Introduction
Seven Kings Must Die the highly anticipated feature-length finale of The Last Kingdom Netflix series. As with any historical drama, viewers often wonder whether the story is based on actual events. In this article, we will explore whether Seven Kings Must Die based on a true story and provide answers to some other frequently asked questions.
Background
The Last Kingdom is a British historical TV show that premiered in 2015, based on the series of novels by Bernard Cornwell. It was a sleeper hit for the BBC, and by the time a second season got renewed, Netflix had pitched in to co-produce it. In 2018, Netflix decided to produce another three seasons, bringing the total to 46 episodes.
Are Seven Kings Must Die Based on a True Story?
No, Seven Kings Must Die is not based on a true story. The story is based on a series of books, and while the author blends real historical characters and events into the narrative, the story itself is fictional. Seven Kings Must Die is taken directly from the last two books in the series, Sword of Kings (2019) and War Lord (2020). However, significant changes have been introduced to the film.
Who are the Seven Kings?
The Seven Kings is a prophecy from a dream that Ingrith has. The first king is King Edward, who dies early in the film. As events escalate towards the final Battle of Brunanburh, five of the children of the rival kings are killed during the fight, which makes them existentially five kings. Uhtred is the seventh prophetically extinguished King, but the jury is still unsure whether he is dead.
Which of The Last Kingdom’s characters were real?
Many of the characters in The Last Kingdom are based on real-life historical figures, although their depictions in the show may not always be accurate. Here are some of the more prominent real-life characters from the show:
Odda, the Elder
A historical figure who fought against the Danes during the reign of King Alfred the Great.
Aethelwold
The son of King Aethelred the Unready, who led a rebellion against his cousin King Edward the Martyr.
Guthrum
A Viking leader who led a significant invasion of Anglo-Saxon England in the late 9th century.
Aelhswith
The wife of King Alfred the Great and the mother of King Edward, the Elder.
Uhtred
While there was a real Uhtred, the fictional character in the show has little in joint with the historical figure apart from name and location.
Constantine
An early King of Scotland who fought against the Vikings.
Dunstan
An English bishop who later became a saint.
Edmund of Wessex
King of the English from 939 to 946.
Owain
King of Strathclyde in the 10th century.
Osbert
King of Northumbria in the middle of the 9th century.
FAQ
Q: Is Seven Kings Must Die based on a true story?
A: No, the story is based on a series of books, but they are untrue. The author blends real historical characters and events into the narrative, giving it an air of authenticity.
Q: Who are the Seven Kings in Seven Kings Must Die?
A: The Seven Kings is a prophecy from a dream that Ingrith has. King Edward, who dies early in the story, is the first. Five of the children of the rival kings were killed during the Battle of Brunanburh, adding five more potential kings and the seventh is Uhtred.
Q: Which characters in The Last Kingdom were real?
A: Many characters in The Last Kingdom are based on real-life historical figures, but some have been fictionalized. The more prominent ones include Odda the Elder, Aethelwold, Guthrum, Aelhswith, Uhtred, Constantine, Dunstan, Edmund of Wessex, Owain, and Osbert.
