Changes

The series develops several new or more significant characters that were introduced in the first season. The first is Æthelflæd, who is now shown as a grown woman. She would later be an important historical figure in leading Mercia to full independence from Viking occupation. She is depicted as marrying Æthelred, who was Lord of Mercia, that is the areas of Mercia free from Danish rule. The series focused on Æthelred and Æthelflæd getting married as a key alliance to bring the non-Dane parts of Mercia into closer alliance with Wessex. Their marriage was shown, however, as less than pleasant, where Æthelred was shown to be abusing her. There is some historical account to suggest they had an estranged or less than happy marriage. <ref>For more on Æthelred and Æthelflæd, and their role in uniting Mercia and Wessex, see: Marafioti, N. (2014) The king’s body: burial and succession in late Anglo-Saxon England. Toronto Anglo-Saxon series. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, pg. 58.</ref>

Another key character introduced in the first four episodes was Guthrum. He was likely a Dane and he may have been a Christian. It is unclear if he really was a slave, but accounts do suggest that was the case. While Alfred was shown as scheming to help make him king, the reality is less clear. He may have simply became become king because the population of Northumbria was becoming increasingly intermixed and having a ruler showing greater sympathy to the Danes and Christian Anglo-Saxons may have suited everyone in Northumbria. He also may have simply succeed normally as any Dane would, but the Anglo-Saxons tried to make it look legitimate through the stories of St. Cuthbert selecting him. There is a story that St. Cuthbert's body did not decay and, in the series, he is shown as relatively well preserved, as his corpse is used to give the new king Guthrum his blessing.<ref>For more on St. Cuthbert, see: Marner, D. & British Library (2000) <i>St. Cuthbert: his life and cult in medieval Durham.</i> Toronto; New York, University of Toronto Press.</ref>

One of the Vikings was Hastein, who seems to be a key aid to the leader Norse in the series, namely the brothers Siegfried and Erik. While Siegfried and Erik seem fictional, Hastein is known to have come to England in the late 9th century and did launch some devastating attacks. His role, however, in this season is more minimal, focusing on his support of the two Norse brothers.<ref>For more on Hastein, see: Craughwell, T.J. (2008) <i>How the barbarian invasions shaped the modern world: the Vikings, Vandals, Huns, Mongols, Goths, and Tartars who razed the old world and formed the new.</i> Beverly, MA, Fair Winds Press, pg. 199.</ref>