Good leadership is an important quality for characters in The Last Kingdom, but who was the best at it?
If The Last Kingdom has proven anything, it is the fact that the only kingdom that will survive is the one with the smartest leader. Good leadership is one of the most evasive characteristics in the leaders that fans have met on the show so far. Bad leaders are actually the greatest enemies of peace on both sides of the divide.
The show is full of people unable to accept the need for a compromise like Erik and outright self-centered gluttons like Aethelwold. However, The Last Kingdom has also exposed great leadership skills in both Danish and Saxon leaders who have kept many people alive.
Uhtred has never had the chance of ruling his own kingdom, but he has proved himself to be a smart leader over and over. He is the only mediator between the Danes and the Saxons as he understands and identifies with both cultures. He also knows what each side wants and always ensures that everyone remains in their lane. Uhtred's leadership is the best in the show, considering the extreme divides involved.
He started by leading Alfred's shaken army into battle against the Danes. When he was given his own lands to manage, he also displayed great lordship over his subjects and his men. His lands seem to be the only place where both Danes and Saxons can coexist in harmony. His men are also very loyal to him, not just because he can fight well, but also because he is caring and understanding.
The entire show is actually based on King Alfred's dream of a united England in which all Saxon communities could live in peace. Alfred wasn't exactly fond of Danes, but he was willing to accept them into his kingdom as long as they converted to Christianity. Overall, Alfred is the best Saxon leader in the show so far.
His ability to see the bigger picture and compromise for the sake of his kingdom caused Uhtred to love him and accept to fight for Wessex. He also managed to inspire his frightened army into going to battle when the great Danish army threatened to overrun all Saxon kingdoms making him the savior of England; If his dream is achieved before the end of the show.
Aethelflaed's leadership skills were visible from the time she was taking care of the ailing Edward as a toddler. She has all the characters of her father, but she is more understanding, which makes her a better leader than him. She has managed to cross the gender barriers to become the first queen of a Saxon kingdom, something her father never imagined possible.
Her ability to get Mercians to rally around their flag and fight for their Kingdom when Aethelred lost it made her the most worthy queen for Mercia. Aethelflaed can now be described as the Female version of Uhtred; except, she doesn't eat stale bread.
Ragnar's death is one of the saddest events to happen in The Last Kingdom. Ragnar was the first leader of the Danes that actually saw the bigger picture. He was best placed to lead the Danes to victory in their goal of settling in a bigger and fertile kingdom like Wessex.
Despite being a Dane, Ragnar still negotiated and got along with Uhtred, whom everyone, including Brida, considered a deserter. Ragnar had also managed to bring together the squabbling Danish communities to form the powerful Dane army. The biggest mistake Ragnar made was trusting the wrong people simply because they were Danes.
King Edward is young, but if what he has done so far is anything to go by, he is a smart leader too. Fans hate him for the way he dismissed advice from people that actually love him like his mother, his sister, and Uhtred. However, everything he has done so far has been in the best interests of Wessex and his father's dream of a united England.
He managed to keep the peace and keep the army loyal to him despite his young age and lack of experience. His calculative moves aimed at maintaining a grip on power nearly led to the loss of Wessex to Sigtryggr, but his quick thinking allowed him to retake his home.
The Sigtryggr that was nearly killed in the first season is very different from the smart young warrior of the fourth season. For the first time since Young Ragnar's death, the Danes have found a leader that understands what needs to happen. He knew that the only way for Danes to survive in England is by accepting to be neighbors and not enemies with Saxons.
First, he managed to defeat King Hywel's monstrous brother in Wales, saving Brida and the other Viking prisoners in the process. Then, with Brida's help, he outwitted Edward and took over Wessex, accomplishing every Viking leader's dream. His foresight helped him save many lives and negotiate a peace deal with Edward, making him the most worthy king of the Danes.
No one really seems to understand Brida since the first season of The Last Kingdom. From her complicated love life to her commitment to an all-Dane England, Brida just lives in her own world. One thing is obvious for her, though; She is a strong woman who has been betrayed by everyone but still manages to fight on.
Before she lost everyone, she helped Ragnar raise an army and even managed to hold onto it after his death. She is also the only warrior Sigtryggr could trust to help him defeat king Hywel and also take Wessex. Despite her inability to compromise, Brida a smart, except for her hatred of Christians.
To see Aethelred's smart side, you have to overlook lots of mistakes he made since becoming king. He is a bad husband, gullible and overambitious but a good leader in his own right. Despite Aethelred's countless flaws, he never lost sight of what is good for Mercia. He understood the need for Mercian sovereignty and peace and how to keep the Danes off his Kingdom's border.
Cnut could never overrun Mercia while Aethelred was protecting it. Before his death, he also came back to his senses and sided with Aethelflaed in choosing a strong leader for Mercia. However, despite his good intentions, he had too many failures and eventually left his kingdom in crisis.
When Ragnar died, most fans thought it was the end of the road for the greatest Dane army in history, but it wasn't. Cnut is one of the most calculative leaders the Vikings have had so far. He understood that Brida's help was paramount for his plan to succeed and ensured that his role in Ragnar's death remained a secret. He also plotted with Haesten to fool Aethelred and take over Mercia, becoming the first Viking to do so. If he didn't fall for Uhtred's trick about his sons' death, he would still be alive and the king of Mercia.
Aelswith hates Uhtred, but that doesn't make her a bad person. She was born in Mercia and, like Alfred, believes that everyone has to be a Christian to be human. Her strength as a leader was seen from the first season when she helped mold Alfred into a strong king and has helped her children Aethelflaed and Edward to follow in their father's footsteps.
Aelswith understands what a great king and queen should look like and the need to keep family close. She has also grown to accept that her family needs Uhtred's help if they are to stay in power. Her hatred for Uhtred also saw her allow Lord Aethelhelm into her family, which finally led to her death in the fourth season but not before she shaped the future of Wessex.
