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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]], [[How Historically Accurate is season 3 of The Last Kingdom?|Season 3]], and [[How Historically Accurate is Season 4 of The Last Kingdom?| Season 4]].

The <i>The Last Kingdom</i> is a historical-based series set in Anglo-Saxon England in the 9th century AD during a time of major Viking (Norse and Dane) invasions. Season 2 focuses on family conflicts that embroiled Uhtred, the protagonist, and the conquest of London, which was a an actual historical event.

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>

In ====Historical Characters====The series develops several significant characters that were introduced in the last four episodesfirst season. The first being Æthelflæd, the focus who is now of marriageable age. She is a few years after the events where Uhtred had helped his Danish brother, Ragnar the Younger, to take Dunholmbecome be an important historical figure in leading Mercia to full independence from Viking occupation. NowHer parents marry her to Æthelred, Uhtred who is ased in CookhamLord of Mercia, (the areas of Mercia free from Danish rule) n order to form a small village near London which wasstrategic alliance between Wessex and Mercia. The marriage is portrayed, in facthowever, occupied as a more prominent settlement unhappy. Æthelred is depicted as abusive and as marrying Æthelflæd solely in Anglo-Saxon times. Once again, Uhtred had sworn allegiance order to Alfredadvance his position with her father, after King Alfred . There is some historical account to suggest they had helped free Uhtred from slavery. It shows Uhtred as leading Alfred's borough of Cookham. In factan estranged or less than happy marriage, Cookham was although the last two did form an important borough before reaching Londonpolitical combination in Mercia. Overall<ref>For more on Æthelred and Æthelflæd, England is divided into Danelaw, areas and their role in northern uniting Mercia, Northumbria, and East AngliaWessex, and Wessexsee: Marafioti, which also ruled over southern MerciaN. (2014) <i>[https://www. London in 886 was little known and the historical accounts simply mentioned that Alfred had restored the town, including rebuilding its Roman wallsamazon. com/gp/product/1442647582/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1442647582&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=6adde8dd803068319e28a91c24747861 The series shows the events king’s body: burial and succession in a more theatrical manner, showing the Norse had, initially, taken the citylate Anglo-Saxon England]</i>. Then, they tricked the Toronto Anglo-Saxons in allowing them to take the city so that the Lady Æthelflæd could be capturedSaxon series. Toronto, University of Toronto Press, pg. The series concludes with Uhtred leading a daring rescue that saw her freed58.</ref>

[[File:2000px<dh-England 878.svg.png|thumbnail|Figure 1. Map of England in 878 and during the period of Series 2.]]ad/>

==Historical Characters==The series develops several new or more significant characters that were Another key character introduced in the first seasonfour episodes is Guthrud. The first He was likely a Dane and he may have been a Christian. It is Æthelflædunclear if he really was a slave, who is now but accounts do suggest that was the case. While Alfred was shown as a grown woman. She would later be an important historical figure in leading Mercia scheming to full independence from Viking occupation. She is depicted as marrying Æthelredhelp make him king, who was Lord of Mercia, that the reality is less clear. He may have simply become king because the areas population of Mercia free from Danish rule. The series focused on Æthelred Northumbria was becoming increasingly intermixed and Æthelflæd getting married as having a key alliance ruler showing greater sympathy to bring the nonDanes and Christian Anglo-Saxons may have suited everyone in Northumbria. He also may have simply succeeded normally as any Dane parts would, but the Anglo-Saxons tried to make it look legitimate through the stories of Mercia into closer alliance with WessexSt. Their marriage was shownCuthbert selecting him. There is a story that St. Cuthbert's body did not decay and, howeverin the series, he is shown as less than pleasantrelatively well preserved, where Æthelred was shown as his corpse is used to be abusing hergive the new king Guthrud his blessing.<ref>For more on St. Cuthbert, see: Marner, D. & British Library (2000) <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0712346864/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0712346864&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=8c244d371d8366274e6a7cc14f71af96 St. There is some historical account to suggest they had an estranged or less than happy marriageCuthbert: his life and cult in medieval Durham].</i> Toronto; New York, University of Toronto Press. </ref>

Another One of the Vikings was Haestein, who seems to be a key character introduced aid to the leader Norse 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 slaveseries, but accounts do suggest that was namely the casebrothers Sigefrid and Erik. While Alfred was shown as scheming to help make him kingSiegfried and Erik seem fictional, the reality is less clear. He Haestein who may have simply became king because the population of Northumbria was becoming increasingly intermixed and having a ruler showing greater sympathy come to England in the Danes late 9th century and Christian Anglo-Saxons may have suited everyone launch some devastating attacks. His role, however, in Northumbriathis season is more minimal, focusing on his support of the two Norse brothers. He also may have simply succeed normally as any Dane would<ref>For more on Haestein, see: Craughwell, but the Anglo-Saxons tried to make it look legitimate through the stories of StT.J. Cuthbert selecting him(2008) <i>[https://www. There is a story that Stamazon. Cuthbert's body did not decay andcom/gp/product/1592333036/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1592333036&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=44291a423dc425c1f210eca587ff0e8d How the barbarian invasions shaped the modern world: the Vikings, Vandals, Huns, in the seriesMongols, he is shown as relatively well preservedGoths, as his corpse is used to give and Tartars who razed the old world and formed the new king Guthrum his blessing].</i> Beverly, MA, Fair Winds Press, pg. 199.</ref>

One of the Vikings The story also introduces Osferth, who likely was HasteinAlfred's illegitimate son. The historical records on him do not make it clear, and in the series he is shown as a monk who seems wants to be join Uhtred's warriors. There does exist records from Alfred's will that suggests Osferth was a key aid to the leader Norse in the seriesson of Alfred's, where he is called kinsman, namely the brothers Siegfried and Erikhe even held some important positions as ealdorman in historical texts. While Siegfried and Erik seem fictional<ref>For more on Osferth, see: Abels, Hastein is known to have come to England in R.P. (1998) <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1138808121/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1138808121&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=011e368cfa6485952d2a7141c26bb10a Alfred the late 9th century Great: war, kingship, and did launch some devastating attacksculture in Anglo-Saxon England. The medieval world]. His role</i> Harlow, howeverEngland ; New York, in this season is more minimalLongman, focusing on his support of the two Norse brotherspg. 48.</ref>

====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. ====References====<references/>

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