![]() In episode three, the chronicle is first introduced and we are given a glimpse at one of the manuscript pages: The Last Kingdom‘s ‘Alfred chronicle’ seems to be a reference to the so-called Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the first compilation of which was indeed begun during Alfred’s reign and shows a rather partisan view of Alfred’s Wessex. As Alfred explains it, this chronicle would record his deeds and make sure that hundred years later people will still remember him and his idea for England. In the third series, Alfred is nearing the end of his life and is concerned for his legacy in various episodes, references are made to a chronicle that Alfred has ordered to be made for the purpose of securing how he will be remembered. The first three series of The Last Kingdom are set during the reign of Alfred the Great (d. The Last Kingdom (BBC/Netflix, 2015-): A ninth-century chronicle and pardon with eleventh-century features The portrait of Matthew is a prudent choice for the not-so-prudent Judith, since the Barberini Gospels also feature a rather obscene image of a naked man ‘pulling his beard’ (I discuss this image and other obscene art from the period here: Anglo-Saxon obscenities: Explicit art from early medieval England): In the next episode, Judith is seen at work on the portrait of Matthew the Evangelist in the Barberini Gospels (in actuality made in 8th-century England): The Vespasian Psalter is a beautiful, glossed manuscript that I have discussed earlier here: Reading between the lines in early medieval England: Old English interlinear glosses. In episode, 2 of series 4, Judith is seen making the mid-eighth-century Vespasian Psalter in King Ecgberht’s mid-ninth-century scriptorium: In the fourth series, Princess Judith (married to Æthelwulf) learns the art of manuscript illumination and is seen in two episodes practising her newly acquired art. In particular, much of the first five series of the show centre on the kingdom of Wessex, ruled by King Ecgberht (r. With its focus on legendary Viking leader Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, History Channel’s Vikings spends a good amount of screentime on early medieval England. ![]() Vikings (History Channel/Netflix 2013-): Eighth-century manuscripts in a ninth-century scriptorium This blog post may contain minor spoilers… ![]() In this blog post, I discuss the appearance of Anglo-Saxon manuscripts in Vikings (History Channel/Netflix 2013-), The Last Kingdom and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (Ubisoft 2020). In a previous blog post, I discussed the use of such ‘Anglo-Saxon props’ in the The Last Kingdom (BBC/Netflix 2015-), Merlin (BBC/Netflix 2008-2012) and Ivanhoe (MGM 1952) (see: Anglo-Saxon props: Three TV series and films that use early medieval objects). TV series and video games set in early medieval England often include little historical details in the background to add to a sense of realism and historical accuracy.
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