Is The Last Kingdom historically accurate? 20 Questions Answered

King Alfred the Great (Part 1)

Though King Alfred (David Dawson) is dead and gone by season 4, he still influences the story, and was one of its most compelling figures from seasons 1 through 3. How loyal has BBC/Netflix been to the famous royal? Let’s see.

King Alfred (his name means “wise-elf” in old English) was the King of Wessex from 871-876 and King of the Anglo-Saxons from 886-899. Once installed on the throne, Alfred fought a number of campaigns against the invading Danes, and after his army’s complete victory at the Battle of Ethandun (878), he forged a treaty (called The Danelaw — we’ll tackle that later) with the Danes of Northern England.

Statue-of-Alfred-the-Great-at-Wantage-Oxfordshire-By-Steve-Daniels-CC-BY-SA-2.0-httpscommons.wikimedia.orgwindex.phpcurid8862807.jpg

As a merciful and kind man of high knowledge, Alfred had the skill to make himself the preeminent ruler of Britain, but also worked to improve the lives of the common people through education and the improvement of the legal and military systems. He was also instrumental in the conversion of the Dane warlord Guthram to Christianity.

King Alfred died on the 26th of October, 899 at either 50 or 51 years of age. The epithet “the Great” was awarded to him around the time of the Great Reformation in the 16th century. How close has The Last Kingdom storyline stayed to the established history known about King Alfred the Great? Let’s check it out next.