A UNIVERSITY of Winchester professor has acted as a historical advisor on an upcoming Netflix film.

Ryan Lavelle, a professor of early medieval history, was an advisor on all five seasons of TV Saxon drama The Last Kingdom as well as the series’ film finale Seven Kings Must Die, which premiers on Netflix on April 14.

Produced by the makers of Downton Abbey, Carnival Films, both the show and follow-up film were mainly shot in Hungary.

Hampshire Chronicle: Professor Ryan LevelleProfessor Ryan Levelle (Image: University of Winchester)Ryan went out to Hungary for filming of the first season in 2014 but since then has worked with the producers remotely. This has meant receiving calls and messages asking about everything from the contents of a Middle Ages menu to Saxon shield designs.

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He also dispensed advice on a diverse range of subjects, from the composition of the court and politics and everyday life in Anglo-Saxon England, to marriage traditions, costumes and head coverings.

Ryan said: “The producers have listened to me where they have needed to but they haven’t let my obsession for historical detail drive the project.”

Set in the ninth century, The Last Kingdom are based on a series of best-selling novels by Bernard Cornwell, with much of the action taking place in Winchester, the ancient capital of Wessex.

The series follows the exploits of the fictional warrior Uhtred - a Saxon nobleman kidnapped as a boy by Vikings - who reluctantly sides with King Alfred, in his wars with the invading Danes. When Alfred dies Uhtred continues to fight for his sons Edward and Aethelstan and the late king’s daughter Aethelflaed of Mercia.

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In Seven Kings Must Die, Uhtred must combat a new invader, the Danish warrior-king Anlaf who has united all of Aethelstan’s enemies in a great alliance which threatens the new Saxon king’s dreams of a united kingdom.

Ryan added: “I think the show has a fairly good feel for the period and the different factions which existed then and the kinds of things which motivated them.”

He continued: “I believe it has been broadly welcomed by many scholars of the period because it has attracted so much interest and rewards historical knowledge.

“It’s also supplied a cast of characters I can draw on to bring these stories alive for my students as well as some juicy anecdotes.”