The Last Kingdom on Netflix: Is Seven Kings Must Die Inspired by a True Story?

Warning, spoilers. Before continuing reading this article, it is recommended that you have seen the movie “Seven Kings Must Die”.

Fans of The Last Kingdom have been treated to one last gift after five seasons of following the adventures of its protagonist, Uhtred Bebanburg (Alexander Dreymon). Netflix released Seven Kings Must Die on April 14, which will finally bring the Uhtred saga to a close.

Still adapted from the literary series Saxon stories This feature film by Bernard Cornwell brings a definitive conclusion to Uhtred’s story, but also tells the story of the unification of England and the famous Battle of Brunanbuhr, which some historians consider the birth of English identity.

The story of the birth of England

The novelist Bernard Cornwell decided to write a literary saga Saxon storieswhich will be adapted into a TV series and film, when he discovers that he is a distant descendant of the historical character Uhtred Bold.

In the fifties, the author met his biological father, William Outhred, and learned that his Saxon ancestors owned Bebanburg, now called Bamburgh Castle. This discovery and his desire to tell about the birth of England led him to write a series of novels Saxon storiesBased on historical facts, but mostly fictional.

As screenwriter and producer Martha Hillier recalls in the press kit: “Bernard Cornwell’s books are so well documented, but there’s a lot of everyday life at the time that we don’t know, and there are still mysteries to be solved. It’s important that the series and the film are as faithful as possible. This is historical entertainment, so you really don’t You can make it up because it is the gateway to history..

The movie Seven Kings Must Die is a work of fiction, but it is based on some historical facts, namely Æthelstan’s accession to the throne and the birth of England. According to historians, Æthelstan is well regarded as the first king of England and one of the greatest monarchs of the Anglo-Saxon period in the country’s history.

But his reign was not peaceful. As depicted in the film, Æthelstan was supported by Mercia after the death of his father, King Edward, but not by Wessex, who supported his half-brother, Elfweard. The latter soon died, and Æthelstan faced another threat, from the Vikings and the Scots, who formed a coalition against him.

This resistance leads Æthelstan to the famous Battle of Brunanbury against the Viking king of Dublin, Olaf Gotfrithsson, and the Scottish kings Constantine and Owen of Strathclyde, which is retold in the film Seven Kings Must Die and ends in Æthelstan’s victory.

The Battle of Brunanbury ensured that Æthelstan was the ruler of a united kingdom of England. In the film, the character of Uhtred, Lord of Northumbria, pledges his allegiance to him and puts Northumbria under his control, which is irreversible for a long time. But according to historical accounts and other poems, Æthelstan won this battle and ruled England alone, without mentioning Uthred.

The end of the film tells us: “Æthelstan ruled for fifteen years. He was the first and greatest king of medieval England. The Danes continued to invade England until it was conquered by the Normans in 1066. Nevertheless, Bebanburg Castle still stands.”

The famous castle, now called Bamburgh Castle, was the former home of the hero Uhtred and is visited by many tourists, which the feature film now shows to bring the story of Bernard Cornwell and the history of England full circle.

Seven Kings Must Die and all five seasons of The Last Kingdom are available on Netflix.