Is the last kingdom connected to Vikings? When the two shows take place

Given that the two historical television shows explore similar themes of religion, identity and nationality, some people have wondered if The last kingdom And Vikings are connected. Although it has been around for some time, the 2010s saw an increasing interest in the historical fiction genre. Vikings was one of the shows at the heart of the trend, as many people were intrigued by the lore and characters (especially Ragnar and Lagertha). They also couldn’t get enough of the engaging blood-filled battle sequences and engaging stories.

With the series proving to be a huge success, it’s not that surprising when many streaming platforms and channels started creating shows that are quite similar to Vikings. Although many of these shows are fantastic, The last kingdom was one that particularly attracted the attention of Vikings‘ Fans seemed to follow a similar structure, contain real-life historical figures, and continued to explore the tensions between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes. Ultimately, this led many to wonder whether The last kingdom was a spinoff or a sequel, with some still confused about it to this day.

The Last Kingdom is not a sequel to Vikings

The similarities of the show, however, are not officially connected

Although the two shows share a lot of similar elements, sadly, The last kingdom Is not a sequel or a spinoff to Vikings. instead, The last kingdom is actually based on Bernard Cornwell’s popular historical novels, The Saxon Stories, which follows Uhtred of Bebbanburg as he tries to reclaim his home after it was stolen from him when he was a child.

Although he was raised by Danes, he soon finds himself struggling to stay loyal to his family as he swears an oath to serve Alfred the Great and the Saxons. The series used the five seasons to showcase the story, with it eventually culminating in the movie, Seven kings must die.

While this may come as a disappointment, some new fans of Vikings Will be delighted to know that Netflix has commissioned a sequel to the show in 2021, titled Vikings: Valhalla. This is set 100 years after the events of Vikings and chronicles the lives of characters, such as William the Conqueror, Leif Erickson, and Emma of Normandy. Like its predecessor, Vikings: Wahalla Also has a talented cast that helps bring the characters to life.

When the last kingdom takes place compared to vikings

There is a gap between the two timelines

While The last kingdom And Vikings Having different protagonists, the two series cover a similar period of history (the Viking Age). Whereas the pilot episode of Vikings Takes place in 793 AD and begins with Ragnar’s invasion of Lindisfarne, The last kingdom Pilot opens in 866 AD, letting viewers see what Uhtred’s upbringing was like before he was taken by the Danes in the Siege of Eofervik.

The show then jumps forward a couple of years, where Uhtred is now an adult and has begun to come up with a plan so he can reclaim his birthright and home. This essentially means that there are around 100 years between the two. However, this does not mean that the gap did not overlap at some point. Given that Vikings And the spinoff covers the entire Viking Age (which lasted between 793-1066 AD), the show would naturally include similar historical and important moments (like Alfred the Great’s reign [871-99] and the main battles between the two sides).

The only major difference is that The last kingdom History pays more attention to the reigns of Alfred the Great, Edward the Elder (899-924 AD), and Æthelstan (927-939 AD) since they were all important in Uhtred’s history and in the unification of England. The show and movie don’t really need to go beyond that.

Several characters appear in both shows

Despite The last kingdom And Vikings Not being set in the same universe, viewers see many similar and legendary characters appear. for example, Both shows feature Alfred the Great But portray the ruler differently (Alfred the Great in The last kingdom is much older and wiser whereas Vikings is younger, inexperienced and reckless). Alfred’s brother, Aethelred, also appeared in both shows. However, he only appears in 3 episodes of The last kingdom Since he wasn’t really important to the story the writers wanted to tell (they just needed to show his death to usher in Alfred’s reign).

These two aren’t the only characters the show shares. Despite playing a bigger part in Vikings (since he was the son of Ragnar Lothbrok), Ubba (or Ubbe) is relegated to a supporting role in The last kingdom, playing a minor antagonist in season 1. Although he does not physically appear on screen, the writers also confirm that Ivar the Boneless exists in The last kingdom Universe as he was killed in season 1, episode 4, while in Ireland.

By including the same legendary characters and important figures, it means that the writers of The last kingdom And Vikings Ensuring the audience knows just how vital they are to the story.

What events overlap the series?

Alfred the Great reigns in both series

Despite the fact that there is no real connection between Vikings And The last kingdomThe two series can be viewed as an almost perfect chronological tale of Viking culture. As there is a gap between the two shows in terms of their timelines, there is not much overlap in terms of the story. however, The one big event that both shows cover is Alfred’s reign as King of the Vikings. Vikings Shows the birth of the future king in season 3 of the series, and coincidentally, it is in season 3 of The last kingdom When Applered dies.

However, while both series feature the character as his influence on the Viking world, his involvement in both shows also highlights how they can sometimes interpret history in different ways. for example, Vikings Sees Alfred as king with his brother Aethelred seeking to overthrow him. however, The last kingdom Alfred only became king after the death of Æthelred. Despite the historical differences, the reign of Alfred makes the most prominent event to highlight the overlap of Vikings And The last kingdom.

Sources: Story Extra – The Last Kingdom, History Extra – Vikings