Floki Vilgerdarson is a character in the popular History Channel television series, Vikings. He is portrayed as a close friend of the protagonist, Ragnar Lothbrok, and a skilled boat builder who helps Ragnar to build the ships that enable him to travel and raid across Europe. But was Floki a real person, or is he purely a fictional creation for the show?
The answer is yes, Floki Vilgerdarson was a real person. He was a Viking explorer and settler who lived in the late 9th century, around the same time as Ragnar Lothbrok. According to historical records, Floki was one of the first Norsemen to travel to Iceland and settle there.
The story goes that Floki was given the task of finding a new land to settle in by the Norwegian king, Harald Fairhair. He set sail with his family and a crew of men, eventually landing on the shores of Iceland. Legend has it that he was the first to see the island’s snowy peaks and named it Iceland because of its icy appearance. He is also said to have discovered the hot springs that Iceland is famous for.
However, there is some debate among historians aout the accuracy of these stories. The Icelandic sagas, which are the main source of information about Floki’s life, were written several centuries after his death and are known to contain some inaccuracies and embellishments.
Despite this, there is no doubt that Floki was a real person who played a significant role in Viking exploration and settlement. His journey to Iceland was part of a larger wave of Viking expansion that saw Norsemen travel as far as North America and the Middle East.
So, while Floki’s portrayal in Vikings may not be entirely accurate, the character is based on a real-life figure who made a significant contribution to Viking history. Whether he really did name Iceland or discover its hot springs may be up for debate, but there is no doubt that Floki Vilgerdarson was a real person who deserves to be remembered as one of the great Viking explorers.
Was Floki The First Viking In America?
Floki was not the first Viking to reach America. According to the History Channel show, it was Ragnar Lothbrok’s second-eldest son who became the first Viking to reach North America, landing on the shores of Newfoundland after a detour to Greenland and a harrowing journey across the sea. It is important to note that this is a dramatized portrayal and thre is ongoing debate among historians about who the first Vikings to reach America were. However, evidence suggests that Vikings had established a settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada around the year 1000 CE, several centuries before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.
What Is Floki The God Of?
Floki is a character from the historical drama series, Vikings. He was a boatbuilder and close friend of the show’s protagonist, Ragnar Lothbrok. In Norse mythology, thre is no specific god named Floki. However, some fans and scholars have speculated that Floki’s aloof and scheming nature suggests he may be a descendant or manifestation of Loki, the trickster god. This theory is supported by the fact that Floki’s name is similar to that of Loki, and his behavior is reminiscent of the god’s mischievous nature. However, it is important to note that this is only speculation and has not been confirmed by the show’s creators or Norse mythology.
What Happens To Floki In Real Life?
According to the Landnámabók and research by The Saga Museum, Floki returned to Iceland and settled there until his death. However, there is no mention in Norse sagas or historical sources about how Floki died. It is likely that he died of old age or an illness.
Did Floki Found Iceland?
Floki Vilgerdarson was the first Viking to set out for Iceland and ultimately find it. He gave the island its present name of Iceland. This happened approximately six years after Naddod, another Viking, discovered the island but did not settle there. Floki’s journey to Iceland is an important event in Viking history as it marked the beginning of the Viking settlement of the island, which eventually led to the establishment of the Icelandic Commonwealth.
Conclusion
While the character of Floki in the History Channel’s Vikings series is based on a real historical figure, there is still much that remains unknown about the real Floki Vilgerdarson. He is credited with being the firt Viking to discover Iceland, and he gave the island its name. However, there is no historical record of how he died, and some of the characterizations of him in the show may be fictionalized for dramatic effect. Nonetheless, Floki remains an intriguing and elusive figure in Viking history, and his legacy continues to capture the imagination of historians and fans of the Vikings series alike.
