Changes

The first season begins at a battle where the invading Danes are victorious against the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria at York. This event did occur and the The Danes were, in fact, able to win this battle initially succeeded by slaughtering the garrison in 866 and then beating back a counterattack in 867, which is the opening battle in the series. York was the chief city of this region and taking control over the Danes needed to capture it was criticalto create a foothold in England. The depiction Last Kingdom accurately shows the type of battle tactics typically used by the Danes is relatively accurate, as they . The Danes would have formed most likely tried to form a shieldwall and likely attempted to entrap their enemy or outmaneuver them.<ref>For a history on the invasion on Northumbria, see: Hunter Blair, P. H., & Keynes, S. (2006). <i>An introduction to Anglo-Saxon England</i> (3. ed., repr). Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, pg. 103.</ref> [[File:Winchester 13.jpeg|thumbnail|left|300px|Figure 1. Modern day Winchester, which served as the main capital of Wessex in the Anglo-Saxon period.]]The Danes at this time were mostly polytheists, where the wars against the Anglo-Saxon were depicted as wars between the Christian God and the Danish gods. The Danes are generally known to us as Vikings; however, the show makes clear they were more than just Vikings because the Danes were settling to live in England. Viking, on the other hand, is a term used to describe the behavior of raiding.<ref>For background on the Danes, see: Jones, G. (2001). <i>A history of the Vikings</i> (2nd ed). London ; New York: Oxford University Press.</ref> Some of the events of conquest are not accurate or not explained, such as the Danish army coming from East Anglia after having landed there first, but the general events are true. The Danes did fear loosing warriors, as shown in the series, despite their fierce reputation, as they could not spare loosing too many men. On the other hand, the Anglo-Saxons were often shown as weak warriors too dependent on their priests, something Uhtred criticizes, to save them. There is some truth to this, as much of the Anglo-Saxon army lacked professional warriors. However, they were probably able to form a shieldwall, a form of defense and attack used by Medieval armies, whereas they were depicted as not having that capability and confounded by it when they encountered it in the battlefield.<ref>For more on Anglo-Saxon fighting methods, see: Lavelle, R. (2010). <i>Alfred’s wars: sources and interpretations of Anglo-Saxon warfare in the Viking age</i> Woodbridge: The Boydell Press.</ref>

The Danes Some of the events of conquest are shown not accurate or not explained, such as more fun-lovingthe Danish army coming from East Anglia after having landed there first, while but the Anglo-Saxons general events are depicted true. The Danes did fear loosing warriors, as more solemn andshown in the series, at timesdespite their fierce reputation, piousas they could not spare loosing too many men. This attracts UhtredOn the other hand, an the Anglo-SaxonSaxons were often shown as weak warriors too dependent on their priests, to prefer company with the Danessomething Uhtred criticizes, although he later makes an oath to Alfred, king of Wessex and last remaining Anglo-Saxon kingsave them. There is some truth to this, as much of the Danish beliefs did not involve a strict moral codeAnglo-Saxon army lacked professional warriors. One scene shows the Danes killing the East Anglian kingHowever, Edmundthey were probably able to form a shieldwall, with a volley form of arrows after he was captureddefense and attack used by Medieval armies, whereas The Last Kingdom depicts the Anglo-Saxons as hapless because they were confounded by the shieldwall in battle.<ref>For more on EdmundAnglo-Saxon fighting methods, see: PinnerLavelle, R. (20152010). <i>The Cult Alfred’s wars: sources and interpretations of St Edmond Anglo-Saxon warfare in Medieval East Angliathe Viking age</i>. Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press.</ref> This did occur and Edmund was canonized for it. Other Anglo-Saxon leaders are shown as tortured and murdered when captured and this would have likely occurred when Danes captured major leaders, although some would be spared to act as puppet leaders.

Many of the urban places are historical The Last Kingdom has done very credible job depicting Danes and the names used in the series reflects their Anglo-Saxon namesSaxons. For instance, London and Reading are two cities mentionedWhile the Danes have often been to referred to as Vikings; the show makes it clear that they were more than just Vikings. Wessex's main city The Danes willingness of power was Winchester (Figure 1)the Danes to settle in England demonstrated that unlike actual Vikings, where most of the Wessex kings they did did hold court, as depicted in the seriesnot want survive simply by raiding.<ref>For more background on Winchester in the Anglo-Saxon periodDanes, see: Legg Jones, PG. (20112001). <i>Winchester: A history you can seeof the Vikings</i>(2nd ed). StroudLondon ; New York: HistoryOxford University Press.</ref> WinchesterThe Danes were are shown as more fun-loving, in factwhile the Anglo-Saxons are solemn and, at times, was rival to London for pious. This difference is a period result of conflicting faiths of the Danes and Anglo-Saxons. The Danes at this time were polytheists and Anglo-Saxons were Christian. The series often depicts these cultural differences between the Danes and Anglo-Saxon and the resulting war between these societies as broader conflict between the Christian faith and the capital Danish gods. The character of all Uhtred is used by the show to demonstrate this dichotomy. Uhtred, an Anglo-Saxon, prefers company with the Danes, but he later swears an oath to Alfred, king of EnglandWessex and last remaining Anglo-Saxon king.

The Danish beliefs did not involve a strict moral code like Christianity. At times, this loose moral code has shown that the Danes as could more playful than the Anglo-Saxons, but this lack of moral code also has a dark side. In one scene, the Danes killed the East Anglian king, Edmund, with a volley of arrows after he was captured.<ref>For more on Edmund, see: Pinner, R. (2015). <i>The Cult of St Edmond in Medieval East Anglia</i>. Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press.</ref> Not only did this event occur, but Edmund was canonized for it. Other Anglo-Saxon leaders are shown as tortured and murdered when captured and this would have likely occurred when Danes captured major leaders, although some would be spared to act as puppet leaders.  Many of the urban places are historical and the names used in the series reflects their Anglo-Saxon names. For instance, London and Reading are two cities mentioned. Wessex's primary town was Winchester (Figure 1), where most of the Wessex kings held court which is depicted in the series.<ref>For more on Winchester in the Anglo-Saxon period, see: Legg, P. (2011). <i>Winchester: history you can see</i>. Stroud: History.</ref> Winchester, in fact, was rival to London for a period as the capital of all of England.  Some of the terms used in the series were words prevalent at the time. This includes terms such as plowing a field having sexual connotations. Another term is <i>arseling</i>, used as a playful or sometimes mocking term of Uhtred by his friend Leofric, which also would have been a term used at the time meaning "from the ass."<ref>For more on Anglo-Saxon terms, see: Baker, P. S. (2012). Introduction to Old English (3rd ed). Chichester, West Sussex ; Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.</ref> Such terms and expressions were, in fact, contemporary to the period.