[8] Offa's dominance was secured in part by marriage alliances with the other major kingdoms: Beorhtric of Wessex and Æthelred of Northumbria were married to his daughters. 8 episodes (see below) He’s taken his army to Aegelesburg, leaving Winchester undefended. He then realizes that the king means to propose to the Ealdormen and the Mercian Guard that Ludeca should be the successor. Letters between Charlemagne and Pope Leo III suggest that Coenwulf had a hand in Eardwulf's removal. Burgred lost his eldest during the massacre. He reports that Cnut’s army has attacked Mercia. [13] Frankish support for Northumbria thus appears to have been driven by a desire to counter Mercian influence in southern Britain, an area with long-standing ties to Francia. [43] Issues of new currency appear to have been limited under Eardwulf, and significant numbers of Northumbrian coins are not again attested until the reign of Eardwulf's son Eanred. [40], This settlement ended open warfare, but Eardwulf was deposed in 806, in unknown circumstances. Egbert was more successful, taking and holding the throne of Wessex in 802. So, they are forced to fight their way out. Supporting evidence comes from a twelfth-century list of the burial places of saints compiled at Peterborough. Kendrick, Corpus of Early Medieval Coin Finds website, "An Appeal to Rome: Anglo-Saxon Dispute Settlement, 800–810", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eardwulf_of_Northumbria&oldid=999848527, Burials at the Church of St Mary and St Hardulph, Breedon on the Hill, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 January 2021, at 07:15. If the Lady Æthelflæd throws herself into the paths of the Danes, it will leave a path open for Eadith, but she has no desire to be married to a husband who used to be king. The same may be true of Mercia from the death of Ceolred in 716 until the disappearance of the Mercian kingdom in the late ninth century. [42] It is now known that the issue of new coins continued during Eardwulf's reign, as two of his coins were identified in the 1990s. [44], Like many of his predecessors, Eardwulf took to exile when he was deposed. Stiorra tells him that he brought this on himself, so he slaps her. 1 novel (see below) Hæsten jokingly tells Eardwulf that Sigtryggr is playing with him and will show mercy. ("Episode 4.4"), Eardwulf informs Æthelred that the settlements around Lindcylne have capitulated. Eardwulf becomes enraged. However, Eardwulf won’t deny the wishes of the king. While it may be simply an alternative to dux, it might represent a position approximating to that of the Mayor of the Palace in late Merovingian Francia. Alcuin, while condemning secular oppression of the church, affected surprise that while the Archbishop Eanbald was travelling he was accompanied by a large retinue, including soldiers, and that he received and protected the king's enemies. He remembers Brida from the Battle of Tettenhall and how she was humiliated. [54] According to a medieval calendar of saints, the Benedictine monks at Breedon celebrated Hardulph's feast day on 21 August. Her death helps that rat Æthelwold set a trap into play that gets Uhtred banished, creating a ton of drama. Sigrid - Stabbed by Earl Ragnar to prevent her from being burned by Kjartan and Sven. ("Episode 4.5"), Æthelred holds Eadith's hand and demands that she do not leave his room. East Anglia; Hæsten arranges a meeting with Eardwulf. Eardwulf agrees that they shouldn’t, claiming he did all he could to convince the king to return sooner. Mercia Even though he made it appear as if he was heading east, Eardwulf and Æthelhelm are sure to realise he is heading to Chester, so Uhtred takes refuge in an abandoned fort. He will find Æthelred and beg him for forgiveness. He came from a disgraced noble family of … [2], Kings did not rule alone, but rather governed together with the leading churchmen and nobles. Although he had faced considerable opposition and had been driven into exile, he succeeded in founding a dynasty. In 801, Eardwulf led an army against Coenwulf of Mercia, perhaps because of Coenwulf's support for other claimants to the Northumbrian throne. Eanbald was presumably in conflict with Eardwulf over property, but it is likely that he also supported rivals for Eardwulf's throne. Burgred believes this to be Æthelred’s time of judgement. Eardwulf was deposed in 806 and according to a Frankish record, returned to his kingdom in 808. However, Eardwulf then reveals that she’s in fact Uhtred’s daughter. However, they did defeat the Danes and Erdwukf assures the king he'll recover. She wants to take this opportunity to escape and avoid the turmoil when Æthelred dies. ("Episode 4.6"), Eardwulf confronts Burgred as he's exiting the king’s chamber. 790 â€“ c. 830) was king of Northumbria from 796 to 806, when he was deposed and went into exile. Unlike her, he refuses to run merely because it’s become dangerous. However, Eardwulf tells them to ignore her as she’s only a whore he once knew. Charlemagne initially ruled Francia and parts of Italy, but by 796 had become master of an empire which stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Hungarian Plain. Eardwulf claims to have always served the king well, but while Æthelred cannot place it, his stomach tells him that Eardwulf lies. The main lines were those of Eadberht, Æthelwald Moll and Alhred. Eardwulf finds Eadith lying in bed after having sex with the king, who is in a considerably good mood. Eardwulf realizes that this could mean bad for him and his family’s legacy, so he kills the messenger. He first appears in the historical record circa 790, when Symeon of Durham reports that:[27]. [29] Osred returned from exile but was betrayed, and killed by Æthelred's command on 14 September 792. It premiered in 2015 on BBC America, BBC Two and later in 2018 on Netflix. For Eardwulf, recovering Aethelflaed's daughter Aelfwynn was integral; she was the key to his rise to become Mercia's new lord, the most powerful figure in a kingdom where he has had to bow and scrape to restore his family honour. Æthelred has now died, so it is not clear who has the authority to command the troops. Ludeca asks Eardwulf about Burgred, who’s not yet to make another move. [20] If this is correct she must have been illegitimate, as the marriages of all the legitimate daughters are known. He wants silver. [22], Eardwulf was not, so far as is known, connected to any of the factions that had been warring for the throne up to the mid-790s. Eadith - Sister † Symeon of Durham, p. 463; Roger of Hoveden's version reads "king of the Angels". She’s the mistress of a soon-to-be dead king and Eardwulf is the favorite. He reports to Æthelred that he met a Danish spy who revealed that Cnut is taking his warriors from East Anglia and heading to Irland, leaving their women and children in undefended settlements. The Last Kingdom (2015– ) Episode List. King Edward, Lord Æthelhelm, and Ludeca agree that the union between Mercia and Wessex is critical. He then turns his attention to Eardwulf, who works for his own desires. Eardwulf reveals that he got this information from Hæsten, who the king calls a well known liar. [21] Coenwulf, on the other hand, who became king of Mercia shortly after Eardwulf's accession, is recorded as having fought with Eardwulf in 801. Originally, the series was produced by BBC America and was co-produced by Netflix . The Last Kingdom spans 10 years, 866-876. He promised Æthelflæd that he would not act without her. The historian Alan Thacker estimates that there were about eight men holding the title of dux in late Northumbria. [50] From this, it is argued that Eardwulf's second reign ended circa 830, rather than in the years soon after 810, and that the reigns of subsequent kings should be re-dated accordingly: Eanred from 830 to 854, Æthelred II from 854 to 862, Rædwulf in 858, and Osberht from 862 to 867. So now, he must tell the king the truth about Mercia. Siblings Eardwulf replies that for a whore, his sister lacks ambition. The saddest part was that he left with all the soldiers leaving the whole kingdom at Cnut's mercy, making him the worst leader in Mercian history. Eardwulf has no fear of the sickness, claiming it only takes sinners, but his men aren’t convinced and turn around. During the latter half of the eighth century, the Northumbrian succession included a long series of murdered and deposed kings, as several royal lines contended for the throne. Mercia Some of Eardwulf's men have already entered Ceaster and he learns they plan to open the gate for the Norse army. The Pale Horseman spans 2 years, 876-878. Edward wishes to further discuss this unity as well as the betrothal of his niece. As of the third season, Netflix had picked up the production entirely and it became a full Netflix Original and the rest, as they say, is history. [55], The death of Eardwulf is not recorded. The Mercian Guard is loyal to Eardwulf and the Ealdormen are against the king. ("Episode 4.1"), Avlesburv, Mercia; Eardwulf returns to Avlesburv. The evidence of Northumbrian coinage is particularly valuable in the ninth century, when contemporary written evidence all but disappears. Eardwulf fears that without a plan, King Edward will take Æthelred’s throne and Mercia will be subsumed. The next reports of Eardwulf are in Frankish sources:[46]. His ambition and hatred of Edward made him stupid as he sought to prove himself as the deserving king of the united England. In the eight years be­fore Eard­wulf's ac­ces­sion, all three of these dy­nas­tic lines were in­volved in the strug­gle for king­ship: on 23 Sep­tem­ber 788, King Ælfwald I, grand­son of Ead­berht, was mur­dered by the patri­cius Sicga near Hex­ham, and Ælfwald's cousin Osred be­came k… Eardwulf is then executed by the Danes. Eardwulf hands Æthelred a sword that they ripped from the hands of an ugly Dane named Ulf. [2], This record of disputed succession was by no means unique to Northumbria, and the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex experienced similar troubles during the eighth and ninth centuries. Sigtryggr enters and disarms Eardwulf before hitting him. [34], Although Æthelred had been Eardwulf's enemy, Æthelred's killers proved to be equally hostile to Eardwulf. In season 4 of The Last Kingdom, fans are introduced to a number of new characters. Ealdormen of Mercia vie for control of the land. She adds that Eardwulf is also responsible for the delay of their return to Mercia. Uhtred outwits his opponent and forces Eardwulf to flee with only a handful of troops. Uhtred and Stiorra go back to Gloucester to kidnap Æthelred's daughter, in order to prevent her from being married to Eardwulf. ("Episode 4.5"), The Ealdormen questions why Eardwulf lies to the king when he is certain to die. [17] Shortly before Æthelred was murdered in 796, an embassy from Francia delivered gifts for the king and his bishops. Eardwulf replies that for a whore, his sister lacks ambition. When is the Netflix release date for The Last Kingdom season five? ... Eadith (Stefanie Martini), and a new “right hand man,” Eardwulf (Jamie Blackley). [28], Eardwulf's whereabouts after his recovery are not known. ("Episode 4.6"), Mercia; Eardwulf and the guards cross paths with a group of villagers. Æthelred has been wounded at the Battle of Tettenhall, and is now dying. ("Episode 4.9"), Winchester, Wessex; Drunk off ale, Eardwulf enters the reading room, where Stiorra sits alone. Wormald, "The Age of Offa and Alcuin", p. 101. [52], A panelled stone structure in the church, carved with processions of bearded and robed figures under arches, seems to reproduce details found in the Book of Cerne, a work associated with Bishop Æthelwold of Lichfield (818–830). He was possibly buried at the Mercian royal monastery of Breedon on the Hill, which carries a dedication to Saint Mary and Saint Hardulph, with whom Eardwulf is identified by several historians. He then orders for Æthelhelm, Ælflæd, and Ælfweard to be locked up. And so, the Danes plan to leave for Winchester as soon as possible. She detests him however. Events in southern Britain to 796 have sometimes been portrayed as a struggle between Offa and Charlemagne, but the disparity in their power was enormous, and Offa and then Coenwulf were clearly minor figures by comparison. Edward fears that his sister will not mourn her husband. However, that is no concern of hers. Cnut is taking his men to Irland. ("Episode 4.6"), Wealas; Eardwulf finds himself cornered by Brida and the Danes. However, the moment she has sex with him, he’ll lose interest in her. Eardwulf questions why Hæsten is so eager to tell him this. Pyrlig then reveals that Æthelflæd has escaped and left Aegelesburg. He’s on the verge of death and everyoneis scrambling to choose a successor. The word dux is usually translated by the Old English word ealdorman. While Northumbria lacks the body of charters which shed light on the institutions of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, sufficient evidence survives for historians to reconstruct some aspects of Northumbrian political life. [42], From the 740s until the end of the Northumbrian kingdom, coins were issued by most kings, although in variable quantities. The Last Kingdom: Season 2 (Trailer) Episodes The Last Kingdom ... Eardwulf and his men pursue Uhtred's party as it flees through a countryside ravaged by disease. ("Episode 4.5"), Eardwulf is invited to feast with the King. Year: ... As he lingers near death, Aethelred shows repentance. However, Eardwulf explains that they’ve had word from Lady Æthelflæd. Eardwulf reveals to Brida, Sigtryggr, and the Danes that after Tettenhall, Edward believes the Danes no longer hold a threat. Eadith screams out from the crowd for them to have mercy. In Wessex, from the death of Centwine in 685 to Egbert's seizure of power in 802, the relationships between successive kings are far from clear and few kings are known to have been close kinsmen of their predecessors or successors. [25] Eardwulf's father may have been one of the two Eardwulfs whose deaths are recorded by Symeon of Durham in 774 and 775. Season: OR . Executed under Sigtryggr's orders. Novel Series [32], Eardwulf became king on 14 May 796. The meaning of the title in Northumbria is unclear, but it appears that there was only one patricius. Only a handful of soldiers remain there. Once Æthelred leaves, Eadith questions if what her brother says is true. Uhtred returns to Gloucester, and he learns than Eardwulf had returned briefly and stolen Æthelred's wealth. He wonders if he has Eardwulf’s loyalty. Eadith advises Eardwulf to save himself and flee to Frankia. Eadith doesn’t want anyone else’s blood on her hands nor does she want to be married to a man who kills so frivolously. Eardwulf (fl. In "The Empty Throne", Eardwulf, whose sister is Æthelred's lover, commands Æthelred's household warriors. Ealdorman Uhtred - Stabbed in the throat by a Dane. RELATED: The Last Kingdom: 10 Things That Should Happen In Season 5. 70; cf. One of the most memorable of those is definitely Eardwulf (Jamie Blackley) who tries to constantly manipulate Aethelred (Toby Regbo). [18] Charlemagne in time became a supporter of Eardwulf. Eadith reveals that he has not spoken of Eardwulf, but they should leave before his mind returns. He was a staunch defender of the Papacy, and in the popes and the church hierarchy he had allies whose influence extended to Northumbria and beyond. He slapped her when she insulted him, but Sihtric walked in and witnessed this, so he beat up Eardwulf. King Æthelred is weak and barely conscious. Brida questions how Sigtryggr can speak so frivolously against the greatest of their kind who has ever walked the land. Eardwulf then saves Edward from an incoming attack after Steapa is killed protecting him. There is benefit in delaying their return however. The village woman asks if the warriors he speak of brought the sickness. Eardwulf asks her to stop, as it is clear sacrilege. Eardwulf believes their in need of a peacemaker, someone to unite the divisions. Brida determines that Stiorra is at least half Dane. His family will never prosper and his sister will never leave Æthelred's bed. [6] Immediately below the archbishop were three bishops: the bishop of Lindisfarne, the bishop of Hexham and the bishop of Whithorn. Somehow, the choice falls on Eardwulf byKing Edward of Wessex (Timothy Innes). At the beginning of the books Uhtred is 9 years old (12 in the series) so by the end of book two Uhtred is 21 years old and in the TV show, 24. One of the new characters introduced to season four was Eadith (played by Stefanie Martini), the sister of Eardwulf (Jamie Blackley). Also, Cnut's armies have raided Mercia and taken the king’s palace at Aegelesburg. The Last Kingdom now loses a few years in the timeline here and moves to 886. A group of nobles conspired to assassinate Æthelred in April 796 and he was succeeded by Osbald: Osbald's reign lasted only twenty-seven days before he was deposed and Eardwulf became king on 14 May 796. Uhtred's brother - Decapitated by Earl Ragnar. Æthelflæd then unexpectedly arrives, familiar with both Eardwulf and Eadith. Such people will not thrive. At length, with the advice of the bishops and chiefs of the Angles on either side, they made peace through the kindness of the king of the Angles. In 798 a dux named Wada, who was one of those who had killed King Æthelred, fought with Eardwulf on Billington Moor, near Whalley, Lancashire. After the defeat of the Norse army, the two armies negotiate that the Norse will be allowed to leave for Irland unhindered, as neither army has enough men for a good victory. However, Eardwulf believes the king will be dead soon, and if that’s the case, they'll have no need to run. The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories series of novels. Hæsten explains that he has not been rewarded for his services to the Danish. [7], Northumbria's southern neighbour Mercia was, under the rule of kings Æthelbald, Offa and Coenwulf, the dominant kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England. And at all times, they are united and never fight out of anger as this is the way of the old generation. Burgred claims to have greater forces and that the lord is on his side. The Last Kingdom remained in the top ten for 19 days in the US, and 24 days in the UK. She tells the guards to look inside the pouch that her brother wears around his neck. King Coenwulf of Mercia may have supported the unfortunate Ealhmund,[39] and Symeon of Durham wrote that in 801: Eardwulf, king of the Northumbrians, led an army against Coenwulf, king of Mercians, because he had given asylum to his enemies. 220–225 and Fig. However, Æthelred’s willingness to kill his own wife would suggest otherwise. Monks are leaving with silver to bargain for his heart. So, Eardwulf doubles the reward of every man that chooses to stay. The evidence as regards the deposition of kings is equally limited. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Æthelred says he’ll consider it after Eardwulf takes all of East Anglia. He claims that the Danish have been loading ships for three days, leaving the land they fought so hard for. [24] Historian Barbara Yorke has proposed that he was a descendant of one Eanwine who (according to Symeon of Durham) was killed in 740 on the orders of King Eadberht. The lord’s estate has fallen. Eardwulf surrounds Uhtred at the abandoned fort and demands he surrender Ælfwynn. Cause of Death However, Eardwulf knows how to defeat Edward. Eardwulf explains that he’s simply trying to keep the king happy and instructs his sister to do the same. In both cases the decision is presented as that of some form of council. Eardwulf leaves for Gloucester and Uhtred, suspecting an attack, prepares a trap for Eardwulf. In 799, a dux named Moll was killed by Eardwulf's "urgent command". Stabbed in the throat by Æthelstan.