Who Is 'The Last Kingdom's' Athelstan and Is He Based on a Real King?

The fifth and final season of The Last Kingdom has finally landed on Netflix and fans have already found themselves seriously invested in all things to do with Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. Season 5 sees Uhtred of Bebbanburg (played by Alexander Dreymon) fight for the future of England and one prominent player is Athelstan, who has come of age by Season 5. Played by Tolkein star Harry Gilby in the final series, audiences want to know everything about Athelstan, including if he was based on a real king.

Newsweek has everything you need to know. Warning, there may be spoilers for The Last Kingdom Season 5 below.

Who Is Athelstan and Is He Based on a Real King?

In The Last Kingdom, Athelstan is the son of King Edward of Wessex (Timothy Innes) and his first wife Ecgwynn (Julia Brown), and the future king of Wessex.

Athelstan became a key player in The Last Kingdom during Season 4, when Winchester was attacked by Viking warlord Sigtryggr (Eysteinn Sigurðarson).

During the attack, a young Ethelred (played by Caspar Griffiths in Season 4) was taken hostage by Sigtryggr alongside his grandmother Lady Aelswith (Eliza Butterworth).

By the end of Season 4, Athelstan was reunited with his mother, Ecgwynn, and later put under the watchful eye of Uhtred of Bebbanburg.

Going into Season 5, Uhtred had been tasked with teaching Athelstan how to become a fearless warrior and leader, which will hopefully take shape in the final series.

Season 5 of The Last Kingdom is based on the ninth and 10th books in Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories, Warriors of the Storm and The Flame Bearer, respectively.

If The Last Kingdom Season 5 sticks closely to the original source material, fans will see Uhtred prepare for a now older Athelstan to take the throne of Mercia and Wessex, if and when his father Edward, passes.

However, he will face intense rivalry for the throne from his half-brother Aeflweard, Edward's other son.

Is Athelstan Based on a Real King?

Yes, Athelstan in The Last Kingdom is based on the real Athelstan of Wessex.

The real Athelstan was a king of the Anglo-Saxons. Like in The Last Kingdom, Athelstan was the real son of King Edward the Elder and his first wife Ecgwynn.

Following the death of his father in July 924, Athelstan succeeded him as King of Mercia. His half-brother Aelfweard became King of Wessex but died shortly after his father's death.

At first, Athelstan encountered resistance in Wessex following his brother's death but was eventually crowned King of Wessex and Mercia in September, 925 by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Athelm.

In 927, Athelstan became King of England after conquering York, the last remaining Viking kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England, making him the de facto first King of England.

As King of England, he centralized the government, founded churches and created an administrative center. He also married his sisters to continental powers, making his reign known across Europe.

Athelstan then set his eyes on Scotland, invading in 934. A force led by Olaf Guthfrithson, King of Dublin, Constantine II, King of Scotland and Owain, King of Strathclyde invaded England in 937 but Athelstan's army defeated them at the Battle of Brunanburh, with heavy losses on both sides.

Athelstan ruled until his death in 939. He was succeeded by Edmund I, his half-brother.

The Last Kingdom Season 5 is streaming on Netflix now.