The Last Kingdom: 5 Best Saxon Leaders Ranked (& The 5 Best Dane Leaders)

There are many great and terrible leaders in The Last Kingdom but which Danes and Saxons are the best seen on the show so far?

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The four seasons have taught fans to expect more than just historical drama whenever a new episode of The Last Kingdom airs. The show has been named the new Game Of Thrones; one without nudity and dragons, of course. However, the leaders in The Last Kingdom are the one thing that has made all the difference.

Communities need talented leaders when there are deep divides and hate on both sides, with everyone just trying to survive. It is clear that no one is entitled to the whole of England, and for peace to reign, Danes and Saxons will have to coexist as neighbors. So far, these 10 are the only people that have made that possible.

10 Saxon: Alfred

The Last Kingdom is based on Bernard Cornwell’s novels about King Alfred The Great, a role that was given to David Dawson. Alfred’s dream of a united England has become the rallying call of all the Saxon communities all because he was smart enough to remind them that they needed each other.

He managed to recruit Uhtred, a Dane, to train his army and swore his son’s protection into his hands, which is probably the smartest decision he ever made. King Alfred can be perfectly described as the king of the last kingdom, whether it will be a united England or just Wessex in the end.

9 Dane: Uhtred

Whether you prefer Uhtred of Bebbanburg or Uhtred the Godless, one thing remains constant; Everyone loves Uhtred. Uhtred has a perfect score as a leader, especially in battle. His bravery and charisma always help to rally men to fight.

He puts everyone else ahead of himself and has managed to save both Danes and Saxons from wiping each other out even at the expense of his own well being. His stubbornness stands in the way of his decision making sometimes, but he is still the most reliable person whenever everyone’s life is at stake.

8 Saxon: Aethelflaed

Lady Aethelflaed, portrayed by Millie Brady, is definitely the most improved character in the show since its first season. From a shy little girl that looked after her crying brother and listened to dad’s orders without question to the strong independent woman that she has become.

Aethelflaed took her life back by revolting against her chauvinistic husband then proceeded to dedicate her whole life to Mercia despite having been born in Wessex. Her charisma and fighting spirit have helped her become the first female leader of a Saxon kingdom, all rightfully earned.

7 Dane: Brida

Brida is a hard person to understand and definitely, impossible to please. Unlike Uhtred, Brida has grown to hate Christians so much that she no longer seems to fit anywhere. Her lack of foresight, however, doesn’t make her any less of a lady to follow.

She helped Young Ragnar raise the largest Dane army ever seen, which would have taken over Wessex if Ragnar wasn’t assassinated. She also became the other half Sigtryggr needed to take over Wessex. She is the key to unlocking the future of the Danes and definitely the bravest woman in the show.

6 Saxon: Edward

Edward has not grown into the wise and understanding king the fans expected since he doesn’t listen to advice and also seems to have abandoned people that truly love him. Sidelining Uhtred and Aelswith from his inner circle hasn’t helped his rule, but he is still a wise leader. His decisions since becoming king have been in the interest of Wessex and his family.

He has also managed to retain full control of his father’s lands, including Mercia, and also retain control of the army despite the threats from the rich lords surrounding him. He has beaten huge odds so far, which makes him the king to watch.

5 Dane: Sigtryggr

Sigtryggr was the biggest surprise the Danes brought to the fourth season. He seems to be the first Dane leader that is not planning to wipe out the Saxons. His ability to negotiate with Uhtred and secure an agreement with Edward was just ingenious.

The biggest surprise was his ability to convince Stiorra to marry him and still retain Uhtred’s respect. If the Danes have any future in England, it will have to be with Sigtryggr as their leader, or at least someone that adopts his line of thinking.

4 Saxon: Lady Aelswith

No one ever expected Aelswith to let Uhtred anywhere close to her children, leave alone trust him with saving them. She believed that everyone that was not a Christian was her enemy, not knowing that her enemies shared her religion. Her blindness to religion, however, stopped when it came to choosing what is best for the kingdom.

First, she endured Alfred’s infidelity and stayed to mold him into the strong king Wessex needed. She then brokered a deal that helped secure her son, Edward’s place on the throne while retaining the loyalty of the army to himself. Her ability to rally the court workers and guards to her side made her invaluable to the show.

3 Dane: Young Ragnar

Uhtred has made lots of mistakes, but his worst one was abandoning Ragnar. Ragnar loved Uhtred and saved him when everyone else cast him out. That is who Ragnar was; A keeper that ensured everyone on his side was safe. With Brida at his side, he managed to bring together all the Danish communities forming the only army that posed a real threat to Alfred’s strengthened army.

Ragnar was also the father figure of his broken family, always solving the squabbles between Uhtred and Brida. He was the most deserving king of the Danes; Except, like Aelswith, he trusted everyone that identified as a Dane.

2 Saxon: Steapa

After Alfred, Steapa’s death was the saddest and the biggest loss in the show. Steapa didn’t talk a lot, but he was very loyal to Alfred. When Uhtred was picked to train the army on how to fight with the Danes, Steapa was the first one to warm up to him. He helped Alfred win all his wars.

He also became Edward’s confidant despite the latter’s arrogance and inexperience. Most fans hoped Steapa would live longer and help Uhtred retake Bebbanburg as Uhtred helped him rebuild his army. He was the mighty sword that held everything together behind the chaos.

1 Dane: Jarl Cnut

Cnut was not a very likable leader nor a smart one at that, but he managed to pull off the impossible. Cnut was the last man you would expect to kill Ragnar, let alone keep it a secret. However, what made him a great leader was his military genius of fooling Aethelred and taking Mercia.

He was brutal and cunning, but he understood what it would take for a Dane to rule a Saxon kingdom. He also understood that he needed Brida if he was to remain significant as a leader and he did it perfectly. Also, If Uhtred didn’t outwit him, he would probably still be the king of Mercia.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/the-last-kingdom-5-best-saxon-leaders-ranked-the-5-best-dane-leaders/