The Burning Land

The years 892 and 893. Alfred is ill and asks Uhtred to swear loyalty to his son Edward. Uhtred refuses: the oath would get in the way of his plan to go home to Bebbanburg. He beats Harald Bloodhair in Kent, but Gisela dies in childbirth. Grieving, Uhtred strikes a cleric who insults her, and the man dies. Alfred fines him and puts his children in Æthelflæd's care. Uhtred breaks his oath, runs off with Skade to the north and Frisia and kills her husband, but the treasure is a letdown. Back home, he saves Æthelflæd from her husband's scheme and becomes her lover. The book ends with the capture of Haesten's forts at Benfleet.

1. ChangeGrieving Gisela

   In the book, Uhtred strikes a cleric who insults Gisela, and the man dies. On the show he digs up her body, kills a monk by accident and even takes Alfred hostage.

   source ↗
2. ChangeSkade, lover to prisoner

   In the book, Uhtred runs off with Skade to the north and Frisia after a pirate hoard. On the show, he captures her and keeps her prisoner.

   source ↗
3. ReferenceBenfleet, 893

   The assault on Haesten's forts at Benfleet (Beamfleot) is historical. In 893 the Saxons took the Danish camp and captured Haesten's family.

   source ↗