Ubba (probably died 878) was a ninth-century Viking, and one of the commanders of the Great Army that invaded Anglo-Saxon England in the 860s. Ivar - Brother †Halfdan - Brother † If his troops were drawn from the Scandinavian settlement started by Herioldus over two decades before, many of Ubba's men might well have been born in Frisia. A second series of eight episodes was aired on BBC Two in the UK in March 2017. In the autumn of 865, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle records that the Great Army invaded the Kingdom of East Anglia, where they afterwards made peace with the East Anglians and overwintered. [26] Another possibility is that this term simply refers to Scyldings, an ancient lineage from which Danish monarchs of the time claimed descent. Cause of Death He is the first Norwegian to have been cast in the MCU. [57] Furthermore, Annales Bertiniani notes that Roricus was forced from Frisia the following year. [152][note 18], The accounts of Æbbe could be an example of such a constructed tale. [234] In 875, the Vikings invaded Wessex and seized Wareham. In 865 the Great Army, apparently led by Ivar the Boneless, overwintered in the Kingdom of East Anglia, before invading and destroying the Kingdom of Northumbria. In the mid ninth century, an invading Viking army coalesced in Anglo-Saxon England. [281] Whilst Vita Alfredi attributes the outcome to unnamed thegns of Alfred,[282] Chronicon Æthelweardi identifies the victorious commander as Odda, Ealdorman of Devon (fl. [119][note 14] In contrast to Passio sancti Eadmundi, the twelfth-century "F" version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle specifically identifies Ubba and Ívarr as the chiefs of the men who killed the king. First Appearance ... And I know. Played by David Schofield. "Episode 1.1" The series starts in the year 866 and follows the son of a lesser Saxon lord, whose father is killed. “That is the raven banner of Ubba Lothbrokson. When Odda the Younger proposed building a church at Cynuit, he suggested to King Alfred that they exhume Ubba's remains and throw them in the river, but Alfred told him that the body must be reburied with respect, as Ubba was a great warrior. ("Episode 1.5"), This causes Ubba to doubt Storri's assurances of victory, which gives Uhtred time to light the Danish ships on fire. Archaeological evidence and documentary sources suggest that this Great Army was not a single unified force, but more of a composite collection of warbands drawn from different regions. RELATED: The Last Kingdom: 5 Things We Love About Uhtred (& 5 That We Hate About Him) Alfred had the option of putting him away despite Beocca's pleas, but he knew better. [72][note 6], Although the specific wording employed by most versions of the chronicle suggests that Edmund was killed in battle,[75] and Vita Alfredi certainly states as much[76]—with neither source making note of a martyrdom ordeal[77]—later hagiographical accounts portray the king in an idealised light, and depict his death in the context of a peace-loving Christian monarch, who willingly suffered martyrdom after refusing to shed blood in defence of himself. Parents There is reason to suspect that this strike was coordinated with the campaigning of a separate Viking force in Devon. 9 Bloodhair ("Episode 1.5"). [310] The earliest source claiming kinship between the two is the Annals of St Neots,[311] an eleventh- or twelfth-century account stating that they were brothers of three daughters of Loðbrók (Lodebrochus). In The Last Kingdom, the character's name is spelled Ubba, and he is one of the most powerful Danish warlords played by Rune Temte. Whilst Hálfdan settled his followers in Northumbria, the army under Guthrum, Oscytel, and Anwend, struck out southwards, and campaigned against the West Saxons. [357] It is possible that these figures represent Ívarr and Ubba,[358] and that the composer of Ragnarssona þáttr failed to recognise the names of Ívarr[359] and Ubba in English sources concerned with the legend of Edmund's martyrdom. [240][note 27] It is possible that this operation was coordinated with another Viking attack in Devon that culminated in the Battle of Arx Cynuit in 878. [note 1] The Great Army appears to have been a coalition of warbands drawn from Scandinavia, Ireland, the Irish Sea region, and the Continent. [412], There is reason to suspect that the legend of Ragnarr loðbrók originated from attempts to explain why the Vikings came to settle in Anglo-Saxon England. From the fierce "Bron - Char" in "Captain Marvel" to the ultimate Viking warlord "UBBA" in "The Last Kingdom" Rune Temte has made a strong impression by playing rogues, villains and all-around bad asses, often with a twinkle in the Eye. The story of nuns self-mutilating to avoid rape at the hands of roving Vikings is not confined to Coldingham, it is also attributed to the ninth-century nuns of, For example, the thirteenth-century Whitby. Some sources describe Ubba as dux of the Frisians, … According to this account, at one point Ubba revolted against Ragnarr loðbrók at the behest of Hesbernus, and afterwards Ragnarr loðbrók slew Hesbernus, overcame the rebellion, and reconciled himself with Ubba. ("Episode 1.1"), Ragnar's Hall, Northumbria; Later on he appears in the background while Ravn warns Uhtred about him, stating that he is to never to go against Ubba because of the fact that Ubba strictly follows his gods and his sorcerer Storri. God created everything that surrounds me, the fields, rivers, the forests. [96] In any case, surviving numismatic evidence of coins bearing Edmund's name—the so-called St Edmund memorial coinage—reveals that he was certainly regarded as a saint about twenty years after his death. Sigurd - Paternal Grandfather † According to this source, Ívarr and Ubba commanded the pirates who beheaded her after she refused to worship their pagan idols. Grandparents Historically Hair [138] In fact, there is reason to suspect that most Anglo-Saxon monastic sites probably survived the Viking invasions of the era,[139] and that the East Anglian Church withstood the Viking invasions and occupation. ("Episode 1.5"), Cynuit, Wessex; Ubba meets with Uhtred and Earl Odda the Elder at Cynuit, demanding their surrender. "The Last Kingdom" Played by Alexander Dreymon. The first series of eight episodes premiered on 10 October 2015 on BBC America, and on BBC Two in the UK on 22 October 2015. [233] At this point, the Great Army split. Family What power within allows him to give his life to preserve his land and the lives of … Male The "B" and "C" versions of this source do not locate the conflict to any specific place. Ivar - Brother †Halfdan - Brother †Björn - BrotherSigurd - Brother † Dux of Frisians [298][note 35], It is possible that the defeat at Arx Cynuit left Guthrum overextended in Wessex, allowing Alfred's forces to assail Guthrum's exposed lines of communication. "The Last Kingdom" Siblings [125][note 15], Ubba is associated with the martyrdom of Æbbe, an alleged abbess of Coldingham said to have been slain by Vikings in 870. Appeared in 875), and Anwend (fl. This list shows the victims Ubba has killed: This list shows the battles Ubba has participated in: The Last Kingdom Wiki is a FANDOM Books Community. A ferocious warrior, Uhtred is warned as a boy never to fight Ubba, but fate may dictate that he must. [115][note 13] If this source is to be believed, it could indicate that Ubba stayed behind to ensure the cooperation of the conquered Northumbrians. The Last Kingdom is a British historical fiction television series based on Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories series of novels. According to a near-contemporary source, this force was led by a brother of Ívarr and Hálfdan, and some later sources identify this man as Ubba himself. [415][note 49] The shared kinship assigned to Ívarr and Ubba within the legend of Ragnarr loðbrók may stem from their combined part in Edmund's downfall as opposed to any historical familial connection. [345] Gesta Danorum does not associate Ubba with Anglo-Saxon England in any way. Status 875), struck out southwards, and based itself at Cambridge. Gender The Last Kingdom. He was a powerful and feared Danish warlord. [371][note 44], By the thirteenth century an alternate rendition of the story appears in sources such as Chronica majora,[399] and both the Wendover[400] and Paris versions of Flores historiarum. “You know whose banner that is?” I asked, raising my voice so that a good portion of the men on Cynuit’s hill could hear me. Along with his brothers Ivar and Halfdan, Ubba was one of the principle leaders of the "Great Heathen Army". The considerable time that members of the Great Army appear to have spent in Ireland and the Continent suggests that these men were well accustomed to Christian society, which in turn may partly explain their successes in Anglo-Saxon England. [133] According to these sources, Æbbe compelled the nuns of Coldingham to disfigure themselves to preserve their virginity from an incoming horde of Vikings. [103] Although this source was composed over a century after the event,[104] it may convey some credible material as the latest useful source. According to this version of events, Ælla is a lowly knight who became king after Osberht had been driven from the throne by Bjǫrn's relatives. Ubba Ragnarsson was a supporting character and antagonist in both The Saxon Stories novel series, and The Last Kingdom television series. [28] In fact, the length of Scandinavian occupation suggests that some of the Vikings from Frisia would have been native Franks and Frisians. [118] Although Vita Alfredi and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle fail to note any Viking garrisons in the conquered Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, this may merely be a consequence of their otherwise perceptible West Saxon bias. [148][note 19] To twelfth-century ecclesiasts, invented tales of ninth-century violence—particularly violence inflicted by Ívarr and Ubba—may have been intended to validate the refoundation of certain religious communities. Leading by example, Æbbe is said to have cut off her nose and upper lip with a razor. As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred - born a Saxon but raised by Vikings - … In 873 the Great Army is recorded to have split. Vikings Ubba: is the Son of King Ragnar and is the part of The Great Heathen Army along with his brothers Bjorn Ironside, Ivar the boneless, Halfdan, Sigurd and Hvitserk which attacked England to avenge the death of their father Ragnar Lothbrok. Hagiographic association with Æbbe and Osyth. At some point after Æthelthryth left Coldingham to found a monastery at Ely, Historia ecclesiastica reports that the monastery of Coldingham burned to the ground. Although Ubba could seemingly defeat Uhtred easily, he didn't immediately kill him and instead wanted to hurt and humiliate him. [342] The latter is only specifically attested by sources dealing with the East Scandinavian tradition. [329][note 39] According to Scandinavian sources, Ragnarr loðbrók was a Scandinavian of royal stock, whose death at the hands of Ælla in Northumbria was the catalyst of the invasion of Anglo-Saxon England—and Ælla's own destruction—by Ragnarr loðbrók's vengeful sons. Ragnar - Father † Husband and wife lay dead or dying together on their thresholds; the babe snatched from its mother's breast was, in order to multiply the cries of grief, slaughtered before her eyes. [369] The earliest source to specifically associate the legend with East Anglia is Liber de infantia sancti Eadmundi,[370] a twelfth-century account depicting the Viking invasion of East Anglia in the context of a dynastic dispute. [268][note 33], The clash at Arx Cynuit culminated in a West Saxon victory. [414] The tales may have evolved at an early stage of Viking settlement, and may have functioned as an origin myth of the emerging Anglo-Scandinavian culture. [212] In any case, numismatic evidence appears to indicate that two client kings—a certain Æthelred and Oswald—thereafter ruled over the East Angles on behalf of the Viking conquerors. These thirteenth-century compositions are the earliest accounts to associate the legend of Ragnarr loðbrók's death with that of Edmund. Although the latter is expelled from the realm, he convinces Loðbrók's sons, Ívarr and Ubba, that the killer of their father was Edmund. A subreddit for "The Last Kingdom," the BBC/Netflix television show set in medieval England. [401] For example, the Wendover account states that Loðbrók (Lothbrocus) washed ashore in East Anglia, where he was honourably received by Edmund, but afterwards murdered by Bjǫrn (Berno), an envious huntsman. They aren't related (Ragnar Ravnson is fictional), but Ragnar's (presumed) sons do feature very prominently in The Last Kingdom: Ubba, Ivar and Halfdan Lothbrokson are the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok. [14] The tenth-century Vita Alfredi seems to allege that the invaders came from Denmark. [105][note 11] Nevertheless, there is also reason to suspect that the account is little more than a collection of well-known hagiographical elements,[108] and that the composer knew little to nothing of Edmund's demise and early cult. [222][note 24], For about a year, the Great Army campaigned against the West Saxons, before overwintering in London. [78][note 7], One such account is Passio sancti Eadmundi,[90] a source that makes no mention of a battle. I cast the runes, Ubba. [55] Although the destination of the rest of the fleet is unrecorded, one possibility is that it participated in the sack of York. Whilst Hálfdan settled his followers in Northumbria, the army under Guthrum (died 890), Oscytel (fl. However, when Uhtred informs Ubba that he holds his sorcerer Storri prisoner, Ubba reluctantly lets him go in order to save his seer. Ubba, The Last Kingdom. This entry was posted in Anglo-Saxons, Books, Review, The Last Kingdom, UK, Vikings and tagged King Alfred, Review, TV Series, Ubba, Uhtred. [429] Ubba certainly appears in Alfred the Great, Deliverer of His Country,[430] an anonymous play that first appears on record in 1753;[431] and The Magick Banner; or, Two Wives in a House,[432] a play by John O'Keeffe (died 1833), first presented in 1796. Hair Ubba's weakness is his … They include Chronica majora,[131] and both the Wendover[132] and Paris versions of Flores historiarum. 29. [343] One of these sources is the thirteenth-century Gesta Danorum. ... Uhtred becomes a man when he kills his first Saxon, a process ultimately solidified when Uhtred slaughters Ubba. [263][note 32] For example, this identification could have been influenced by the earlier association of Ubba and Ívarr in the legends surrounding Edmund's martyrdom. [346][note 40] According to the thirteenth- or fourteenth-century Ragnarssona þáttr, a source that forms part of the West Scandinavian tradition, Ívarr had two bastard brothers, Yngvarr and Hústó, who tortured Edmund on Ívarr's instructions. Whilst the Old English Anglo-Saxon Chronicle calls the Viking army micel here, the Latin Historia de sancto Cuthberto instead gives Scaldingi,[23] a term of uncertain meaning that is employed three times in reference to the leadership of the Viking forces. Others [12], The exact origins of the Great Army are obscure. One such place is Old Burrow (, Nevertheless, the attack on Dyfed, and the actual siege of. [448] Ubba is also a character in Vikings, a television series first aired on the History network in 2013;[449] and in The Last Kingdom,[450] a television series (based upon Cornwell's The Saxon Chronicles series of novels) first aired on BBC Two in 2015. With Ubba, Guthrum, and Kjartan all seeking to kill him, Uhtred was a dead man walking if Alfred didn't take him in. [160] According to this source, Æthelthryth (died 679), wife of Ecgfrith, King of Northumbria (died 685), entered the monastery under the tutelage of an abbess named Æbbe (died 683?). Deceased [27] As men who held military- and judicial authority on behalf of the Franks, Herioldus and Roricus can also be regarded as Frisian duces. [303] Guthrum thereafter kept peace with the West Saxons, and ruled as a Christian king for more than a decade, until his death in 890. The Great Army may have included Vikings already active in Anglo-Saxon England, as well as men directly from Scandinavia, Ireland, the Irish Sea region, and the Continent. 1 Biography 1.1 The Saxon Stories 1.2 The Last Kingdom 2 Battle Participation 3 Appearances 3.1 The Saxon Stories 4 Trivia Ivar is the older brother of Ubba and Halfdan and son of the Danish-Swede king, Ragnar Lothbrok. [112][note 12], In specific regard to Ubba, Passio sancti Eadmundi states that Ívarr left him in Northumbria before launching his assault upon the East Angles in 869. [91] Whilst this source's claim that Edmund was martyred after being captured is not implausible,[92] the fact that he came to regarded as a martyr does not negate the possibility that he was slain in battle (as suggested by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle). [67] Almost nothing is known of this king's career,[68] and all that remains of his reign are a few coins. Rate 5 stars Rate 4 stars Rate 3 stars Rate 2 stars Rate 1 star . In the winter of 877/878, Guthrum launched a lightning attack deep into Wessex. Blond Ubba. As such, East Anglia is invaded by these two sons, and Edmund is killed in a case of misplaced vengeance. This latter army is reported to have been destroyed at Arx Cynuit in 878. Ubba (probably died 878) was a ninth-century Viking, and one of the commanders of the Great Army that invaded Anglo-Saxon England in the 860s. View Abbot Eadred The inscription reads in part: "Stop stranger stop/Near this spot lies buried/King Hubba the Dane/Who was slayed in a bloody retreat/By King Alfred the Great". The Ubba (Rune Temte) that Uhtred (Alexander Dreymon) kills on The Last Kingdom season 1 is the very same Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith) who … [130] The earliest accounts of the alleged events at Coldingham date to the thirteenth century. When he finally went for the killing blow, Uhtred was able to cut his ankles and get him off his feet. [63] According to both sources, the Mercians made peace with the Vikings. The final battle among vikings and saxons - The Last Kingdom What binds a man to his land? With Alexander Dreymon, Eliza Butterworth, Ian Hart, Arnas Fedaravicius. Others [123] Whilst this identification could be derived from Passio sancti Eadmundi or the tenth-century Lives of the Saints,[124] it could merely be a mistake on the chronicler's part. [2][note 23] In any case, the leadership of the Great Army appears to have fallen to kings Bagsecg (died 871) and Hálfdan (died 877),[221] the first principal Viking leaders attested by all versions of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle after the army's recorded arrival. As such, there is reason to suspect that the two Viking armies coordinated their efforts in an attempt to corner Alfred in a pincer movement after his defeat at Chippenham and subsequent withdrawal into the wetlands of Somerset. King Alfred, played on the show by David Dawson, was a real guy. [64], The earliest source to make specific note of Ubba is Passio sancti Eadmundi, which includes him in its account of the downfall of Edmund, King of East Anglia (died 869). Television Series ("Episode 1.3"), After the winter, the Danes began to invade Wessex once again. The Last Kingdom. [215] However, this record may partly stem from the fact that he did not take part in the subsequent war against the Kingdom of Wessex,[216] beginning in the autumn or winter of 870. The moneyer of this particular coin was a man named Hlodovicus–whose name is inscribed on the reverse–which could be evidence that he was a Frank. The Last Kingdom (TV Series 2015– ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The Last Kingdom Themes. [71] According to this account, the Great Army invaded East Anglia in the autumn of 869, before setting up winter quarters at Thetford. In some cases, the Old Norse personal names, A similar account is given by the twelfth-century. The Last Kingdom Quotes. [62][63] It was probably on account of this seemingly purchased peace that the Great Army relocated to York, as reported by the chronicle, where it evidently renewed its strength for future forays. Uhtred slices his Achilles to get the upper hand. [164][note 20], The earliest Anglo-Saxon virgin-martyr is Osyth. ("Episode 1.4"), Wessex; Upon his return, the Danes are ready to attack the Saxons and Ubba asks Storri to read the runesticks and find out if an attack will be favorable. Ubba later appears in Alfred the Great; Or, The Enchanted Standard, a musical drama by Isaac Pocock (died 1835),[442] based upon O'Keeffe's play,[443] and first performed in 1827;[444] and Alfred the Great, a play by James Magnus, dating to 1838. [314][note 38], Loðbrók appears to be an early reference to Ragnarr loðbrók,[328] a saga character of dubious historicity, who could be an amalgam of several historical ninth-century figures. While near-contemporary sources do not specifically associate Ubba with the latter campaign, some later, less reliable sources associate him with the legend of Edmund's martyrdom. For example, Annales Bertiniani reports that Lothair I, King of Middle Francia (died 855) granted the island to a Viking named Herioldus in 841. Had Ubba won, the Danes would have gained complete control of England. Boys, and men old and young, whom he encountered in the streets of the city were killed; and he paid no respect to the chastity of wife or maid. [129] The historicity of this woman is nevertheless uncertain. [34] The invaders evidently gained valuable intelligence during the stay,[35] as the Great Army is next stated to have left on horses gained from the subordinated population, striking deep into the Kingdom of Northumbria, a fractured realm in the midst of a bitter civil war between two competing kings: Ælla (died 867) and Osberht (died 867). He is one of the sons of the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok, king of the Danes and Svear. [145] The ninth-century Viking onslaught may have also been a way in which twelfth-century commentators sought to explain what was regarded as monastic decay in tenth-century Anglo-Saxon England. Supposed ecclesiastic devastation wrought by the Vikings has not been established by archaeology. Cause of Death "Episode 1.5" [93][note 9] The apparent contradictory accounts of Edmund's demise given by these sources may stem from the telescoping of events surrounding an East Anglian military defeat and the subsequent arrest and execution of the king. The Last Kingdom (Poslední království) - V roce 872, kdy většina království v dnešní Anglii padla do rukou Vikingů, dokázal Wessex jako jediný nájezdům pod velením krále Alfréda Velikého vzdorovat. [15] A Scandinavian origin may be evinced by the tenth-century Chronicon Æthelweardi, which states that "the fleets of the tyrant Ívarr" arrived in Anglo-Saxon England from "the north". [243] If the Vikings at Arx Cynuit were indeed working in cooperation with those at Chippenham, the record of their presence in Dyfed could also have been related to Guthrum's campaign against Alfred. and Æthelred (died 871), responded by joining forces and besieging the occupied town, both the chronicle[62] and Vita Alfredi report that this combined Anglo-Saxon force was unable to dislodge the army. For other named Ivar, see Ivarror Ivar the Younger. The fact that the Great Army remained in East Anglia for about a year before it attacked Northumbria could mean that it had been reinforced from the Continent during the layover. [25] Walcheren is known to have been occupied by Danish Vikings over two decades before. Deceased [433][note 51] He also appears in the Sketch of Alfred the Great: Or, the Danish Invasion,[435] a ballet by Mark Lonsdale, first performed in 1798;[436] and Alfred; An Epic Poem,[437] a long piece of epic poetry by Henry James Pye (died 1813), published in 1801;[438] and the similarly named Alfred, an Epic Poem, by Joseph Cottle (died 1853)[439]—a poem almost twice as long as Pye's[440]—first published in 1800.[441]. Brown [33] The terminology employed by this source suggests the Vikings attacked by sea. Since the 1990s, academics have accorded Ubba various personal names in English secondary sources: The Great Army's seizure of York is dated to 1 November (. The Last Kingdom season 4 is streaming now on Netflix – take a look at our list of the best TV series on Netflix, or check out what else is on with our TV Guide Share on Facebook Share on Twitter [22] The same source, and the tenth- or eleventh-century Historia de sancto Cuthberto, describe Ubba as dux of the Frisians. [302] Following Guthrum's crushing defeat, the Vikings were forced to accept Alfred's terms for peace. There is reason to suspect that a proportion of the Viking forces specifically originated in Frisia, where some Viking commanders are known to have held fiefdoms on behalf of the Franks. Status [235], Although much of Guthrum's army started to settle in Mercia,[236][note 26] the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle[239] and Vita Alfredi reveal that Guthrum launched a surprise attack against the West Saxons in the winter of 877/878.