Uhtred of Bebbanburg, The Last Kingdom's main character, has 6 romantic interests. Here's how they rank in terms of being best for Uhtred.
Uhtred of Bebbanburg, The Last Kingdom's protagonist, has six romantic interests over the course of the series. The Last Kingdom is now over, after five successful seasons on Netflix and a final movie, The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, to wrap up the story. During the timeframe explored by the show, a long list of people came in and out of Ultred's life, some of which becoming his lovers.
Though Uhtred of Bebbanburg marries only twice in The Last Kingdom, he was romantically involved with a total of six of the show's characters. Uhtred typically loses the people he loves in a tragic fashion, and though he does not lose everyone in his life, the women he loves always seem to die, sooner or later. Even so, Uhtred finds true happiness with at least two of these women. Based on their interactions with Uhtred, their personalities, and their standing in The Last Kingdom's world, this is how each of Uhtred's romantic interests line up against each other.
6 Skade
Of Uhtred's six love interests, Skade is easily the worst of them. Uhtred first encounters her in one of The Last Kingdom season 3's best episodes when she is serving a Viking warrior named Bloodhair. Skade claims to be a seer, a Norse term for a prophet, and though Brida is skeptical of this claim, most men believe she holds real power. That looked to be the case when a curse she hurls at Uhtred coincides with a host of bad things happening to him, including the death of his wife, Gisela. Uhtred himself begins to believe in the curse and takes her hostage, hoping to find a way to break the curse.
However, Uhtred seems to become infatuated with Skade after taking her captive. A strange relationship develops between them, one that is based on their mutual attraction to power. Skade sees Uhtred as the man to take her high in the world because of his fighting skills and influence in the land, whereas Uhtred seems to become infatuated with the power she holds. He recognizes that she could help him go far in the world, but luckily, Uhtred is able to recognize the greed and cruelty in her as well. Eventually, Uhtred drowns her to break the curse she put on him, ending any romantic potential they had.
5 Mildrith
Mildrith is Uhtred's first wife, and though she does give him a son, the child sadly dies in infancy. Uhtred's marriage to Mildrith was arranged by Alfred in The Last Kingdom season 1, and though their marriage gets off to a rocky start, they develop a real affection for one another. Sadly, after the death of their son and Uhtred's rejection of her, Mildrith abandons their marriage to join a convent and escape into her religion. Uhtred and Mildrith seemed to find some happiness together, at least for a time, but their religious differences made long term compatibility between them unlikely.
Even so, Uhtred and Mildrith's relationship was far healthier than his time with Skade was. Uhtred and Mildrith at least had true affection for each other, even if they were never in love. In fact, as far as medieval arranged marriages go, Uhtred and Mildrith probably got lucky ending up with each other. They were at least able to share some happy moments together, after all. Still, Mildrith was never the love of Uhtred's life, and it shows when he returns to their home with another woman, Iseult.
4 Iseult
Uhtred meets Iseult while raiding in Cornwalum. At the time she is just a petty queen, but she is said to have prophetic abilities. Uhtred takes Iseult with him when he leaves those lands and immediately informs Mildrith that he no longer desires to be with her. Uhtred and Iseult then head to Winchester together and are forced to flee into the marshes after Guthrum takes the city. Their relationship grows over their journeys, and after escaping the marshes they have sex, despite Iseult's belief that she will lose her prophetic abilities when she loses her virginity.
Uhtred and Iseult seem to have strong chemistry together, and she is happy to follow Uhtred in any walk of life, which is already enough to land her above both Skade and Mildrith. They do not get to spend very long together, however, because she is killed by Skorpa during The Last Kingdom season 1 finale. Had Iseult and Uhtred been allowed more time together, they could have been a strong match, but alas, she dies before they could begin building a future together.
3 Brida
Brida is Uhtred's first love in The Last Kingdom. Uhtred and Brida grow up together under the care of Earl Ragnar the Fearless, and begin a relationship the very night Ragnar is killed by Kjartan. Uhtred and Brida flee together, making their way to Wessex where they are eventually taken in by Alfred. The pair have real chemistry and deep love for one another that surpasses anything Uhtred felt with Mildrith, Skade, or even Iseult. Unfortunately, life split them apart when Uhtred agreed to fight for Alfred and Brida insisted on returning to Young Ragnar to live among Danes.
Despite their differences, Uhtred never stops loving her, even after the worst things Brida does in The Last Kingdom. By the end of The Last Kingdom season 4, Brida has become vengeful and cruel, embarking on a crusade against Christianity in The Last Kingdom season 5. Brida becomes a villain by the end of the series, going so far as to castrate Uhtred's son, Young Uhtred. Eventually, she is killed by Uhtred's daughter, Stiorra, but even then Uhtred cannot seem to hate her. In another life, one not so cruel and difficult, there's at least a chance Uhtred and Brida could have had a long and happy life together, but it was never meant to be.
2 Aethelflaed
There is no doubt that Uhtred and Aethelflaed were genuinely in love in The Last Kingdom. They have a similar moral code and a shared compassion for the people they are responsible for. They are both strong, brave, and caring people with a mutual admiration for each other. Unfortunately, the difference in their stations in life sometimes made it difficult for them to be together. Aethelflaed is the daughter of a king, and eventually becomes the Lady of Mercia in her own right. While Uhtred is technically high-born, his upbringing as a Dane would probably make him seem unfit to marry Aethelflaed.
Even so, it seems Uhtred and Aethelflaed may have gotten married anyway, until Aethelflaed was forced to swear a vow of chastity in order to gain the backing of the Mercian Lords in her bid to become Lady of Mercia. This is a heartbreaking moment for them both, but Uhtred understands why she must do it. Sadly, Aethelflaed dies of an illness before the end of The Last Kingdom season 5. In the end, Uhtred and Aethelflaed's romance was cut short, even if they were genuinely in love.
1 Gisela
Gisela was Uhtred's second wife and the mother of his three children in The Last Kingdom. They meet in The Last Kingdom season 2 when Uhtred is sent to prop up her brother, Guthred, as King of Northumbria. But after Uhtred and Gisela sleep together, Guthred sells Uhtred into slavery. Upon Uhtred's return, they are married by Father Beocca and live happily in Coocham for several years. Uhtred and Gisela were a perfect couple during that time, but sadly, Gisela dies giving birth to Uhtred's youngest son, Osbert, during The Last Kingdom season 3.
Gisela and Uhtred were completely in love and made a fitting couple. They shared a religion and culture and their personalities fit each other like a glove. They were also from the same walk of life and had no societal issues to come between them. Uhtred and Gisela had none of the shortcomings in their relationship that cropped up with characters like Brida and Mildreth. Gisela never leaves Uhtred's mind, even after her tragic death in childbirth. Ulhtred's lasting love for Gisela goes to the show that she was the true love of his life in The Last Kingdom.
