The Real Reason King Edmund Was Killed In Vikings: Valhalla

King Edmund grows increasingly frustrated with his position in "Vikings: Valhalla" as he is forced to reign alongside King Canute of Denmark, a situation that feels tenuous. While King Canute keeps Edmund in place for political reasons, Edmund is clearly not in the power position, as he sees, for instance, his stepmother Emma (Laura Berlin) tying herself to the Viking invaders by marrying King Canute. 

Toward the end of Season 1, Edmund is feeling isolated and like a pawn of the Viking rulers. He turns to his advisor Godwin (David Oakes), who arranges for Edmund's noblemen to declare their true loyalty only to the young king. However, shortly after, Godwin assassinates Edmund and makes it look like a horseriding accident. Edmund's death appears to be a tragic coincidence to most outside observers.  

As to why Edmund met a relatively early demise, there are a few reasons. The first is that the real King Edmund died not long after his attempts to thwart the Viking invasion of England. As noted by historian Susan Abernethy at Medievalists.net, while the cause of his death has not been confirmed, rumors have long persisted that the young king was murdered for political reasons, which is likely where the idea for his death on the series originated from. 

When it comes to the in-show logic, Godwin's murder of Edmund not only eliminates the possibility of a destructive civil war in England between Edmund and Canute, but it also helps establish his character as a bona fide player of the game. According to series creator Jeb Stuart, Godwin's actions ingratiate him with Canute and set the stage for his character going forward. "I needed to establish him in a really Machiavellian style," Stuart said, promising Godwin is here for the "long haul" (per Games Radar).