Occasionally
on this blog, I review
television programs of note.
When I do this, I am not endorsing the show in particular but rather speaking
of a positive message within the show. One such show that I cannot endorse for
all viewers is the BBC/Netflix series,
The
Last Kingdom (2015-2020). The show is a “blade-slinger” story set in the
England of the late 800s CE and is about the conflict between the Saxon land
holders and the invading Danes, Vikings, and Northmen (Norsemen) from Denmark
and other points north. Uhtred is the hero (or perhaps anti-hero) of the story.
He is a Saxon by birth who is born heir to the throne of the Kingdom of
Bebbanburg at a time when Alfred the Great is seeking to draw together all of
the Kingdoms of England under one king. Uhtred is kidnapped by the Danes and
adopted into the family of Ragnar Ragnarson. Thus, Uhtred is known both as
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, Uhtred Ragnarson, and simply Uhtred, Son of Uhtred and he
grows to become the greatest warrior of England and supports King Alfred time
and time again. But Alfred cannot quite accept that Uhtred will not accept his
God and so he does not fully trust him and sometimes wishes him banished or
even dead. Time and again Uhtred saves Alfred’s England, only to be mistrusted
by Alfred. Season 3, Episode 10 offers brilliant dialogue emphasising darkness
and light, good and evil, and the struggle of the two within the various people
groups.
As King Alfred dies, Father Beocca, one of Uhtred’s most
constant friends says,
“All that Alfred stood for is crumbling.
You, Uhtred, cannot be dragged into the shadows.
You must become the light….”
But as Uhtred is on trial in the open court of the palace,
the following dialogue unfolds,
Beocca: Do you object to the people bearing witness to
justice, Lord Aethelwold?
Aethelwold: I do not.
Lady Aelswith: Uhtred, the king swore that you were to die. Why
the change in his heart?
Uhtred: Because he believed that I deserved his forgiveness.
Aelswith: Is that a boast?
Uhtred: Look to his chronicle. I am on every page.
Aelswith: That is a lie. You are not named, even once!
Uhtred: But I am there. Unwritten, Lady, but I am there! The
warriors of Wessex know it. The Danes know it. And it is what the king has told
me himself.
Aelswith: I have heard enough.
Uhtred: I am with him from the Somerset Marshes to Ethandun
and all of the battles that have followed. We were bonded, him and I. He was
the man that I could never be, nor did I wish to be. He was a man that I loved
and despised but it was never less than an honor to serve him. He was my king. And
he did not wish to go to his God without granting me what I have earned many
times over! My freedom….
At this point, Edward, the heir to the throne of England is
brought into the conversation. It is his first test as king apparent.
Uhtred: Perhaps your father chose not to announce my freedom
for this very reason so that the people could witness their new king, Edward,
dispensing justice. Fairly, I hope.
Beocca: Will you accept the decision of Edward Rex? I will. I
give you my word….
Edward: A heathen would not be trusted completely until he
had embraced Alfred's god as his own. And yet it was a heathen he did trust
most. It was the word of Uhtred that he respected most. Uhtred of Bebbanburg, I
find the letter written by my father to be true. Alfred's pardon does stand. You
are a free man, able to choose your own path.
Beocca: May I ask, Lord Uhtred, may I ask? Now that you are
a free man once more, where will your path lead? I would like to know….
Uhtred: One day, Father, I hope that my path will eventually lead north to
Bebbanburg, but now, I believe I am needed here….
Then as the followers of Edward prepare for another battle
with the Danes of the North,
Uhtred: All of you, hear me. Yes, it is likely that the
Danes will have greater numbers, but this is a battle that we can win. Though
it will take all of us, every man and every sword, and we will fight with all
the guile and wit that Alfred has instilled.
Edward: God is with us.
Then, to the soldiers prepared to march into battle:
Uhtred: A letter has been sent. It speaks out to every man
in the kingdom, demanding that he answers the call and joins us on the road to
battle. It says that this will be a battle that will be spoken of for lifetimes
to come. It is a battle that no man can ignore, no man can stand by and watch. Every
man must find a weapon and every man must fight! Wessex will always be the
light. And no matter how heavy our swords become, we must fight. Fight! Fight
and keep on fighting until the victory is ours! We march!
The episode closes with Uhtred giving a monologue:
It will be written in the Saxon chronicle that Edward did
gain a great victory over the Danes, ensuring he would become King of Wessex. But
other battles lie ahead, both with the Danes and within Wessex itself. A king
must decide who he can trust and who he must discard. He must understand the
minds of both his enemies and his friends. He must recognize that the truth of
a man lies not in the land of his birth, but in his heart. A king must be a
king on his own terms. He cannot be his father. He can only be himself. The
chronicle will grow. Pages will be added. But Uhtred of Bebbanburg will not be
mentioned. Although I, too, was victorious. My name is Uhtred, son of Uhtred. My
name is Uhtred Ragnarson. Destiny is all.
Uhtred is a marvelous character created by Bernard Cornwell
and adapted for this television series. He is constantly torn between being Saxon
and Dane. He is honourable, honest, and loyal to any vow he swears. He is not
Christian, despite being baptised twice over, yet he is more honourable and
shows more Christian character than most of the Christian men of England. Many
of the “good Christian” men of the kingdom are horribly broken, sinful, filled
with hatred, and murderous. Uhtred, on the other hand, leads well, serves well, takes
life only as necessary, and is the most valuable right-hand man to both King
Alfred and King Edward. He sacrifices land, wives, children, family
relationships, and wealth to justly carry out the will of Alfred. At the end of
the day, all of England believes Uhtred will be eternally punished in hell
because of his rejection of the Christian religion, yet he is one of the truest
men of his time. His fictional life, as portrayed in this series, causes one to
ask questions about what it means to be honourable, just, moral, and a person
of true character. May men like him call us to our best humanity and highest
calling by God.