The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die takes place after the events of Season 5 of The Last Kingdom. At the end of the final season, Uhtred became the Lord of Northumbria, independent from King Edward’s authority.
During the events of The Last Kingdom, the people always thought of Uhtred as a great leader. He even became the ruler of Mercia for a very short while, until he passed on the throne to Lady Aethelflaed.
As a character living in both worlds – both as a Saxon and a Dane, does Uhtred actually become a king in Seven Kings Must Die?
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. Read at your own risk!
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Uhtred of Bebbanburg: The King of Northumbria
At the end of The Last Kingdom Season 5, King Edward failed to unite England because Uhtred decided not to cede Northumbria to him. This decision came from an agreement of peace with the King of Scotland and Uhtred’s regard for Edward as unfit to become the King who unites England.
Since Northumbria remained an independent kingdom, with Uhtred as its ruler, the people regarded him as the King of Northumbria. However, Uhtred rejected this idea and didn’t identify himself as a King. He always referred to himself as a “Lord”, but the people begged to differ.
So, even if Uhtred didn’t want to be called King, it’s safe to say that he did actually become one.
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The “Seven Kings” in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die
The film is centered on a prophecy that seven kings need to die in order for England to unite under one crown.
It’s clear that the first king to die is King Edward. His death triggers the events of the film. The other kings include the King of Scotland, King of Strathclyde, King of Wealas, King of Orkney, King of Shetland, and King of Man.
After the Battle of Brunanburh, the sons of five kings died. The deaths of five would-be kings plus Edward’s make it six kings dead. So who is the seventh king?
Uhtred is regarded as the seventh king.
After the Battle of Brunanburh, he swore Northumbria to Aethelstan, but on the condition that the latter does not marry and produce any heirs so that his half-brother Edmund’s claim to the throne would remain unchallenged.
After being gravely injured in the battle, Uhtred got pale and weak. After swearing Northumbria to Aethelstan, Uhtred tells all of them not to grieve for him and that it was always written that he would fall in battle.
Uhtred then walks towards a door and hears people cheering and chanting. He sees a brightly-lit hall filled with many people from his life who have died, including Brida. The door appears to be the door to the afterlife. It seems then that the seventh king has died.
It turns out that the prophecy was fulfilled. Seven kings did die, and England became whole after. As the King of Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria, Aethelstan became the King of England and fulfilled King Alfred’s dream.
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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is now available to stream on Netflix.