Assassin’s Creed games have always been rooted in history, and the same is true for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Ubisoft’s take on Viking history sheds some light on the oft-misunderstood Dark Ages and the growing influence of Norse culture. Keep reading to learn more about the time period of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and the historical setting that forms the game’s foundation.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla time period explained
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes place toward the end of the ninth century. The game’s specific time period appears to be around the middle of the Viking Age, between years 870 and 880. This era coincides with the Early Middle Ages, also known as the Dark Ages.
So far as historical settings go, this was a rich yet tumultuous time. Vikings, as they’re called, were early Scandinavians living in modern-day Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Around the turn of the eighth century, these Norse people started expanded their seafaring expeditions. Using their superior longships, they were able to cross perilous water and begin forming settlements south of their homeland.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla takes place during this era, with Eivor’s clan eventually leaving the shores of Norway to form settlements in Anglo-Saxon England. This mimics the real-world Viking expansion, which resulted in numerous raids and upset the balance of an already disturbed England.
History shows that the Viking army would eventually travel as far south as modern-day Spain, and claimed numerous territories across the English isles as well as mainland Europe. Their conquest would ultimately take them as far as the Volga River to the east and Vinland (coastal North America) to the west.
Unfortunately, the Scandinavians didn’t write much of their exploits down, and many remaining accounts were written by survivors of Viking raids. This is one of the reasons why these people are typically portrayed as brutes or barbarians. They also often clashed with the forces of Christianity, which did not look kindly upon their foreign beliefs and rituals.
All things considered, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla does a fine job of representing the time period and historical setting of the Dark Ages and Viking expansion. The game even details some of the most prominent figures in Viking history, from Ragnar Lothbrok and his heathen army to Rollo, the first ruler of Normandy.
