The Last Kingdom has come to an end, with Seven Kings Must Die concluding the series. Characters on The Last Kingdom don’t seem to last long (except if you’re Uhtred). In the past five seasons, the series gave fans a lot of painful deaths.
So, it’s not really new for The Last Kingdom to kill off characters. Not many of them make it to the movie because they were already killed off in Season 5.
So, who dies in The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die? And who lives to see King Alfred’s dream fulfilled?
Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. Read at your own risk!
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Aldhelm
Aldhelm was the former adviser of the late ruler of Mercia, Aethelred. He always did Athelred’s bidding, but after realizing that Lady Aethelflaed was the better ruler, he switched sides.
He became a faithful servant to Aethelflaed until she died of an illness. He then goes on to serve King Edward for the good of Mercia.
Sadly, this loyal character dies after being accused of a betrayal. At night, Aldhelm warns Uhtred that Ingilmundr declared him an enemy of God to incite his followers to kill him.
However, Athelstan took their meeting at night as a sign that Uhtred and Aldhelm were plotting against him. Thus, he had Aldhelm killed.
Actor James Northcote shared with Express that his character’s story closes in a way that people wouldn’t expect:
"It certainly closes Aldhelm’s story out in a way that I don’t think people will necessarily expect. But I was very pleased to be able to take him to that place… Aldhelm certainly is a survivor, for a character who in the books would have died probably in season three maximum he’s come quite a long way.”
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Aelfweard
Aelfweard was the second son of King Edward with his second wife, Aelflaed. He always expected to be Edward’s successor, but he wasn’t the favored son. After he conspired with Aethelhelm in The Last Kingdom Season 5 to take over Wessex, Edward considered it a betrayal and rendered him unfit to become the next King.
Aelfweard challenged Aethelstan’s right to the throne, with claims that the latter was a bastard son.
However, this challenge was cut short as Aethelstan immediately killed him. While Aeflweard offered to yield, Aethelstan still chose to kill him because he thought that his half-brother would remain a threat to his claim to the throne.
Ingrith
Ingrith was Finan’s wife. She started being a seer and prophesied that “seven kings must die, and the woman you love.” Uhtred thought that the prophecy wasn’t real because he wasn’t a king and he had no woman at the moment.
Turns out “the woman you love” part of the prophecy wasn’t for him, but was for Finan. Ingrith and the residents of Bebbanburg were murdered by Anlaf’s men, which left a poor Finan grieving.
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Ingilmundr
Ingilmundr was Aethelstan’s adviser and lover. He appeared as an ally to the King and even clouded the latter’s judgment, but then he turned out to be a traitor.
He portrayed himself as a Christian but was actually a Dane by heart. Before his death, he admitted that he was indeed fond of Aethelstan, but that his love for his people prevailed.
So Aethenstan had him killed for his betrayal.
The Sons of the Five Kings
The Kings of Scotland, Strathclyde, Orkney, Shetland, and Man united to fight against Aethelstan. They offered an alliance to Uhtred, but he declined.
Uhtred then shared with them the Northumbrian prophecy that “seven kings must die”. But the kings agreed that the prophecy should not be feared because they all have sons to take their place.
But that confidence was cut short when the sons of the five kings all die in the Battle of Brunanburh. This resulted to no heirs who would carry their family names and succeed them.
Thus, six kings (Edward and the would-be kings) of the “seven kings” in the prophecy have already died. What about the seventh king?
Uhtred of Bebbanburg
The people regarded Uhtred as the King of Northumbria even though he didn't identify himself as a King.
After the Battle of Brunanburh, he swore 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.
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 crowds cheering and chanting. He sees a brightly-lit room filled with many people from his life who have died, including Brida. It appears then that the seventh king has died.
It turns out that the prophecy was fulfilled. Seven kings did die, and England became whole after. Athelstan became King of England which fulfilled King Alfred’s dream of a united England.
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The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die is now available to stream on Netflix.