Uhtred of Bebbanburg

In 866 Uhtred's father dies fighting the Danes at Eoferwic, and his uncle Ælfric takes Bebbanburg. Ragnar carries the boy off and raises him as a son, alongside Brida, a Saxon girl. Uhtred learns to fight, to speak Danish and to pray to the northern gods.

Years later Ragnar dies when Kjartan burns his hall. With no place left among the Danes, Uhtred flees with Brida to Wessex, where Alfred distrusts him but needs his sword.

In Wessex Uhtred marries Mildrith and kills Ubba at Cynwit, but another man takes the credit. When Guthrum strikes without warning, he is among the few who follow Alfred into the marshes.

At the battle of Ethandun, Uhtred's charge helps turn the day. Guthrum accepts baptism, and Uhtred rides north, set on his own business.

Up north Uhtred helps Guthred become king and falls for his sister, Gisela. Guthred betrays him and sells him as a slave. Rescued, he goes back to settle the score with Kjartan at Dunholm, alongside Ragnar the Younger.

Back south, Alfred binds him with oaths once more. When the king's daughter Æthelflæd is taken by the brothers Erik and Sigefrid, Uhtred is the one sent to bring her home.

Gisela dies in childbirth, and a grieving Uhtred breaks with Alfred. He faces the seeress Skade and a Danish alliance that includes Æthelwold, the king's nephew.

In the end Uhtred and Alfred make peace. The king dies, Edward takes the throne, and Uhtred settles things with Æthelwold.

Uhtred finally makes a move on Bebbanburg, and it goes wrong: Father Beocca dies protecting his son. He then fights at Tettenhall and gets drawn into the struggle over Mercia.

At the season's end, Edward places the boy Æthelstan in Uhtred's care.

Years later Uhtred is raising Æthelstan as a warrior. Brida returns as an enemy, and Æthelflæd's death leaves the kingdom up for grabs.

By the end of the series, Uhtred takes Bebbanburg and is home with his children. After a lifetime away, the son of Bebbanburg is back where he started.

In 937 Æthelstan becomes king and wants England united at any cost. Uhtred is banished, loses Bebbanburg for a while and still refuses to kill the king. At Brunanburh he is gravely wounded shielding Æthelstan and has a vision of Valhalla. The film leaves his fate open.

In Bernard Cornwell's books, an old Uhtred tells his own story in the first person. The author based him on his own ancestors, the lords of Bebbanburg.