Uhtred of Bebbanburg/Uhtred Ragnarsson was born a Saxon, but raised a Dane. Throughout The Last Kingdom series, Uhtred was always torn between having to pick between the Saxons and the Danes.
At times, it seemed like he chose to be a Saxon because he wanted to be recognized as an Ealdorman. However, there were also times when he chose to abandon Wessex and live among the Danes again.
But when King Alfred and his family were in need of his help, he always found himself running back to them again. So, what happened in Seven Kings Must Die? Did Uhtred finally pick a side?
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Reclaiming Bebbanburg in The Last Kingdom
The Last Kingdom series revolves around Uhtred’s journeys, one of which was working to reclaim his birthright Bebbanburg. With this goal, many times he was forced to choose between the kingdom of his ancestors and the Danes who have raised him.
Because he always found himself in a difficult position when he had to choose, his loyalties were always tested. But Uhtred seemed more of a Dane than a Saxon.
Despite being baptized as Christian thrice, Uhtred never abandoned his pagan beliefs. He continued to believe in the gods and Valhalla.
He fought and dressed up like a Viking, and honored the dead in pagan ways. Alexander Dreymon, the actor who plays Uhtred, thinks that Uhtred would rather live with the Danes. In an interview with The Guardian, Dreymon said:
“With Uhtred, he knows that to get Bebbanburg he has to make compromises. He’d much rather run off with the Vikings and stay away from the pious Christians, but he knows that the Saxon way is his only way back to his goal.”
However, despite keeping the traditions of the Danes, Uhtred could not find himself choosing them over Wessex. Uhtred was exiled by King Alfred, but he still found himself helping the House of Wessex when it was in danger.
And apart from his goal of reclaiming Bebbanburg, he grew attached to King Alfred and his family. Throughout the series, Uhtred never found himself saying “no” to England, despite his daughter Stiorra’s anger towards the Saxons.
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Uhtred as the Ruler of Northumbria in Seven Kings Must Die
In the movie, it seemed like Uhtred still chose to be both a Saxon and a Dane. He became the ruler of Northumbria (some would even call him a King), and he allowed both the Saxons and the Danes to thrive in his lands.
He retained his pagan beliefs, but still worked towards the greater good for Wessex. He played a critical role in Aethelstan’s becoming King of England. This shows that he has not abandoned his Saxon side.
King Alfred, after all, did mention in The Last Kingdom that Uhtred is an embodiment of peace, being both a Saxon and a Dane. Thus, he serves as a symbol for uniting the Saxons and the Danes.
In Seven Kings Must Die, Uhtred remains a warrior in pursuit of peace. So he doesn’t really choose to be a Saxon or a Dane. He continues to be both.
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