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[[File:Last_Kingdom_2.jpg|thumbnail|left|300px|The Last Kingdom - Season 2]] <i> Warning: May contain This article contains spoilers!!!!</i> Check out our summaries for [[How Historically Accurate is season 1 of The Last Kingdom?|Season 1]] and [[How Historically Accurate is season 3 of The Last Kingdom?|Season 3]].
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===Set of Events===
Season 2 is divided into two novels from the <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LEYI47C/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LEYI47C&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=5896bb38392fa928ad7836385dccf0d Saxon Tales]</i> series written by Bernard Cornwell, namely books 3 and 4 (Season 1 was books 1-2). The novels span roughly between 878-886 (Figure 1). The main focus for Season 2 in the first four episodes is Uhtred's quest to go north from Wessex into Northumbria, a less tamed area of England that is ruled more by Danes but their hold is somewhat less clear. Uhtred seeks his ancestral home in Bebbanburg (Bamburgh Castle) and also wants revenge against Kjartan, who killed his adopted Danish father.<ref>For more on the series, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Saxon_Stories</ref>
Uhtred finds himself helping a Dane, King Guthred, who was a slave envisioned to be a king by priests serving Saint Cuthbert, specifically abbot Eadred. This was a period after Halfdan, a Dane, had conquered Northumbria. Guthred was indicated to be Hardcanut's son, who somehow ended up in slavery. The story of Guthred being freed is depicted in the first episode, as he is rescued by Uhtred. The crowning of Guthred was preceded by a period of some anarchy, as the population arose against the Danes. Historically, there was uncertainty after Halfdan was killed in battle as he was fighting in Ireland. This was used by the series to create the context in which Guthred came to power. [[File:P04w2wqw2000px-England 878.svg.jpgpng|thumbnail|left|thumbnail|Poster from Season Figure 1. Map of England in 878 and during the period of Series 2.]]==Set Later, after Guthred was crowned as king of Northumbria, Uhtred became the leader of Guthred's household guard. Much of the rest of Events==Season 2 the first four episodes are not so much historical but more focused on Uhtred and the revenge exacted against Kjartan. The only main highlight is divided into two novels from the <i>Saxon Stories</i> seriesfocus on Dunholm, namely books 3 and 4 (Season 1 which was books 1-2)the base of Kjartan. The novels spans roughly between 878Dunholm, modern Durham, is little known historically at this time, although it may have had an important fortress already in the Anglo-886 (Figure 1)Saxon period, as suggested by the series. The main focus for Season 2 is Overall, the first four episodes is Uhtred's quest to go north from Wessex into Northumbria, a less tamed area show that in parts of England that is ruled , Danish and English people were becoming intermixed, where some Danes, such as possibly Guthred, became Christian as well. In effect, the population was become hybrid and some conversions were taking place to make the Vikings Christians.<ref>For more by Danes but their hold is somewhat less clearon the historical Guthred, see: Campbell, J., John, E. & Wormald, P. Uhtred seeks his throne in Bebbanburg (Bamburgh Castle1991) and also wants revenge against Kjartan<i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140143955/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140143955&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b8ad3933677a311cc75e14d5b42858bf The Anglo-Saxons]</i>. London, England ; New York, N.Y., USA, Penguin Books, who killed is adopted Danish fatherpg. 81. </ref>
In the last four episodes, the focus is a few years after the events where Uhtred finds himself helping a Danehad helped his Danish brother, King GuthredRagnar the Younger, who was a slave envisioned to be take Dunholm. Now, Uhtred is based in Cookham, a king by priests serving Saint Cuthbertsmall village near London which was, specifically abbot Eadred. This was a period after Halfdanin fact, occupied as a Danemore prominent settlement in Anglo-Saxon times. Once again, Uhtred had conquered Northumbria. Guthred was indicated sworn allegiance to be Hardcanut's sonAlfred, who somehow ended up in after Alfred had helped free Uhtred from slavery. The story It shows Uhtred as leading Alfred's borough of Guthred being freed is depicted in the first episodeCookham. In fact, as he is rescued by Uhtred. The crowning of Guthred Cookham was preceded by a period of some anarchy, as the population arose against the Daneslast important borough before reaching London. HistoricallyOverall, England is divided into Danelaw, there was uncertainty after Halfdan was killed areas in battle as he was fighting in Ireland. This was used by the series to create the context in which Guthred came to power. Laternorthern Mercia, after Guthred was crowned as king of Northumbria, Uhtred became the leader of Guthred's household guardand East Anglia, and Wessex, which also ruled over southern Mercia. Much of the rest of London in 886 was little known and the first four episodes are not so much historical but more focused on Uhtred and accounts simply mentioned that Alfred had restored the revenge exacted against Kjartantown, including rebuilding its Roman walls. The only main highlight is series shows the focus on Dunholmevents in a more theatrical manner, which was showing the base of Kjartan. DunholmNorse had, modern Durhaminitially, is little known historically at this timetaken the city. Then, although it may have had an important fortress already in they tricked the Anglo-Saxon period, as suggested by Saxons in allowing them to take the city so that the Lady Æthelflæd could be captured. The seriesconcludes with Uhtred leading a daring rescue that saw her freed. Overall, <ref>For more on the first episodes show that in parts of Englandevents leading to 886, Danish and English people were becoming intermixedsee: Inwood, where some DanesStephen (1998) <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786706139/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0786706139&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a5bdf413f75cfbfe3838ad70df0785b4 A history of London].</i> London, such as possibly GuthredMacmillan, became Christian as wellpg. In effect, the population was become hybrid and some conversions were taking place to make the Vikings Christians64.</ref>
The other key characters were introduced in Season 1, such as Alfred. Uhtred is a fictional character, although historical characters with that name and from Bebbanburg are, in fact, known.
===How Accurate is the Story?===Season 2, which focused more heavily on Uhtred's trials as he became a slave, got married to GuthrumGuthrud's sister, and his assistance in taking London and rescuing the Lady Æthelflæd. As this was a period of relatively less conflict, in comparison to Season 1, the series did take more liberties in interpreting historical events. For instance, while Guthrum Guthrud may have come from a famous Viking father and may have been a slave, relatively little is known about how he ruled. In the series, he is shown as a weak and easily pliable king, acting to his own detriment and that of Uhtred's. Alfred marrying his daughter Æthelflæd is shown as an important move to unite Mercia and Wessex. This is historically accurate and it likely did cause tension between the two kingdoms as the former powerful kingdom of Mercia became more closely associated with Wessex. The taking of Lady Æthelflæd is, however, a likely fictional event. In effect, there are not a large number of historical events, but the places, such as Cookham, key events (e.g., taking of London), and some of the key characters (e.g., Guthrud and Osferth) are historical. Because relatively little is known about this period, such as how London was taken, the writers were able to add their own version of events to make it an interesting story.
===Summary===
Season 2 shows key historical events, the taking of London and the beginning of rulers who were Christian and Danish, possibly changing the character of the country even as it was ruled by Danes. The unity of Mercia and Wessex is also shown, including how that process developed. The series indicates how the attempt by the Norse, in this case Siegfried and Erik, failed to take over England. The establishment of the boroughs, indicated in Series 2, were critical in thwarting Viking raids in England, which were indirectly shown and discussed in the series. Overall, however, as the years in which the events took place were relatively quiet, there was more liberty for the series to focus on character stories such as Uhtred and his brother Ragnar taking back Dunholm.
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