Is Uhtred a real historical character?
He's the maverick, sword-wielding focal point of The Last Kingdom and surrounded by the likes of Alfred the Great, but is Uhtred himself a real historical character? Swashbuckling Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a complicated man with Saxon and Viking ancestry.
Who is Uhtred in the Last Kingdom?
The Uhtred we follow in The Last Kingdom is a fictional character created by the author Bernard Cornwell for his Saxon Stories series. However, while Uhtred may be a work of fiction, he is loosely based on several real-life individuals.
Who is the son of Uhtred?
Sadly, there is no ‘Uhtred, son of Uhtred’ amongst the Northumbrian royalty or nobility in the early Middle Ages, but there was more than one Uhtred associated with Bamburgh who was important enough to be remembered in historical records.
What happened to Uhtred and Aethelflaed?
Uhtred, Aethelflaed, and company escaped as Sigefrid killed Erik after an intense duel, and Uhtred and the others mounted horses and rode out of the area as Clapa, wounded in battle, nobly sacrificed himself to hold off the pursuers.
Did Uhtred of Bebbanburg really exist?
Is Uhtred of Bebbanburg real? Sadly, there is no 'Uhtred, son of Uhtred' amongst the Northumbrian royalty or nobility in the early Middle Ages, but there was more than one Uhtred associated with Bamburgh who was important enough to be remembered in historical records.
Was there an Uhtred in history?
Uhtred or Uchtred, called the Bold (died 1016), was the ealdorman of all Northumbria from 1006 to 1016, when he was assassinated.
Was The Last Kingdom based on a true story?
Yes, The Last Kingdom is largely based on real-life characters and events. First and foremost, The Last Kingdom is based on the aforementioned Saxon Stories literary series by Cornwell. However, many of the events and characters featured in the series are based on real happenings.
Is Uhtred a Viking or Saxon?
In the show, Uhtred is a Northumbrian Saxon nobleman's son from Bebbanburg who is orphaned as a child and raised by the Danish warlord who defeated his father. The series, in part, explores his persistently split loyalties between his Saxon heritage and his Danish upbringing.
Was father Beocca a real person?
Beocca (died 910) was the Court Chaplain of Wessex from 871 to 899, serving under King Alfred the Great. He was the priest and teacher of Uhtred of Bebbanburg during the latter's childhood, forming a lifelong friendship which saw Beocca get Uhtred out of trouble (especially with Alfred) on several occasions.
What is Mercia called today?
Mercia originally comprised the border areas (modern Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and northern West Midlands and Warwickshire) that lay between the districts of Anglo-Saxon settlement and the Celtic tribes they had driven to the west.
Do Saxons still exist?
While the continental Saxons are no longer a distinctive ethnic group or country, their name lives on in the names of several regions and states of Germany, including Lower Saxony (which includes central parts of the original Saxon homeland known as Old Saxony), Saxony in Upper Saxony, as well as Saxony-Anhalt (which ...
What is Uhtred's accent?
BUT one thing is really bothering me - Uhtred's Dane accent is so much stronger in season 3 than it was in the beginning which makes NO sense and I find the change really distracting. Sometimes I can barely understand him. I wonder why the actor felt it necessary to do this and why the producers/showrunner let him.
Where is Bebbanburg now?
NorthumberlandAlthough the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria has long since fallen, you can find Uhtred's precious Bebbanburg in the county of Northumberland in England today. The village is called Bamburgh on the Northumberland coastline, Bebbanburg being the old Saxon word for Bambugh.
How factual is The Last Kingdom?
The Last Kingdom does a good job with King Alfred and his family. However, while Uhtred may be primarily fictional, most of the other characters on the show existed in reality. These include King Alfred, who dominated the first three seasons, the first two o which were coproduced by the BBC.
Is Uhtred Ragnarson related to Ragnar Lothbrok?
No, Uhtred of Bebbanburg was not related to Ragnar Lothbrok.
Was there a Lord of Bebbanburg?
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a son of the Saxon Ealdorman Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, and was born in Northumbria. He lived during the era of Alfred the Great in the late 9th century, when Britain was divided between warring kingdoms, each one ruled by it's own king.
Is Uhtred Ragnarson related to Ragnar Lothbrok?
No, Uhtred of Bebbanburg was not related to Ragnar Lothbrok.
Is King Alfred in The Last Kingdom real?
The Last Kingdom does a good job with King Alfred and his family. However, while Uhtred may be primarily fictional, most of the other characters on the show existed in reality. These include King Alfred, who dominated the first three seasons, the first two o which were coproduced by the BBC.
Who are Uhtred's warriors?
The story follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, born a Saxon but raised by Danes, on his quest to regain what was taken from him....Here is a list of the most vicious fighters on the show from brutal to savage.3 Uhtred.4 Sigefrid. ... 5 Leofric. ... 6 Brida. ... 7 Finan. ... 8 Clapa The Bear. ... 9 Father Pyrlig. ... 10 Hild. She is a nun in Wessex. ... More items...•
Where did Uhtred live?
What is known is that he was the son of Waltheof I, an ealdorman who lived in Bamburgh Castle - the location used for Uhtred’s Bebbanburg family home in The Last Kingdom.
When was Uhtred the Bold born?
Uhtred the Bold’s birthdate is unknown, however it’s thought he was born around the year 971. In 995 he helped transfer the remains of seventh century bishop, St Cuthbert, to a site near the River Wear. That site became the foundations for Durham Cathedral and the city of Durham. Soon afterwards he married Ecgfrida, ...
What ancestry is Swashbuckling Uhtred?
Swashbuckling Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a complicated man with Saxon and Viking ancestry.
Who was Uhtred the Bold?
Uhtred the Bold. Uhtred the Bold was an Ealdorman of Northumbria in the early 11th century, 100 years after the time in which The Last Kingdom is set . Little is known of the real Uhtred, Cornwell himself once admitted: “There really was a man called Uhtred who was Lord of Bebbanburg, but we know almost nothing about him.”.
When did King Alfred unified England?
He had traced his ancestry back to the 6th century through to the rulers of the north before England was unified by King Alfred in the late 9th century.
Did Carl and Ealdred go to Rome?
Ealdred and Carl had promised to go to Rome together, but when their trip was delayed, Carl entertained the Northumbrian earl at his hall before killing him in a nearby wood.
Did Sweyn's son support Uhtred?
However, his reign only lasted a few months until his death in early 1014. Uhtred, along with much of England, did not support Sweyn’s son, Cnut. As a result Æthelred returned to England, leading to an ongoing war between him and Cnut.
Where is Uhtred from?
In the show, Uhtred is a Northumbrian Saxon nobleman’s son from Bebbanburg who is orphaned as a child and raised by the Danish warlord who defeated his father. The series, in part, explores his persistently split loyalties between his Saxon heritage and his Danish upbringing. What starts out as a straightforward mission to reclaim his ancestral homeland soon becomes a sprawling epic as Uhtred finds himself in the Kingdom of Wessex, the lone Anglo-Saxon kingdom standing up against the invading Viking settlers. Alfred the Great has dreams of uniting England as a single nation — which his grandson achieved in real life — and Uhtred is Wessex’s best warrior.
Who is Uhtred from Bebbanburg?
DESWILLIE/Netflix. In the show, Uhtred is a Northumbrian Saxon nobleman’s son from Bebbanburg who is orphaned as a child and raised by the Danish warlord who defeated his father. The series, in part, explores his persistently split loyalties between his Saxon heritage and his Danish upbringing.
What is the season 5 of Uhtred based on?
This year, audiences will finally get to see a resolution to Uhtred’s story. Season 5, which is based on the ninth and 10th books in Cornwell’s 13-part series, will follow Uhtred as he’s charged with training King Edward’s first-born son Aethelstan as a warrior, ultimately realizing that his destiny is not just tied to Bebbanburg but to the future of England itself.
Who was Uhtred the Bold?
As Professor Lavelle said, there was a famous historical figure named Uhtred the Bold, who was the Earl of Northumbria — but he was born about 100 years after the actual Alfred the Great died, so they wouldn't have known of each other. In addition to that timing issue, Uhtred's family is very different on television than it was in real life. The Last Kingdom sets Uhtred up to be both Danish and Saxon in order to have him bring the two peoples together — but in reality, Uhtred the Bold wasn't raised by Danes and definitely didn't fight with them.
Who inspired the last kingdom?
In a 2015 profile for The Guardian, Cornwell said that The Last Kingdom was inspired by the exploits of real Saxon king Alfred the Great, who Uhtred serves under in the show. “Even though Uhtred didn’t exist as I have written it, there is always that big story (of Alfred and his son Athelstan) in the background,” Cornwell explained. He added that he was particularly inspired to create Uhtred due to his own personal connection to history: Cornwell was adopted, and when he met his real father, William Outhred, for the first time, he learned that their family tree went all the way back to the 6th century.
Who plays Uthred in the movie?
It’s that blending of truth and fiction that what made Uthred so fun to play for actor Alexander Dreymon. "Even though he is super cheeky and he can totally be a d*ck, he's very truthful, very loyal, very trustworthy," Dreymon told Syfy in 2018.
What is the last kingdom based on?
It’s based on Bernard Cornwell's novel series The Saxon Stories novels and offers a blend of real life history with fiction.
Who was Uhtred married to?
Third, and last, Uhtred married Ælfgifu, daughter of King Æthelred the Unready. They had 1 daughter:
Who was Uhtred's wife?
After receiving these honours Uhtred dismissed his wife, Ecgfrida, and married Sige, daughter of Styr, son of Ulf. Styr was a rich citizen of York. It appears that Uhtred was trying to make political allies amongst the Danes in Deira. Through Sige, Uhtred had two children, Eadulf, later Eadulf III, and Gospatric.
How long did Ethelred reign?
However he only reigned for five weeks, for he died at, or near, Gainsborough on 2 February 1014. At Sweyn’s death, Ethelred was able to return from exile and resume his reign. Uhtred, along with many others, transferred his allegiance back to Ethelred, on his return.
Who killed Uhtred the Hold?
Uhtred's son Ealdred subsequently avenged his father by killing Thurbrand, but Ealdred in turn was killed by Thurbrand's son, Carl.
Who was the king of Bamburgh who rewarded Uhtred?
Uhtred was rewarded by King Ethelred II with the ealdormanry of Bamburgh even though his father was still alive. In the meantime, Ethelred had Ealdorman Ælfhelm of York murdered, and he allowed Uhtred to succeed Ælfhelm as ealdorman of York, thus uniting northern and southern Northumbria under the house of Bamburgh.
Who was Ethelred's daughter?
Uhtred also married Ethelred ’s daughter Ælfgifu about this time. In 1016 Uhtred campaigned with Ethelred's son Edmund Ironside in Cheshire and the surrounding shires. While Uhtred was away from his lands, Sweyn's son, Cnut, invaded Yorkshire.
Who is Uhtred the Bold?
Uhtred or Uchtred, called the Bold (died 1016), was the ealdorman of all Northumbria from 1006 to 1016, when he was assassinated.
Why was Uhtred the Bold called Uhtred?
He was called Uhtred the Bold for a reason. Uhtred son of Uhtred's inspiration may have had the birthright to become Earl of Bamburgh, but he put himself on the fast-track to seat thanks to his work in battle.
What is the name of the town Uhtred lived in?
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.
How many times was Uhtred the Bold married?
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.
What is the last kingdom about?
The Last Kingdom is a great historical epic about the life of Uhtred of Uhtred. Here's what the show gets right and what is not entirely accurate. By Nick Friar Published Mar 18, 2019. Share.
Where is Uhtred the Bold from?
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 we're reminded is Uhtred son of Uhtred's home at least once an episode.
Who was Ethelred II's ally?
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.
Did Alfred the Great know who Uhtred the Bold was?
Uhtred the Bold probably knew who Alfred the Great was, but he didn't know him personally. And there's no way Alfred the great knew who Uhtred the Bold was since he was born late in the 10th century, nearly 100 years after Alfred died.
Where did Uhtred live?
Ultimately, Uhtred was given an estate at Coccham, where he raised his family, and Uhtred continued to serve the Anglo-Saxons even after Alfred's death, having become the lover and protector of Alfred's daughter Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians, and becoming the regent of Mercia in 911.
What did Alfred say about Uhtred?
Alfred said that he would decide the issue another time; Beocca was upset about Uhtred's rash behavior, while Brida was upset that Uhtred was seeking to become a West Saxon and that he was only seeking wealth. Brida decided that she would leave to meet with the younger Ragnar by herself, angry that Uhtred had made a promise to Alfred. Coincidentally, they both went on to attend Alfred's coronation, and Uhtred and Brida made love in a secluded balcony as Alfred was crowned, with Uhtred saying that he could not imagine being without her.
How much did Sigefrid demand?
Sigefrid then demanded 10,000 pounds' weight of silver and 1,000 pounds' weight of gold, but Uhtred insulted this as exceedingly irrational. Later, Uhtred privately spoke with Erik, who boasted 26 ships.
What happened to Uhtred in the Battle of York?
Capture. Uhtred's capture. Uhtred snuck out of Bebbanburg in battle armor and rode to York to rejoin his father, and he arrived just in time to witness his father's death in battle. He then charged from his cover and vainly attempted to attack Earl Ragnar, who knocked him out and took him captive.
What gods did Uhtred embrace?
He found living with the Danes freer than living with the pious Christians, and he embraced the Norse gods of Thor, Odin, and Hoder. Uhtred went on to accompany his adoptive father on his campaigns against the remaining Saxon kingdoms, and he volunteered to spy on the Saxons during the Siege of Nottingham in 868.
Why did Alfred leave Athelney?
The next day, Alfred decided to leave Athelney to rally more of Wessex's loyal soldiers for a defining battle against the Danes, although both Queen Ealhswith and Ealdorman Wulfhere were skeptical of the possibility of victory. Uhtred spoke with Father Beocca, and Uhtred said that Alfred needed to go to Odda the Younger's estate, as Odda commanded the largest fyrd. Beocca promised to be by Uhtred's side, and he said that his father would be proud of the younger Uhtred, just as he was. Shortly after, Wulfhere asked Uhtred if the Danes could be defeated, but Uhtred only said that he would see him across the water. Uhtred and the rest of the company entered the woods, where they found Wulfhere's soldier Halig, who told them that Wulfhere had left without explanation.
Where did Uhtred and Brida go?
Uhtred and Brida entered the West Saxon capital of Winchester, where they were halted by guards believing them to be Danes. Before Uhtred could get into a fight with their captain Leofric, Father Beocca recognized Uhtred, and the two happily reunited. Beocca vouched for Uhtred, and took Uhtred and Brida to meet Prince Alfred, as the King was busy. Alfred revealed that he had extensive knowledge about Uhtred's situation, as he had spies in each of the kingdoms. He also said that the idea of a single kingdom of England would have to start in Wessex, as it was the last kingdom which still held out against the Vikings. Alfred summarized the situation by saying that Ubbe had sent spies to Mercia to search for Uhtred's whereabouts, while Guthrum was preparing an invasion of Wessex. Alfred saw in Uhtred a Dane who cared for no one but himself, unlike Beocca, who saw a potential ally. Uhtred and Brida decided not to go to prayers with Alfred, and Alfred entrusted Beocca with keeping them in Winchester. Beocca showed Uhtred documents which proved that he was the rightful Ealdorman of Bebbanburg, saying that Alfred knew of his legitimacy, and he told him to behave like an ealdorman. Uhtred then asked about the Danish army, and, when Beocca told him that they intended to attack in the spring as usual, Uhtred decided to head to Readingum to warn the Anglo-Saxons there, ignoring Beocca's advice to be cautious.
