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While in the novel Uhtred plays, once again, a key role in defending against the Danish raids, he eventually flees north to Northumbria after his wife had died giving childbirth. The key historical link and plot is the uncertainty of what would happen once Alfred died and how successful Wessex would hold on against Danish/Viking raids, particularly as Aethelwald, Alfred's brother, would likely make a move for the crown after Alfred had died. Although eventually Uhtred comes back to Wessex, after some time being involved in his own Viking raids in continental Europe and living with his Danish brother, Ragnar, he this time finds himself more closely allied to Æthelflæd, who is the wife of the Mercian lord Æthelred.
When Alfred does die in 899, rebellion by Aethelwald starts that sees him combining his forces with invading Danes and Danes from East Anglia. Aethelwald convinces the Danes that he is the rightful king, although he is unsuccessful in convincing anyone in Wessex of this. The Danes began raiding Wessex which eventually led to an invasion by Wessex against East Anglia, specifically against King Eohric who had sided with Aethelwald. At a great battle, the Battle of Holme, Eohric, Aethelwald, and other prominent Danes die, but Wessex forces retreat from East Anglia.
==Characters and Significance==
