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The Last Kingdom Characters

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Uhtred

Uhtred of Bebbanburg is the protagonist, main character and, with one exception, sole point of view character of the best selling The Saxon Tales series of novels by Bernard Cornwell. Over the eight current books, Uhtred, a Pagan, has become increasingly complex in his loyalty and general attitude. Uhtred is in part based upon the historical Uchtred the Bold who flourished at the start of the 11th century.

Uhtred was born into status as son of Ealdorman Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, and raised to have hatred towards the surrounding kingdoms of Mercia, East Anglia, Wessex, Scotland and the Danes. Uhtred was originally called Osbert and was the younger of Ealdorman Uhtred's sons. The name Uhtred was given always to the oldest son, but after his older brother was killed in a failed attack on the Danes Osbert's name was changed to Uhtred. Uhtred was never taught swordsmanship in his nine years at Bebbanburg as his stepmother wanted him to pursue a life dedicated to being a priest.

In 866, the first of the Danish army began to arrive in Northumbria. In their speed the Danes were able to capture Eoferwic(York) . Ealdorman Uhtred was killed in the failed assault to reclaim Eoferwic, and Uhtred(his son) was captured by the Danes following his furious but feeble attack on a Danish warlord. That warlord, Earl Ragnar the Fearless, son of Ravn, decided to nurture Uhtred's fury into a suitable fighting spirit and so adopted him. Uhtred found that living with the Danes was a much freer existence than with the pious Christians and their dour priests at Bebbanburg and embraced the Danish gods of Thor, Odin, and Hoder. Uhtred came to love Ragnar as a father and became a brother to Ragnar's sons, Ragnar and Rorik, and daughter, Thyra.

In his youth, Uhtred is described a restless child, resisting his education and playing with armour and the harp. After his capture by the Danes, his restlessness is shaped into a warrior's fierceness.

Lord Uhtred

A serious and rather distant man, whose commitments to Bebbanburg leave little time for his two sons. Lord Uhtred is a formidable fighter and leader of men, and his son Young Uhtred struggles to win his father’s affection and approval.

Aelfric

Uhtred’s uncle and usurper of Uhtred’s ancestral home of Bebbanburg. Venal, scheming and power hungry, Aelfric is relentless in his mission to destroy Uhtred, the threat to his throne who has vowed to take vengeance.

Earl Ragnar

Ragnar is a Danish Earl and warlord who adopts Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Ragnar is the son of Ravn, a former earl and chieftain. He is the husband of Sigrid and the father of Ragnar the Younger and Thyra, his daughter.

Ragnar leads three ship's crews of Danes and is a lieutenant of Ubba Lothbroksson in the conquests of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Northumbria, East Anglia, Mercia and the repeated attempts of conquering Wessex.

Ragnar meets young Uhtred during the Battle of Eoforwic (modern York). Impressed and amused by the boy's bravery, Ragnar takes Uhtred captive and later adopts him as a step-son.

Ravn

With his considerable life experience he is philosophical about the struggles of the Danes, and is able to impart his wisdom on young Uhtred, who often acts as the eyes of blind Ravn.

Ragnar

Ragnar the Younger is brave, loyal and fair, and will come to Uhtred’s aid when he’s most needed, despite struggling with his brother’s enduring loyalty to Alfred and the Saxon cause.

Thyra

Ragnar and Uhtred’s sister, held prisoner by Kjartan and Sven in their impenetrable fortress of Dunholm. Damaged by the loss of her family and abuse by her captors, Thyra has lost all hope of freedom and happiness and choses to live in a dank cell, with only the hounds of Dunholm for company.

Brida

She is unforgiving of Uhtred’s continued allegiance with Alfred, regardless of whether it might win him back his homeland. Fearless, gutsy, outspoken, and a born fighter, Brida relishes her Danish life with Ragnar the Younger.

Beocca

Beocca alone has seen Uhtred grow from boy to man and knows his true birth-right. Pious and devout, but with a wry sense of humour, Beocca is both a quick thinker and a brave disciple of Alfred’s cause. Ever hopeful of turning stubborn Uhtred from his pagan ways, Beocca maintains a strong paternal affection for his wayward charge.

Ubba

A ferocious warrior, Uhtred is warned as a boy never to fight Ubba, but fate dictates he must. Ubba’s weakness is his superstition and reliance on his sorcerer Storri…it may just prove his undoing.

Guthrum (The Last Kingdom)

Dour and relentlessly pessimistic, with a dry sense of humour, he is a cold-hearted killer, but his belligerence hides a conflicted soul. He develops a fascination with Christianity, with surprising repercussions.

King Alfred (The Last Kingdom)

The flip side of Uhtred, Alfred favours contemplation over impulse and is committed to the spread of Christianity, and becomes increasingly incensed by Uhtred’s pagan ways. Satisfied in Wessex’s strength following the great victory at Ethandun, Alfred seeks to extend his influence and sets his sights on the fractured lands of the north, where Danes and Northmen plunder and rule. Ruthless and determined, Alfred finds a way to keep Uhtred fighting on the side of the Saxons, but his ongoing mistrust will push their relationship to its very limits.

Aelswith (The Last Kingdom)

Pious, haughty, and acerbic, she is an unpopular figure in Alfred’s court. Aelswith takes an immediate dislike to Uhtred, who she sees as a threat to her beloved husband.

Aethelflaed (The Last Kingdom)

Aethelflaed is strong, brave and intelligent; she has a mind as thoughtful as her father’s and a will as strong as her mother’s. Ever grateful towards Uhtred for protecting her family in the dark days before the battle of Ethandun, the two share a kinship that will be put to the test in a time of great need.

Aethelwold

A little younger than Uhtred, Aethelwold has led a sheltered life, and is an immature, petulant rebel, who wants to stake his claim on the throne.

Leofric

Weathered and worldly, Leofric is straight talking, uncomplicated, but far from stupid. Leofric initially dislikes Uhtred, who he renames ‘Arseling’ but a close bond is soon struck between crude curmudgeonly Leofric and fellow warrior Uhtred. Their friendship is put to the test in the course of the series, as is Leofric’s loyalty to his Saxon leaders.

Odda the Elder

A politically astute and fiercely loyal advisor, Odda shares Alfred’s suspicion of Uhtred.

Odda the Younger

Slippery, dishonourable, and morally corrupt, he wants the quick and easy path to power and success. Odda has particular contempt for Uhtred. His ambition threatens to be his downfall.

Mildrith

A very devout Christian, she is generous and committed to the workers on her estate. Mildrith is ashamed of the debt to the church that she inherited from her deceased father. Her piety grows the longer she is with the untamed pagan Uhtred, driving a wedge between them.

Queen Iseult (The Last Kingdom)

Iseult was married to a minor king named Peredur who kept her virginity in the belief that it maintained her powers of prophecy. Seeing that Uhtred's arrival would result in her freedom, she convinced Peredur to hire on Uhtred and his ship's crew when they appeared off the coast in order to fight the Danish warlord Svein of the White Horse, who had captured a nearby fort. Svein and Uhtred ended up colluding to turn on Peredur and pillage his settlement, and Uhtred claimed Iseult and began living with her although he was still married to Mildrith.

Hild

A spirited and resilient nun, Hild is devout without being sanctimonious, and offers sound advice and loyal support as one of Uhtred’s closest companions.

Guthred (The Last Kingdom)

Dane who is chosen to be a Christian king of Cumbraland and unite the tribes of Dane and Saxon.

Gisela

Guthred’s headstrong and passionate sister. Guthred means to marry her to someone for political gain, but she and Uhtred have other ideas.

Clapa

A hulking Dane, Uhtred trains Clapa for king Guthred’s army of Cumbraland. He’ll become one of Uhtred’s best fighters, but his savagery in battle belies a warm heart and loyalty to his comrades that holds no bounds.

Halig

Halig earned his stripes with Uhtred at the battle of Ethandun, and has been his faithful servant ever since.

Pyrlig

A tenacious fighter who left the thrill of battle in favour of a life in the church, Pyrlig is a gregarious priest experienced in matters of both love and war. Uhtred takes a shine to him, and the two find themselves side-by-side as ambassadors for Alfred’s cause in matters of the grave political severity.

Kjartan

Feared lord of the fortress of Dunholm, he is known as ‘Kjartan the Cruel’. Unfazed by his enemies, Kjartan is ruthless and devious in his schemes to crush all those who oppose his standing as a great lord of the north.

Svenn

Enemy of Uhtred and abuser of Thyra. Spoilt and arrogant, Sven ‘the one-eye’ lacks the cunning of his cruel father, Kjartan, but his malice should not be underestimated. An enemy of Uhtred’s since childhood, Sven’s cowardly nature is put to the test when they meet again.

Sihtric

Illegitimate son of Kjartan, he defects by swearing an oath to Uhtred. Keen to turn his back on his roots, he is tireless in his efforts to serve Uhtred, and becomes one of his most faithful men. With striking Danish looks, Sihtric makes a cunning spy.

Sigefrid

Aggressively ambitious, Sigefrid sets his sights on a higher prize that will shake Alfred’s kingdom to its very core. Sigefrid’s burning intensity and appetite for destruction can only be tempered by his brother, Erik, with whom he shares a fiercely close bond.

Erik

More considered and contemplative than his violent brother, Erik and Uhtred form a precarious understanding and mutual respect. Kind and loyal, Erik’s compassion and faithfulness leads him into deep waters.