Alfred

At first Alfred is the younger brother of King Æthelred of Wessex, more at ease with books and prayer than with a sword. He takes in Uhtred and Brida warily and keeps them close to learn what they know about the Danes.

When his brother dies, Alfred takes the throne. Right away he feels the weight of ruling the last Saxon kingdom standing, and of handling a warrior who prays to other gods. Alfred bets on patience, Uhtred on the sword, and they spend years trying to win each other over. On top of that, he suffers from an illness that has dogged him since he was young.

A surprise attack by Guthrum forces Alfred to flee into the Somerset marshes with a handful of men. From there he raises an army and wins at Ethandun. Instead of killing Guthrum, he makes him accept baptism.

In the marshes Alfred comes close to losing everything: Guthrum holds the kingdom, and few still believe in him. The victory turns Wessex around and shows the king he wants to be, more clever than bloodthirsty.

Alfred wields Uhtred like a weapon, demanding one oath after another. He marries his daughter Æthelflæd to Æthelred of Mercia to bind the kingdoms, and the wedding ends with her kidnapped. To get her back, he needs Uhtred once again.

Alfred would rather have a tight treaty than an endless war, which keeps putting him at odds with Uhtred, who thinks Danes respect only the sword. At home his wife, Aelswith, trusts Uhtred even less than he does. The bridge between king and warrior is Father Beocca, who has known Uhtred since he was a boy at Bebbanburg.

Ailing, Alfred readies his son Edward for the throne and tries to make sure the dream of one English kingdom outlives him. After years of feuding, he and Uhtred reconcile. Alfred dies this season, and the dream passes to his children. The show calls that dream Englaland: one land for everyone who speaks English.

In Bernard Cornwell's books Alfred is also seen through Uhtred's eyes: a sickly, devout and very shrewd king.