The 25 Best Characters on The Last Kingdom

5) AELSWITH

The devout Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth) is nothing if not loyal to her husband, King Alfred. She shares his religious fervor and also supports his dream of a united Christian Britain. The near-death of their son, Edward, has made her realize how much stronger she and Alfred are when they act in unison. Her elitist manner makes her unpopular in the royal court, and she sees potential threats to Alfred in nearly every shadow. As the king’s most intimate protector, she makes no apologies for being harsh, and she knows the world is even more perilous for those who are unrealistic.

Aelswith revels in Alfred’s attentions and is motherly towards those she likes, both delighted that the pagan Uhtred took a Christian wife in Mildreth and sorry for Mildreth that she must suffer the attentions of a barbarian. She’s also aware of her husband’s propensity to wander, and is constantly trying to separate him from his young female servants. She views the pagan Uhtred as nothing but trouble for her husband and even urges Alfred to execute him for breaking the king’s peace in the middle of season 1.

Aelswith’s attitude toward Uhtred may have softened slightly over time, especially after he saved the lives of both her children. When the royal family was forced to hide in the swamps after the Vikings sacked the city of Winchester, it was Uhtred who placed the dying baby Edward in the care of the pagan sorceress Iseult who cured him. And when Aethelflaed (Millie Brady) was captured by the Vikings Erik and Sigefrid, it was Uhtred who rescued her (he was actually trying to set free the besotted Erik and Aethelflaed so they could vanish into the hinterlands, but Aelswith doesn’t know that) and brought her home.

We last see Aelswith at the end of season 2, proudly beaming at the great success of her husband, and ready to continue the quest to make England into a Christian empire.