Uhtred of Bebbanburg - A Fictional Character?
Uhtred of Bebbanburg is a son of the Saxon Ealdorman Uhtred, Lord of Bebbanburg, and was born in Northumbria. He lived during the era of Alfred the Great in the late 9th century, when Britain was divided between warring kingdoms, each one ruled by it's own king. The Danes had already landed, conquering large parts of Britain. As a child, Uhtred learned that the Danes, and the kingdoms of Scotland, Mercia, East Anglia and Wessex were his enemy, and the enemy of his kingdom.
“I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred, and this is the tale of a blood feud...”
Uhtred, who was originally named Osbert, was not the first born. He had an older brother also called Uhtred, who died in battle against the Danes. The name Uhtred was given to first born sons by tradition, and so passed down to Osbert, after his brother's death.
This seems to be a plausible story, realistically following historical events back in the Anglo-Saxon period. However, Uhtred of Bebbanburg was indeed a fictional character. He was created by the author of The Saxon Stories, Bernard Cornwell. Uhtred first appears in the The Last Kingdom, which is the first book in the Saxon series, and now a television series.
So was Uhtred of Bebbanburg fictional or real?
Well, Bernard Cornwell's family tree had been traced back to the 6th century by his father. While searching through this historical family tree, Bernard discovered he was descended from Uchtred (Uhtred) the Bold from the 11th century, an Ealdorman of Northumbria and Lord of Bamburgh! Uhtred the Bold reigned from 1006 to 1016, when he met his treacherous death at the hands of Thurbrand the Hold, a thegn of Cnut, son of Sweyn Forkbeard.
It was this fascinating link that inspired Bernard to write The Last Kingdom, and the rest of the Saxon stories, with Uhtred of Bebbanburg at its helm.
Uhtred in The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell
We know that Bernard Cornwell created Uhtred for the Last Kingdom, and the Saxon Stories series, so what is the book about?
In the late 9th century, the Viking Danes had set sail across the sea and arrived in Northumbria. Following the usual trend of Viking behaviour of invasion, pillaging and conquering, they captured York (Eoferwic). York was a major town in the North, and was seen as a vital victory for the Danes. Uhtred's father, Ealdorman Uhtred quickly marched to York with a small army, in an attempt to reclaim the stronghold. Uhtred (of Bebbanburg) did not want to be left behind with the priest, and so the boy secretly followed his father into battle.
However, young Uhtred of Bebbanburg was captured by Ragnar the Fearless, after witnessing his father die in the failed assault. Uhtred is taken to live among the Danes. Initially, he was kept as a slave, but through his fighting spirit, courage and determination, Ragnar grew fond of him. Some time passed, and Uhtred began adopting the Viking way, worshipping their Gods and enjoying the free spirited life that the Danes led. Soon enough, Uhtred was treated like a brother and son to Ragnar's family, and became known as Uhtred Ragnarson.
Things would soon change though. A squabble in the Danish camp between children from different families, led to Ragnar banishing another Viking, Kjartan. Keen to seek revenge, Kjartan attacked Ragnar's home with fire. The outcome was not good for Uhtred's adopted family, and he was forced to flee. But where would Uhtred go?
With allies dropping on both the Saxon and the Viking side, Uhtred and his sword arrived in Wessex, another enemy kingdom, in his mind. But there he would join the service of Alfred the Great, in what was the last unconquered Saxon kingdom. Not always seeing eye to eye with the king, Uhtred's destiny was still linked with Alfred's, and the desire to get Bebbanburg could only be achieved with Alfred's help. Destiny is all.
More Saxon Stories in the Series by Bernard Cornwell
Lord Uhtred of Bebbanburg features throughout the Saxon Stories series, on a quest to seek what is rightfully his, Bebbanburg. Here are the books in the series, which can be found in my bookshop.
The Last Kingdom Trailer for Series 1
Behind the scenes trailer of The Last Kingdom
Interview with Bernard Cornwell
