10 Most Intriguing Characters From The Last Kingdom

A snivelling, cowardly schemer, Æthelwold was perceived by many as an outcast and an agitator who constantly plotted to overthrow his uncle, King Alfred. Played by Harry McEntire, his sly and smarmy persona hid a calculatingly callous dark side which often led the Saxon prince into trouble, though his quick wit usually helped him to weasel him out of difficult situations. He may not have been the bravest warrior, but he was always setting plans in motion to reclaim what he felt was rightfully his – the throne of Wessex.

Always looming in the background but never seeming like a notable danger, Æthelwold's plotting finally came to a head when he made a deal with the Danes, led by Earl Cnut, to attack Wessex and plant himself on the throne following a Danish victory. Few had taken him seriously, but this devious move positioned him as the foremost threat to the safety of the Saxon kingdom.

His murder of Young Ragnar and his subsequent denial to pass the Dane a weapon for entry into Valhalla was a decidedly huge misstep for Æthelwold, as it turned Uhtred’s wrath onto him. Uhtred sought revenge on Æthelwold, cutting him down as he fled the Battle of the Holme, bringing an end to the conspiring trickery from the former ætheling once and for all.