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What changed on screen
What changed on screen, title by title: 39 in total. Tap a cover to open it. Titles you haven't marked as read stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction trivia
- ChangeTwo books, one season
The book ends right after Cynwit. S1 packs this book and The Pale Horseman into 8 episodes and runs all the way to Ethandun.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe author's own Uhtred
Cornwell met his birth father at 58 and learned he descended from the Saxon lords of Bebbanburg. That's where the hero's name and roots came from.
source ↗ - ReferenceCynwit was real
The battle that ends the book happened in 878, in Devon. Ubba, one of the leaders of the Great Heathen Army, died there.
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- ChangeSkorpa instead of Svein
In the book, the Dane who takes Uhtred to Cornwall and later turns enemy is Svein of the White Horse. The show created Skorpa for that role.
source ↗ - ChangeIseult's death
In the book, Iseult dies during the battle of Ethandun. On the show, Skorpa's riders kill her when they hit the camp while the men are fighting.
source ↗ - ReferenceAlfred's hideout is real
The marshes where Alfred hides are at Athelney, in Somerset. After his victory, the real Alfred founded a monastery there.
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- ChangeTwo more books, one season
S2 adapts this book and Sword Song in 8 episodes, jumping ahead a few years mid-season to fit both.
source ↗ - ReferenceGuthred has a real model
The slave who becomes king of Northumbria is based on Guthfrith of York. A medieval legend says Saint Cuthbert picked him to be king.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesDunholm is made up
The battle of Dunholm, where Durham stands today, never happened. Cornwell invented it for the book's climax.
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- ChangeKidnapped at the wedding
In the book, Æthelflæd is lost during the retreat from her husband's campaign, after the wedding. On the show, Erik and Sigefrid attack during the wedding itself.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe staged resurrection
The book opens with a dead man who seems to rise in a graveyard. Later, Father Pyrlig reveals it was all staged.
source ↗ - ReferenceA real wedding
Æthelflæd's marriage to Æthelred of Mercia really happened, around 886, and bound Wessex and Mercia against the Danes.
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- 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 ↗ - 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 ↗ - 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.
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- ChangeWho kills Æthelwold
In the book, Æthelwold dies in the final battle among several fallen leaders. On the show, Uhtred is the one who kills him.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesFake angels versus prophecy
To undercut the prophecies of Aelfadell, who is paid by the Danes, Uhtred stages fake angels. Classic Uhtred: he doesn't believe in Christian miracles, but he knows how to use one.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe battle of the Holme
The climax is the battle of the Holme, in 902. With no clear winner, it killed Æthelwold and Eohric, king of East Anglia, just as in the book.
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- ChangeWho kills Cnut
In the book, Uhtred kills Cnut in single combat after Tettenhall and is badly wounded. On the show, Brida kills Cnut.
source ↗ - ChangeÆlfric's end
In the book, the raid on Bebbanburg ends with Uhtred killing his uncle Ælfric. On the show, Wihtgar kills Ælfric, and the raid goes wrong.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA disowned son
When his elder son becomes a priest, Uhtred disowns him and gives the name Uhtred to his younger son. The book opens with that break.
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- ChangeÆthelred's death
In the book, Æthelred dies slowly of wounds from Tettenhall. On the show, Eardwulf kills him.
source ↗ - ChangeEardwulf's fate
In the book, Uhtred hands Eardwulf to Æthelstan, who executes him as part of his training. On the show, Eardwulf lasts much longer.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe sword that heals
Uhtred believes only Ice-Spite, the sword that wounded him, can heal the wound. He goes to Wales for it, and Eadith uses the blade to drain the injury.
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- ChangeNo Ragnall on screen
The book's villain is Ragnall Ivarson, driven out of Ireland. The show drops Ragnall; in S5, Sigtryggr's brother Rǫgnvaldr shows up alongside Brida.
source ↗ - ChangeBrida in Eoferwic
In both, Brida seizes Eoferwic and is killed by Stiorra. In the book it's a side front in the war on Ragnall; on the show, Brida is the season's main enemy.
source ↗ - ReferenceRagnall was real
Ragnall is based on Ragnall ua Ímair, a Viking who took York and died in 921.
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- ChangeAethelhelm's end
In the book, Æthelstan talks Uhtred into ransoming Aethelhelm instead of killing him. On the show, Aethelhelm takes his own life.
source ↗ - ChangeCousin versus Wihtgar
In the book, Bebbanburg is held by Uhtred's cousin, who refuses single combat and dies in the fight. On the show, the last obstacle is Wihtgar.
source ↗ - ReferenceConstantin, king of Alba
The Scottish king besieging Bebbanburg is based on Constantín mac Áeda, who ruled Alba for over 40 years.
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- ChangeOnly bits on screen
The show uses only elements of this book in S5. Sköll the wolf and the war at Heahburh are left out.
source ↗ - ChangeStiorra survives on screen
In the book, Stiorra dies in Sköll's raid on Eoferwic. On the show, she makes it to the end alive, with her father at Bebbanburg.
source ↗ - ReferenceWessex takes Mercia
After Æthelflæd died in 918, Edward took control of Mercia, as in the book. It was a real step toward a single England.
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- ChangeThe film borrows
Seven Kings Must Die is mostly based on War Lord and uses only pieces of this book, such as the feud between Edward's sons.
source ↗ - ReferenceEadgifu was real
The queen who asks Uhtred for help is Eadgifu of Kent, Edward's third wife. She was the mother of Edmund, who would later be king too.
source ↗ - ReferenceÆlfweard, king for days
In real history, Ælfweard outlived his father Edward by only about 16 days. His quick death cleared the way for Æthelstan.
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- ChangeUhtred lives in the book
In the book, Uhtred survives Brunanburh, stays lord of Bebbanburg and comes to be called the Lord of the North. The film leaves him near death with his fate open.
source ↗ - ChangeBebbanburg in other hands
In the book, Uhtred outwits Æthelstan and keeps Bebbanburg. In the film he loses the fortress and is banished, and Anlaf sacks it.
source ↗ - ReferenceBrunanburh ends it all
The last book ends with the battle of Brunanburh, in 937, which secured Æthelstan's rule over the English kingdoms. Cornwell closes the series with it.
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