The Last Kingdom: 6 Things About Uhtred That Are Accurate (& 6 That Aren't)

Although The Last Kingdom may feel like a fictional story set in a real world, it wasn’t drawn up out of thin air — especially when it comes to Uhtred the Bold. Based on Bernard Cornwall’s series novel series The Saxon Stories, both the books and The Last Kingdom include characters that are based on real-life individuals. However, the story did take some historical liberties along the way. This was partly out of necessity, as there aren’t detailed records from 800 to 1100. Nonetheless, all five seasons of The Last Kingdom make a valiant attempt at putting history onto the small screen.

This is especially true for Uhtred of Bebbangurg, who was loosely based on Uhtred the Bold. Uhtred of Bebbanburg isn’t a real person, but his story took details from the real-life figure Uhtred the Bold, despite his entire characterization being a work of fiction for The Last Kingdom and its feature film. With there being limited records detailing Uhtred the Bold’s life, The Last Kingdom had a surprising amount of creative leeway. Breaking down what’s false and accurate for Uhtred in The Last Kingdom makes for fascinating reading, as it reveals how show developer Stephen Butchard deftly blended historical fact with dramatic fictional details.

What The Last Kingdom Gets Wrong About Uhtred

The Era Uhtred Lived In

One Uhtred historical inaccuracy in The Last Kingdom is the era that the series takes place. The Last Kingdom is set in ninth-century England when Alfred the Great ruled Wessex and eventually became King of the Anglo-Saxons. On the show, King Alfred is, of course, based on Alfred the Great, therefore the show’s era is accurate to his character. However, it’s not accurate to Uhtred’s.

The story of The Last Kingdom stars in 866, which was much earlier than the real-life Uhtred was alive. There’s no record of when Uhtred the Bold was born, but his death was recorded in 1016, meaning he definitely wouldn’t have been alive during the reign of Alfred the Great. Uhtred the Bold probably knew who Alfred the Great was, but that’s about as far as the real-life connection goes. Even then, given that there was no formal education in Medieval England, it’s also entirely possible that Uhtred had no knowledge of Alfred whatsoever.

Uhtred’s Birth Name

In The Last Kingdom, Uhtred of Bebbanburg was originally someone else, not the main character who was also later known as Uhtred Ragnarsson. The first Uhtred was his older brother, though he died as a child. The original Uhtred was killed by Danes in the very first episode of the show. At that point, the child who would become Uhtred of Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom was named Osbert.

His father, also Uhtred, made him change his name upon receiving the news. This is a significant one of TheLast Kingdom Uhtred changes (along with Uhtred’s nickname “Arseling”), as there’s no evidence that Uhtred the Bold had an older brother, or that he changed his name. Historical records show Uhtred the Bold was also known as Uchtred, but never Osbert. He was also not known as Uhtred son of Uhtred, given his father’s name was Waltheof.

Uhtred’s Relationship With The Danes

The Last Kingdom portrays Uhtred the Bold as the blend of Saxon and Dane, making him the perfect candidate to bring the two groups together. It adds the element of internal conflict to the show. It’s a central theme of many of the episodes of The Last Kingdom, and so seems like it would be one of the accurate facts about Uhtred in the show.

However, one of the biggest of The Last Kingdom‘s Uhtred historical inaccuracies is that Uhtred the Bold was not raised by Danes. He did not fight on behalf of Danes. Uhtred the Bold did, however, marry the daughter of a Dane as a political move when he became Earl of York. Uhtred’s obligations towards the Saxons and the Danes were probably a narrative move to create more tension.

Uhtred’s Relationship With Ethelred

Uhtred Ragnarsson has a list of enemies in The Last Kingdom. There may be none more annoying than Æthelred of Mercia. He’s unloyal to the king and could not be a worse husband to Lady Æthelflæd, who unfortunately passes away in season 5. The Last Kingdom makes the rivarly between Uhtred and Æthelred so endearing that many viewers presume this was a real-life historical feud. However, it is, surprisingly, one of the fictional elements of Uhtred’s story in The Last Kingdom.

The real Uhtred the Bold dealt with a lord by a similar name, Ethelred II, but was his ally. Ethelred the Unready had quite a bit to deal with in his time as King of England thanks to the Viking invasions. Uhtred the Bold helped him throughout this time and was rewarded as a result. The real Æthelred from The Last Kingdom was a completely different person to Ethelred the Unready, and one who — like Alfred the Great — lived and died many decades before Uhtred the Bold was born.

Blood Feuds Were Different

The real Uhtred the Bold was still surrounded by blood feuds, though they were likely very different (and probably less dramatic) than the way they were potrayed in The Last Kingdom. A key historical inaccuracy in The Last Kingdom was that Uhtred wasn’t necessarily the one who saw these blood feuds through to the end, and the declaration of one didn’t put him on a John Wick-like revenge path where they became his life’s focus.

The real Uhtred the Bold was killed in Thurbrand the Hold in 1016 after Ethelred had lost control of England to King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark a few years earlier. Thurbrand was then killed by one of Uhtred’s sons, Ealdred. He was then killed by Thurbrand’s son, Carl. Ealdred’s grandson then took vengeance for his family years later. These significant gaps in time show that, while blood feuds were certainly important, those involved in them also had other priorities.

Uhtred Was Not Raised By The Danes With Their Religion

Another one of the biggest Uhtred historical inaccuracies in The Last Kingdom has to do with the religion of Uhtred the Bold. Not being raised by Danes likely means Uhtred did not believe in Valhalla or the Norse gods altogether. That, the fact he married a bishop’s daughter and records indicating he met the bishop’s daughter while helping transport the remains of St. Cuthbert meant he was likely of the Christian faith.

The real Uhtred the Bold lived in the 11th century. By this point, the various kingdoms of England were all Christian for the most part, and where there were deviations, it was more belief in local customs and traditions than outright adherence to a pagan faith. It may seem like a small difference, but it is worth noting considering the contentious relations between Christians and pagans throughout history, chronicled in shows like Vikings: Valhalla.

What The Last Kingdom Gets Right About Uhtred

The Real Uhtred Was From Bebbanburgh

Despite the era being wrong and Uhtred’s age discrepancies, a historicaly accurate thing about Uhtred in The Last Kingdom was his place of birth. Just like his fictional counterpart, Uhtred the Bold was a Saxon of Northumbria, the northern region of what is now England. Furthermore, he was from Bebbanburgh — which audiences are reminded is Uhtred son of Uhtred’s home at least once an episode.

It’s even in one of his many names: Uhtred of Bebbanburgh. Though Bebbanburgh was known as Bamburgh throughout Uhtred the Bold’s lifetime, it’s still the same place geographically. Bebbaburgh/Bamburgh is one of the UK’s many historic settlements, having been a Celtic fort prior to the construction of Bamburgh castle. Bamburgh still exists to this day, as does the castle that Uhtred would have ruled from.

Uhtred Would Hold Significant Power

Another aspect of Uhtred that The Last Kingdom got right was the level of power and influence the character wielded, as the real Uhtred the Bold was an incredibly important figure in the England of his time. Uhtred the Bold’s father, Waltheof, was the ealdorman of Bamburgh. Uhtred would even go on to take over as Earl of Bamburgh before his father’s passing, was also named Earl of York after Ælfhelm of York was murdered.

This gave him significant power, now being the earl of both northern and southern Northumbria. Needless to say, there’s a good chance Uhtred the Bold wasn’t going around telling everyone he was going to take over the title that was stolen from him as a child. Even though little about Uhtred the Bold’s life is known, the fact that there are records of him at all is testament to his prominence, as during the 11th century written records only tended to exist for the uppermost echelons of society.

Utred Was Such A Warrior He Was Named Earl Of Bamburg Even With His Father Still Alive

One of the most accurate ways Uhtred is portrayed in The Last Kingdom is his bravery as a fighter. He was called Uhtred the Bold for a reason, and Alexander Dreymon’s fictional The Last Kingdom character certainly lives up to his historical counterpart in this respect. Uhtred of Bebbanburg may have had the birthright to become Earl of Bamburgh, but he put himself on the fast track to taking the position thanks to his work in battle.

When King Malcolm II of Scotland invaded Northumbria, Uhtred led his people in battle, where his aging father could not. He was then rewarded the title Earl of Bamburg even though his father was still alive. Uhtred fought Danes, as well. He even dealt with the legendary Viking leader Cnut, who would go on to become King of England shortly before (or after, depending on how accurate the records are) Uhtred the Bold’s death in 1016.

Uhtred Of Bebbanburgh Had Three Wives

While The Last Kingdom may have taken creative liberties with its portrayal of Uhtred when it came to the era he lived in and the real historical figures he associated with, it was surprisingly accurate when it came to his romantic live. Uhtred took two wives in the course of The Last Kingdom and its feature film, in addition to the relationship he had with the shadow queen Iseult, Lady Æthelflæd, Skade, and Brida.

Although the characters he marries in the show are fictional, Uhtred of Bebbanburgh is much like Uhtred the Bold in the sense he took on multiple lovers. Uhtred the Bold was married three times. First, he married a bishop’s daughter. Upon being named Earl of York, he “repudiated” her and married the daughter of a wealthy Dane from York. He would later marry King Ethelred II’s daughter, though it’s unclear how Uhtred’s second marriage ended.

Related

The Last Kingdom: 10 Worst Things Uhtred Has Done

Uhtred might be everyone’s favorite Dane Slayer but it did take fans a while to get here. After all, he has made some grave and horrific mistakes along the way.

Ealdred And Edward The Elder Were Friends Because Of Their Fathers

While Uhtred mainly gets his character inspiration from Uhtred the Bold, he’s also inspired by Ealdred I of Bamburgh, who reigned at the beginning of the 10th century. While Uhtred and Edward prove to have more of a contentious relationship in the season 5 finale of The Last Kingdom, and Edward bites the dust in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, Ealdred and Edward the Elder were friends because of the relationship between their fathers, according to The Historia de Sancto Cuthberto.

Whether their relationship was quite as involved as it is in The Last Kingdom, however, is contestable. It’s one of several facts about the life of the real Uhtred the Bold that have been lost to the annals of time as, unfortunately, historical record keeping during this period of English history rarely detailed personal interactions between important figures. Or, if they did, they were accounts written sometimes centuries after the fact.

Utred’s Battle In The First Season Was Based On A Real Event

The Last Kingdom tried to put its best foot forward in terms of Uhtred historical accuracies, as their account of Uhtred the Bold leading an army from Bernicia and Yorkshire against the Scots in season 1 did play out very similarly to the show in real life. While the real battle may have happened centuries after most of the other events in the show, The Last Kingdom managed to be incredibly accurate when it came to some of the smaller details.

Similar to the series, the real Uhtred the Bold lined his enemies’ severed heads on poles along the walls of Durham, and it was this victory that secured the real Uhtred the Bold’s ealdorman of Bamburgh and later York. Unfortunately, there isn’t much other accuracy to be found in The Last Kingdom‘s characterization of Uhtred the Bold, but the show and the movie are enjoyable historical fiction nonetheless.

The Last Kingdom

Based on the Saxon Stories novel series by Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom tells the story of a man who seeks to reclaim his birthright. Set in 872, the kingdoms that makeup England have come under Dane rule, with Wessex the last one standing under King Alfred. The protagonist, Uhtred, is born of noble descent but is captured by the Danes and raised to be one. As he ages, he must choose between his ancestral home or the family that caught but raised him. Uhted will wrestle with his loyalties as he battles between his Saxon and Dane lineages.

Cast

Alexander Dreymon , Emily Cox , Ian Hart , Eliza Butterworth , Eva Birthistle , Mark Rowley , Cavan Clerkin , Tobias Santelmann , David Dawson

Release Date

October 5, 2015

Seasons

5

Showrunner

Stephen Butchard