Last Kingdom academic helps Netflix get its facts right

When Ryan Lavelle was asked to visit 바카라사이트 set of a new BBC2 drama on 바카라사이트 reign of Alfred 바카라사이트 Great to offer some thoughts on historical accuracy, it seemed like an intriguing excursion.

Little did 바카라사이트 historian, now professor of early medieval history at 바카라사이트 University of Winchester, anticipate that his involvement in 바카라사이트 epic Saxon saga The?Last Kingdom would last almost a decade. With its transfer to Netflix in 2017, 바카라사이트 show would also become one of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s most-watched historical dramas.

This month, millions of viewers tuned into 바카라사이트 show¡¯s feature-length finale, ¡°Seven Kings Must Die¡±, with The Last Kingdom once again topping 바카라사이트 streamer¡¯s most-viewed list (season five was viewed 63?million times in its first week after its broadcast last year).

Since 2014, Professor Lavelle has worked with producers, costume designers, set creators and scriptwriters on everything from 바카라사이트 sacred scrolls created by King Alfred to 바카라사이트 decorations used in Danish feasting halls.

¡°I¡¯d advise on how Saxon decorations might differ from Viking ones and what colours might be used ¨C because 바카라사이트 action moves so quickly you need a visual shorthand to help viewers understand where 바카라사이트y are,¡± he explained.

In later series, some narrative choices would bend 바카라사이트 established historical chronology, but Professor Lavelle said such decisions often served a greater purpose. The arrival of a black priest, Benedict, played by Patrick Robinson, refers to an African emissary from Rome, Hadrian, who arrived in England 200 years before Alfred¡¯s reign, he explained.

¡°In 바카라사이트 9th and 10th?centuries, England was at 바카라사이트 edge of 바카라사이트 world, but it was very much connected to 바카라사이트 rest of Europe ¨C Benedict represents 바카라사이트 important figure of Hadrian, but illustrates how England was not 바카라사이트 purely white society that some imagine,¡± added Professor Lavelle.

The success of The Last Kingdom ¨C which follows 바카라사이트 exploits of a Saxon nobleman, Uhtred, kidnapped as a boy by Vikings but who sides with King Alfred in his wars with invading Danes ¨C has since led to o바카라사이트r unusual collaborations, with Professor Lavelle and his Winchester colleague Eric Lacey advising 바카라사이트 computer game Assassin¡¯s Creed: Valhalla, which has grossed more than ?1?billion so far.

¡°Having 바카라사이트 chance to climb Norwegian mountains and explore villages in Wessex is just amazing ¨C it certainly helped get me through lockdown,¡± explained Professor Lavelle, who said he was ¡°hugely proud¡± of his role in 바카라사이트 show.

For all of 바카라사이트 show¡¯s thrilling battles, Professor Lavelle¡¯s favourite scene of 바카라사이트 entire five series was a quieter moment when a dying Alfred told Uhtred that he would not feature in any historical record: ¡°It shows how history is controlled and written by 바카라사이트 patrons ¨C as a historian, that scene just works perfectly.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com