Kalf

Kalf is the Earl of Hedeby and an ally of Lagertha.

Biography

Season 3

While being left in charge of Hedeby during Lagertha's travel to Wessex, Lagertha charged Kalf to deal with Einar who was inciting rebellion against her. But when he was about to execute Einar in a boat in a middle of a lake, Einar requested Kalf's axe and was given it. Einar told him it was a bad choice, but Kalf persuaded him to join a plot to gather support to overthrow Lagertha and take her title and lands. Kalf was proclaimed the new Earl of Hedeby with the help of Einar.

Later he was asked by Einar what they would do when Lagertha returned, saying that she would probably have Ragnar on her side. Kalf said he had already found an ally and that he was on his way. Later when he was sleeping with two women, he was awoken by Einar saying that his ally had arrived. His ally is revealed to be Erlendur, now married to Torvi, the former wife of the late Jarl Borg, both linked to people killed by Lagertha and Ragnar and with many motives to hate them.

Lagertha eventually returned to discover she had been usurped. Angered and wanting revenge, she visited her former husband, but Ragnar instead preferred to go to Hedeby with her and talk to him. Lagertha did not want to negotiate. Ragnar and Lagertha arrived in Hedeby. But to Lagertha's annoyance, instead of demanding Kalf abdicate, Ragnar invited him and Erlendur to join his raid on Frankia, to which Erlendur and Kalf gladly accept.

Later they arrive in Kattegat with their boats and soldiers. Kalf has invited Earl Siegfried to join them, but things are still tense with him and Lagertha. He later told her he always desired her, but she remained cold with him even during their travels. When they arrive in Frankia, during the table discussion, Kalf suggested a day attack. He and Lagertha eventually led the attack on the bridge. They led the ram to the gates. With the help of Earl Siegfried and the horses they where able to open the gates. But when they got inside the bridge Count Odo launched the spike throwing machine annihilating the men in the front. They were eventually forced to retreat.

Later he was present at the night attack. Lagertha and the other shield-maidens opened the gates. And later Rollo was able to stop another of Count Odo's spike machines. He and others were able to charge and fight. But again Odo and the soldiers managed to hold on and close the bridge. Kalf and the others were able to escape, but Earl Siegfried and Sinric got trapped inside and were captured.

Kalf later appeared talking to Lagertha after she bathes. He says he wants her with him back in Hedeby. She asks if he accepts her demands that she will never trust him and that one day she will kill him. He doubts and thinks a little, but eventually kisses her and they both go to bed.

Season 4

After their successful raid on Paris, Kalf returns to Hedeby with Lagertha, Torvi, Erelendur, and the rest of their warriors. He announces that both he and Lagertha will govern Hedeby as co-rulers, which gets a mixed reaction from their people. After being pressured by Einar to banish Lagertha, he organizes the mass execution of everyone who wished Lagertha gone, via crossbow.

Sometime later, Erelendur tells Kalf about Bjorn's trip into the wilderness, and the two discuss a plan on how to assassinate him. Kalf suggests hiring a berserker to kill him, which they later end up doing. Kalf is suprised to find Bjorn alive and well in Yol, when he visits Hedeby.

Kalf makes his marriage proposal to Lagertha. She is surprised, and reveals to Kalf that she is carrying his child. She accepts his offer. Later, during their wedding ceremony, Lagertha stabs Kalf with a knife she had hidden in her dress. Kalf dies in her arms, right before Lagertha exits the tent and declares herself the sole Earl of Hedeby.

Personality

In comparison to Jarl Borg, King Horik, and Lagertha, each of whom while good rulers are often blinded by vengeance, pride, jealousy, ambition, and anger, Kalf seems to be the only ruler who truly has his role in perspective with the bigger picture. His logic on his being a better claim to the earldom due to being a son of Hedeby is strong. Lagertha raised him to a position of authority over Hedeby. He repays her by stealing her fief. He does emphasize that he shares the world's admiration for her and he does save her life during the siege of Paris.

Relationships

Lagertha

Kalf and Lagertha had a love and hate relationship. Kalf was once her trusted advisor. She trusted him so much to the point of leaving him in command of Hedeby and to deal with Einar. But Kalf eventually betrayed her and usurped her throne, causing her to hate and want revenge on him. Things got worse when Ragnar instead of helping her, invites him to join the raid on Frankia. They fight together twice in the attacks on the bridge of Paris. After both saved the life of the other in different occasions. they start to gain respect for each other, to the point of Kalf revealing he always loved her. They have a conversation after Lagertha bathes. Kalf reveling wanting her with him in Hedeby. She accepts but at the same time swears she will kill him for having usurped her. When Lagertha was earl she asked Kalf why he didn't asked her hand in marriage, hinting she would have accepted. Kalf answered that he had nothing to offer. Eventually, she killed him on their wedding day, honoring her promise.

Trivia

• In an Norse earl's Hird (warband), Kalf would hold the rank or office of a Forungi (commander).
• As a native son of Hedeby in Jutland (Danish mainland), Kalf is of Jutish tribal descent.

Quotes

“	I love you. As long as I can remember, I have desired you, and although I thought it was power that I wanted, it’s not true. All I ever really wanted was you. And seeing that you are still young enough, I hope and I dream that we can have a child together. Then my happiness would be complete.	”
– Kalf to Lagertha, Mercy

Gallery

Appearances

Season three appearances
Mercenary	The Wanderer	Warrior's Fate	Scarred	The Usurper
Born Again	Paris	To the Gates!	Breaking Point	The Dead

Season four appearances
A Good Treason	Kill the Queen	Mercy	Yol	Promised
What Might Have Been	The Profit and the Loss	Portage	Death All 'Round	The Last Ship
The Outsider	The Vision	Two Journeys	In the Uncertain Hour Before the Morning	All His Angels
Crossings	The Great Army	Revenge	On the Eve	The Reckoning