Seven Kings Must Die wraps up The Last Kingdom TV series and like that show, the new movie has been a big success on Netflix, jumping straight to the top of the most-watched movies list in its opening weekend.
It picks up the story of Uhtred, a warrior who was born a Saxon and raised a Dane after his family was murdered. The series ended with our hero finally acknowledged as the leader of Northumbria, wedged between King Edward and his forces to the south and the Scottish king to the north.
It all seemed rather lovely (if somewhat tenuous) with Uhtred settled in as the new Lord of Bebbanburg, and his young son Osbert coming to join him, but things in Saxon Britain never stay calm for long.
And The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die certainly throws more challenges Uhtred's way, before ending on an ambiguous note that fans are sure to be discussing for some time yet.
But to delve into it all, we need to go into some major spoilers, so look away now if you haven't seen the movie yet.
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The movie continues The Last Kingdom story with more turmoil for Uhtred from the offset as King Edward dies and his widow Eadifgu and youngest son Edmund are forced to flee to him in Northumbria for help.
Ingrith, the seer wife of Uhtred's pal Finian, darkens the mood even more by revealing a dream she has had that "seven kings must die, and the woman you love". Uhtred brushes it off – after all, he hasn't got a woman at the moment, and he isn't a king – but since the prophecy is the same as the movie's title, even we know that is going to be important later on.
Meanwhile, Edward's older sons Aethelstan and Aelfweard both vie for the throne, and Uhtred volunteers to broker a meeting between the pair that doesn't go very well – Aelfweard steps forward to yield to his brother, only for Aethelstan to stab his sibling to death and take the throne.
Now king of Mercia, Wessex and East Anglia – and guided/manipulated by his lover, Lord Ingilmundr – Aethelstan gets rid of anyone in his way, hanging former friends, capturing Edmund and Osbert, sending Eadifgu off to a nunnery, and banishing Uhtred to the Shetlands. Not bad for a day's evil plotting.
Little does Aethelstan know that Ingilmundr is only pretending to be a good Christian servant to his king, and he is in fact secretly working on behalf of Anlaf, a Norse leader who has gathered chieftains and kings – including those from Orkney, Shetland and Scotland – with the aim of defeating Aethelstan on the battlefield.
There's a bit of housekeeping to be done before we get to that – Osbert and Edmund are found safe, Uhtred finds his beloved sword that he lost in battle, he and Aethelstan sort out their differences, and Finian’s wife and the residents of Bebbanburg are found murdered by Anlaf's men, an act that fulfils the "and the woman you love" part of the prophecy for poor old Finian.
It all leads up to the AD 937 battle of Brunanburgh, where Uhtred, his friends, Aethelstan and his men join forces against Anlaf and his allies. Do seven kings die on the battlefield, and most importantly, is Uhtred one of them?
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Seven Kings Must Die ending explained: Does Uhtred die?
Fiery arrows fly through the sky, spikes are scattered on the ground ready to pierce the flimsy shoes of Saxon warriors in particularly nasty ways, and swords are drawn as Anlaf's men and Aethelstan's followers meet on the battlefield.
Father Pyrlig, the priest, former warrior and Uthred's friend, appears mortally wounded, and many men fall in the most grisly ways you can imagine.
As Uhtred springs a surprise on his enemies, bringing in more forces on horseback, some of the Scottish men run away, and Ingilmundr and Aethelstan finally come to blows, before men come to Aethelstan's aid and capture Ingilmundr and drag him away. (Don't worry, the traitor gets his just rewards – a sword in the back of his head – a few moments later.)
Uhtred is badly wounded, and sees Pyrlig at the edge of the field as he falls to his knees.
While five kings fighting against Aethelstan flee the field realising the battle is lost, it is revealed that their sons – of Orkney, [the Isle of] Man, Shetland, Strathclyde and Scotland – have all been killed, meaning that there are no heirs to carry on the family names. That means five kings – or would-be kings – have died, and if you include King Edward's death at the start, a total of six kings are dead. Will Uhtred be the seventh?
Marcell PitiNetflix
No – or at least, not yet. Pals Sihtric and Finian find a very bloody Uhtred close to death on the battlefield, and prepare to take him back to Bebbanburg in Northumbria.
When they arrive, Uhtred is well enough to pledge his own Northumbria to Aethelstan, thus forming England. He has one condition: that Aethelstan must not marry or produce any heirs, therefore his half-brother Edmund will inherit the throne when he dies.
(Uhtred previously spotted Aethelstan in an embrace with the late, and now presumably decapitated, Ingilmundr, so he is aware the new king is gay – perhaps this condition is also his way of saving Aethelstan from having to commit to a miserable marriage of convenience. Awwww.)
Looking dreadfully pale and weak, Uhtred hears cheers and merriment in the distance, and walks to the end of the hall and opens the door. While everyone behind him can only see empty space, Uhtred sees a fire-lit room filled with the many people from his past who have died, all laughing and drinking and welcoming him on to the next life.
The seventh king has died, and as the end titles reveal, King Aethelstan went on to unite the land. Historians now view him as the first and greatest Medieval king of England. He ruled until his death in AD 939 and was indeed succeeded by his brother Edmund.
However, the movie itself might not be as clear-cut as you think as Alexander Dreymon told RadioTimes.com that he's happy there's "ambiguity" in Uhtred's final moments.
"You see everything that he's fought for his whole life and he's believed in… because the idea of Valhalla and heaven has been such a big character in the show in a way. And that he has the option of going to the feast hall – that he aches for so much – is beautiful to see," he explained.
"It's such a big thing for him to have that choice. To be able to decide: 'Do I stay with the people that I love here or do I stay with the people that I love there?' And ultimately, it's all going to be okay. So, I think the life that he's led is going to be very rewarding for him in the end – so I'm very happy for him."
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is available to watch now on Netflix.
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FAQs
The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die ending explained – Does Uhtred live? ›
Uhtred survives in War Lord and lives peacefully as the lord of Bebbanburg for years after the Battle of Brunanburh. He has one final love interest, who lives with him in Bebbanburg, along with his eldest son and heir, Uhtred.
Does Uhtred die in seven kings? ›That said, it seems like Uhtred does die at the end of Seven Kings Must Die. After all, he suffered a grievous injury during the battle. While he awoke back in his home, surrounded by friends and family, he sees a vision of the halls of Valhalla as the film comes to a close.
How does 7 Kings Must die end? ›Thanks to Uhtred's military nous (in the screen version at least), the Danish-Scottish alliance lost the battle, and King Aethelstan's troops won, ensuring his reign over a united England.
How did the real Uhtred die? ›Uhtred's death by assassination was described in De obsessione Dunelmi and has been interpreted as beginning of a blood feud.
How old was Uhtred when he died? ›The story began in 866, with a 9 year old Uhtred (12 years old in the TV show) which means Uhtred is 30 years old by the books reckoning and 33 according to the show, at the conclusion of season two.
Will Uhtred become Lord of Bebbanburg? ›In The Last Kingdom, Uhtred originally name Osbert, is the second son of English Ealdorman, Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg in the Kingdom of Northumbria. Following the death of his older brother, Osbert was re-baptized as Uhtred and became the new heir of Bebbanburg.
Who is the boy at the end of Uhtred? ›Osbert is Uhtred's son on The Last Kingdom
Granted, the last time we saw Osbert he was a baby. This was back in season 3, when Uhtred returned to his home to find that his wife Gisela had died giving birth to their new son.
The story is based on a series of books, but they are not true stories. It appears that the confusion comes from the author blending real historical characters and events into the narrative, giving it an air of authenticity.
What did the king do in the end? ›You see, William is going to make a lot of money off his share of the newly acquired land. Hal tries to get William to recount how he caught the assassin, and none of his answers add up. Once William basically confesses, Hal kills the traitor himself.
Is Seven Kings Must Die true? ›Seven Kings Must Die is the culmination of the story that began in The Last Kingdom, spanning decades of real history. At its core is the struggle between Saxons and Danes in the 9th-and 10th-century when England was not one nation, but a series of independent kingdoms variously overrun or ravaged by Vikings.
Who is Uhtred's true love? ›
Uhtred is still very much in love with Lady Aethelflaed (Millie Brady). He is Lord of Rumcofa, which is a border town of Mercia (the land over which Aethelflaed rules).
Does Uhtred die in the books? ›Does Uhtred die in the books? By the end of War Lord, Uhtred is well into his sixties, perhaps older, and thinking ahead to the end of his life. He and his brother-in-arms Finan will both die soon, he reflects. Finan has requested that his body be taken to Ireland “to sleep with his ancestors.”
Where is Bebbanburg today? ›But Bebbanburg, the fortress on which Uhtred is fatefully fixated, is far from fictional. Today it's known as Bamburgh Castle. The hulking stone citadel that now guards the Northumberland coast south of Lindisfarne from atop its dolerite outcrop largely dates from after Uhtred's era of Viking-on-Saxon conflict.
What does Arseling mean in The Last Kingdom? ›Uhtred's nickname in The Last Kingdom comes from the word "arseling," which had the humble meaning of "backward" — as in going in the direction of one's backside — in Middle English.
Is Ragnar older than Uhtred? ›Ragnar the younger is around 10-12 years older than Uhtred, so he would be roughly 26 when his father is killed by Kjartan.
What is the meaning of Arseling? ›The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines arseling as meaning “backwards” and having been derived from the noun arse and the suffix –ling. Being a dictionary on historical principles, the OED also provides information about the past usage of the word.
Does Uhtred get a happy ending? ›In the final episode, Uhtred offers Eadith a place to stay in Bebbanburg and tend to the wounded. Eadith, with a smile on her face, does not rebuke the suggestion. Although season 4 plays with the idea of a romance between Eadith and Finan, it is Eadith and Uhtred that marry in Cornwell's novels.
How many wives did Uhtred have? ›Lord Uhtred and his first wife had Uhtred, but she sadly died shortly after giving birth to him. He remarried to a Mercian noblewoman, Lady Æthelgifu, that union produced a son; Osbert (later known as Uhtred) in 857.
Does Uhtred ever win? ›After much fighting, Uhtred finally defeats both Aethelhelm and his cousin, killing the latter when he refuses to fight him one-on-one, and takes back his beloved Bebbanburg. Aethelstan persuades Uhtred not to kill Aethelhelm, but to ransom him so he can replenish his coffers and weaken Aethelhelm.
Who is the mother of Uhtred's son at the end? ›Osbert is Gisela and Uhtred's youngest child, and Lord Uhtred's third son (his first with Saxon wife Mildrith died as an infant, and Brida's pregnancy by Uhtred was sadly miscarried).
How many sons did Uhtred have? ›
Throughout the season fans saw him trying to be a better father to his oldest son Uhtred (Finn Elliot) and Stiorra (Ruby Hartley). Yet, Uhtred has a third child, one that was born during the first episodes of season three.
Why is Seven Kings called Seven Kings? ›Seven Kings, Redbridge
Seofeca may (at best) have been a local Saxon chief. In 1285† the spelling was rendered as Sevekyngges – and it must have been around this time that someone noticed a resemblance to the words 'Seven Kings'.
- Contantine II of Scotland.
- Æthelstan of Wessex, Mercia and East Anglia.
- Owain of Strathclyde.
- Hywel of Wales.
- An unnamed king of Orkney.
- An unnamed king of Shetland.
- An unnamed king of the Isle of Man.
The Last Kingdom has always made an effort to be as historically accurate as possible. While the books the show is based on — The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell — are fiction, Cornwall certainly knows his history.
Why was the king happy at the end? ›The king was very happy to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have won him over as a friend.
Was the king satisfied in the end? ›No, the king was not satisfied with the answers because everyone was giving different answer for each and every question. The king could not agree with anyone as all the answers were different.
Was the king happy at the end? ›The King: Eternal Monarch happy ending
They finally meet once again and then they kiss each other, getting their happy ending. Lee Gon and Tae-eul end up in the same period in Corea.
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| Alexander Dreymon | |
|---|---|
| Partner(s) | Allison Williams (2019–present; engaged) |
| Children | 1 |
The Last Kingdom Series 11 Books Collection Set (1-11)(Death of Kings,Warriors of the Storm,The Pagan Lord,The Empty Throne,The Last Kingdom,The Lord of the North,Sword Song,The Burning Land...
Where was The Last Kingdom filmed? ›The Last Kingdom is about the birth of England as a nation, but England no longer looks like it did in the year 866. Accordingly, all four seasons of this BBC/Netflix co-production have been filmed in Hungary, which apparently does. The fifth season is being filmed there, too.
Who is Uhtred's closest friend? ›
Who is Finan? Finan is arguably Uhtred's closest friend. The two first crossed paths when they were enslaved on a boat under merciless overlords who very nearly killed them and chose to stick together after their liberation.
Does Uhtred marry his sister? ›She was the daughter of the Danish warrior and Jarl Harthacnut and the sister of King Guthred of Northumbria. Uhtred and Gisela form a close bond quickly and eventually the two marry and have three children.
Who did Aethelflaed have a child with? ›Within a few years, Æthelred and Æthelflæd had their first and only child whom they called Ælfwynn. The years that followed saw the husband and wife team take back vast swathes of Mercian land from the Danes, both in the Midlands and to the north.
Who kills Brida in the books? ›They head toward Eoforwik, sneaking in by pretending to bring Stiorra (whom Ragnall wants for his fifth wife) in as a prisoner. They find Brida in charge. She is waging war against Christianity, and they are horrified to see 34 people crucified. Uhtred overthrows her and lets Stiorra kill Brida.
What is Bebbanburg now called? ›Bebbanburg, now known as Bamburgh, is the original home of the novels main character, Uhtred of Bebbanburg.
Does Bebbanburg still stand? ›Yes! Last Kingdom fans will be glad to know that Bebbanburg is a real place and you can follow in the footsteps of Uhtred if you wanted to! Although the Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria has long since fallen, you can find Uhtred's precious Bebbanburg in the county of Northumberland in England today.
Where is Mercia today? ›Mercia was a kingdom during the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy; see Medieval Britain and Ireland for context. Its territory was centred around what is today the English Midlands, divided into the East Midlands and West Midlands on Wikivoyage.
Why did Brida throw Uhtred's sword? ›While Brida wants to immediately murder him, Sigtryggr actually wants to use Uhtred to negotiate. Brida throws Uhtred's sword over the ramparts to make Edward's side think Uhtred has died.
What happened to Stiorra and Sigtryggr? ›The Saxon Stories
She falls in love with Sigtryggr and later marries him. They have several children who sadly die of the plague. In "War of the Wolf", Stiorra is ultimately killed in battle by Skoll.
In episode four, Eadith's diagnosis is proven right, and Aethelflaed dies in Uhtred's arms. She was suffering from a painful cancerous tumour in her breast tissue, one in a series of tumours that Aethelflaed had previously ignored, thinking they had cured themselves.
Who is the father of bridas daughter? ›
Season five introduces daughter Vibeke (Emili Ackchina), a daughter that Brida never thought she'd have after being cursed in season one not to bear children. Curse lifted, Brida became pregnant by her Viking partner Cnut, whom she killed when she learned he had plotted the murder of her last love, Ragnar.
Did Ragnar Ragnarson exist? ›While some of the characters are based on real historical figures, Ragnar Ragnarsson in The Last Kingdom has often been confused with the real Viking warrior - Ragnar Lothbrok. In the series, Ragnar Ragnarsson was the son of Earl Ragnar the Fearless (Peter Gantzler), but he is not based on a real person.
Are Ragnar and Uhtred related? ›No, Uhtred of Bebbanburg was not related to Ragnar Lothbrok. The historical evidence behind Ragnar's existence is extremely limited, making it impossible to say with certainty whether he existed, and many historians suggest he is a mythical figure, similar in nature to King Arthur.
Is Sigtryggr related to Uhtred? ›Sigtryggr Ivarsson or Sigtryggr the One-Eyed (later known as Sigtryggr of Northumbria) is a character in The Saxon Stories novel series and The Last Kingdom television series. He is a norse-gael viking warlord and Uhtred's son-in-law, through marriage to Stiorra.
What did Sigtryggr do? ›Sadly Sigtryggr also met his demise in season four when he stormed the Saxon camp and as a result he was punished by King Edward (Timothy Innes). Uhtred was forced to kill his own son-in-law by stabbing him through the heart with his sword.
Is Beocca a priest? ›Ian Hart. Ian Hart plays the character of Beocca, a Saxon priest, in The Last Kingdom.
Does Alfred get rid of Uhtred? ›Before his death, Alfred pardoned Uhtred and returned his lands, and Uhtred agreed to advise Edward, much to Queen Aelswith's displeasure.
Does Baby Uhtred die? ›They had a son, named Uhtred after his father, but the child died young on January 22 in the year 878 (Saint Vincent's Day), after choking on a pebble.
What happens to Uhtred's last son? ›In Uhtred's absence, his children were taken into Alfred's 'care' and baptised as Christians. Young Uhtred became a Christian cleric and moved to a monastery, while Stiorra remained true to her mother's Danish roots while being raised in Aethelflaed's palace.
Does Uhtred win in the end? ›Uhtred and Aethelstan reunite in the burning courtyard of Bebbanburg. Aethelstan wants him to leave, but Uhtred says it is his destiny to die in Bebbanburg. The heavens open up and quench the fires with rain. Uhtred finally takes his birthright and negotiates a peace with Constantin, who leaves.
How many wives did Uhtred have in The Last Kingdom? ›
Lord Uhtred and his first wife had Uhtred, but she sadly died shortly after giving birth to him. He remarried to a Mercian noblewoman, Lady Æthelgifu, that union produced a son; Osbert (later known as Uhtred) in 857.
Who was Uhtred's true love? ›Uhtred is still very much in love with Lady Aethelflaed (Millie Brady). He is Lord of Rumcofa, which is a border town of Mercia (the land over which Aethelflaed rules).
Does Uhtred marry Eadith? ›Eventually, Eadith and Uhtred marry, and when he retakes his ancestral fortress, she becomes the Lady of Bebbanburg. By the end of Book 12 Sword of Kings, however, Eadith goes the way of Uhtred's other past loves Brida, Iseult, Gisela and Aethelflaed.
Does Uhtred's son Oswald die? ›The children of Uhtred: Oswald and Stiorra
Both Oswald and Stiorra featured prominently in season 5. Oswald is a priest and was castrated by Brida early in the season as revenge against Uhtred. He survived and went on to fight in the Battle at Bebbanburg.
Eadith calls Aethelflaed's condition “canker”, which was an Old English term for cancer, used until the 1600s. The word is derived from the Latin for 'crab' (as in the astrological star sign), and thought to come from the Greek word 'Karkinos' which describes the crab limb-like veins that can surround a tumour.
Is Bebbanburg a real place? ›But Bebbanburg, the fortress on which Uhtred is fatefully fixated, is far from fictional. Today it's known as Bamburgh Castle. The hulking stone citadel that now guards the Northumberland coast south of Lindisfarne from atop its dolerite outcrop largely dates from after Uhtred's era of Viking-on-Saxon conflict.