The Last Kingdom series follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a warrior who was born a Saxon, but raised a Dane. The latest Netflix film, Seven Kings Must Die wraps up the series that ran for five seasons with 46 episodes.
The film takes place after the death of King Edward. Aethelstan’s (King Edward’s eldest) claim to the throne is challenged and Uhtred once again finds himself in the middle of battle, striving for peace in the hopes of fulfilling King Alfred’s dream of a united England.
So, how did the film end? Was King Alfred’s dream fulfilled? Who becomes the King of England? And does Uhtred live to see all of this? This article explains the ending of The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. Read at your own risk!
Seven Kings Must Die Ending: Aethelstan Becomes King
After the death of King Edward, Aethelstan fights to become King. He’s King Edward’s eldest son with his first wife, Ecgywnn, but he’s considered a bastard by many because King Edward and Ecgwynn’s marriage was not perceived to be legal.
In Seasons 4 and 5 of The Last Kingdom, it’s clear how Edward favored Aethelstan over his second son (with his second wife Aelflaed), Aelfweard. In Seven Kings Must Die, Aelfweard challenges Aethelstan’s claim to the throne.
However, this challenge was cut short as Aethelstan immediately killed him. While Aeflweard offered to yield, Aethelstan still chose to kill him because he would remain a threat to his claim to the throne. Seeing that Aethelstan becomes a danger, Edward’s widow Eadifgu and youngest son Edmund choose to hide in Northumbria.
And with this, Aethelstan becomes King of Wessex, Mercia, and East Anglia.
Seven Kings Must Die Ending: The Battle of Brunanburh
“No slaughter yet was greater made e’er in this island, of people slain, before this same, with the edge of a sword.” – Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Because of their anger towards Aethelstan’s tyranny, five kings (King of Scotland, King of Strathclyde, King of Orkney, King of Shetland, and King of Man) unite with the Dane Anlaf to fight against Aethelstan. Uhtred is offered a chance to join the other kings, but Uhtred chooses to avoid war.
But the kings tell him that the only way to avoid war is to kill Aethelstan. Uhtred leaves, but not before seeing Ingilmundr (Aethelstan’s adviser and lover) and realizing he’s a traitor.
Uhtred journeys to Wirral to look for his son Osbert and Edmund, but he finds Aethelstan. Aethelstan realizes his mistakes, but Uhtred says that he will stand by Aethelstan. Even though they didn’t have the numbers, Uhtred argues that they could win the battle with the right strategies.
In the Battle of Brunanburh, the sons of the five kings die, thus all of them losing their heirs. Aethelstan captures Ingilmundr and has him killed. The other kings retreat and agree that there’s no point in fighting anymore.
Uhtred is gravely injured. He sees Father Pyrlig mortally wounded before he himself passes out.
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Seven Kings Must Die Ending: England Unites
At the end of The Last Kingdom Season 5, King Edward failed to unite England because Uhtred didn’t cede Northumbria to him. King Constantine withdrew his claims to the lands because Uhtred offered not to cede the lands to King Edward. Instead, the lands “will remain between the two, sworn to neither, to ensure peace.”
While King Edward felt betrayed, Uhtred explained that the man who would unify the country should be a figure behind which the people can stand together as one. But King Edward has shown that he is not that man as he has sown discord between Saxon and Dane.
While Uhtred initially saw Aethelstan as the rightful king to rule England, he started having doubts after he saw that Aethelstan became a tyrant. He was no longer the carefree boy he raised.
However, after Uhtred survived (sort of) the battle and woke up later on, he talks with Aethelstan. He says that he would swear Northumbria to Aethelstan, but on the condition that he does not marry and produce any heirs so that his half-brother Edmund’s claim to the throne would remain unchallenged.
Aethelstan agrees and Uhtred kneels and swears Northumbria to Aethelstan. This unites England and King Aethelstan becomes King of Wessex, Mercia, East Anglia, and Northumbria.
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Seven Kings Must Die Ending: Uhtred of Bebbanburg’s Death
After swearing Northumbria to Aethelstan, everyone cheers for the King of England. Eadifgu tells Uhtred to return to his chambers after seeing Uhtred pale and weak.
However, 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 crowds cheering and chanting in a brightly-lit hall. He sees a room filled with many people from his life who have died, including Brida.
Uhtred looks back and sees Osbert, but with a blurry vision. He then looks back at the afterlife room.
It appears then that the seventh king has died. Finan then goes on to narrate:
"Did seven kings die? The chronicles do not record if my Lord Uhtred survived. But those like me, who knew him, recognize him as the greatest warrior of our age, and a man who made a kingdom."
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Seven Kings Must Die Ending: Bamburgh Castle
It was revealed in the end that King Aethelstan ruled for 15 years. He was considered to be the first and greatest King of medieval England.
The Danes continued to invade England, until its eventual conquest by their Norman descendants in 1066. But the fortress at Bebbanburg still stands and becomes Bamburgh Castle in the present day.
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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is now available to stream on Netflix.