a besieged Frankish fortress and strikes a deal with the attacking army—they’ll help in exchange for half the fort’s plunder. However, Askeladd tricks them, escaping by boat with all the treasure while the army continues battering the gates.
Thorfinn harbors a deep hatred for Askeladd because, years earlier, Askeladd killed Thorfinn’s father—a respected member of their group. Seeking revenge, Thorfinn repeatedly challenges Askeladd to duels but always loses.
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