{"id":27569,"date":"2023-08-18T17:26:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T15:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=240413"},"modified":"2023-08-19T03:11:40","modified_gmt":"2023-08-19T01:11:40","slug":"the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"The Winter King: what to expect from Bernard Cornwell\u2019s Arthurian drama"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Winter King brings the Arthurian legend to life in another adaptation from the works of The Last Kingdom author Bernard Cornwell \u2013 but it makes King Arthur no king at all <\/p>

By Kev Lochun\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 18 August 2023 at 15:26 PM<\/p>

\n\n

What is The Winter King<\/em> about?<\/h2>\n
Move over Uhtred of Bebbanburg<\/a>, there\u2019s a new warlord in town. Nearly a decade before author Bernard Cornwell started writing The Last Kingdom<\/em><\/a>, he wrote The Warlord Chronicles<\/em>, a three-part retelling of the Arthurian legend published from 1995 onwards that portrays King Arthur<\/a> as no king at all.<\/p>\n
The Winter King is a 10-episode fantasy drama based on the first of those novels. It\u2019s a story of a grittier, darker Arthur \u2013 not the genial \u2018once and future king\u2019 of chivalric tradition, but a hardened warrior who is trying to unite the fractured Britannic kingdoms against a Saxon menace.<\/p>\n\n<h2><em>The Winter King<\/em> plot \u2013 when is it set?<\/h2>\n<p><em>The Winter King<\/em> is set in the fifth century AD, during the so-called \u2018<a href=\"\/period\/medieval\/dark-ages-term-what-when-how-obscure\/\">Dark Ages<\/a>\u2019 that followed the <a href=\"\/period\/roman\/ancient-rome-surprising-facts-sex-gladiators-slavery-death-colosseum-harry-sidebottom\/\">Romans<\/a>\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/roman\/collapse-roman-britain-what-happened\/\">withdrawal from Britain<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The story centres on Arthur Pendragon \u2013 an inspiring leader and peerless tactician, but no king-in-waiting \u2013 and would-be warrior Derfel Cadarn, whom Arthur saved from certain death as a child and later becomes one of his staunchest allies.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-handlercontainer image-handlercontainer--aspect\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ 1.501210653753);\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img class=\"wp-image-240438 align size-landscape_thumbnail image-handlerimage image-handlerimage--aspect no-wrap js-lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220817TWKD27-00146-e1692358516508.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" alt=\"Derfel Cadarn and Nimue in The Winter King\" title=\"Derfel Cadarn and Nimue in The Winter King (Photo courtesy of MGM+)\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"caption-hold\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-copy\"><i class=\"icon-arrow icon-camera-circle\"\/> Derfel Cadarn and Nimue in The Winter King (Photo courtesy of MGM+)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"im-image-caption\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Uther Pendragon, Arthur\u2019s father, sits on the throne as High King of Dumnonia (a kingdom approximately in Devon, though also including parts of modern Cornwall and Somerset).<\/p>\n<p>Though powerful, Uther\u2019s position in Caer Cadarn \u2013 aka <a href=\"\/period\/medieval\/where-is-camelot-where-arthurs-court-camelot-castle\/\">Camelot<\/a> in all but name, fictionally placed in the vicinity of Cadbury Castle \u2013 is quite precarious.<\/p>\n<p>He is old and ailing, and yet is locked in fights against both rival British clans and the encroaching Saxons, who hold dominion over the \u2018lost lands\u2019 to the west and threaten to overrun all of Britain.<\/p>\n<p>With Uther\u2019s heir \u2013 the club-footed Mordred \u2013 but a newborn babe, the druid Merlin takes it upon himself to seek out Arthur to save the kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>Uther would never deign to seek Arthur\u2019s aid. In this telling, Arthur is his bastard son, and a man Uther despises.<\/p>\n<p>Arthur returns to Dumnonia to find a land in chaos. Beyond the politics and factional rivalries, amid the threats of raids and invasion, is the undercurrent of religious upheaval, as the struggles between the old Celtic gods and the new religion of Christianity begin to make themselves known.<\/p>\n<p>Amid this story is the aforementioned Derfel, who as a child was saved from a death pit (about as delightful as it sounds) by Arthur and placed in Merlin\u2019s care, where he forged a close bond with the druidess Nimue \u2013 the future Lady of the Lake.<\/p>\n<h2><em>The Winter King<\/em> cast: who\u2019s who in Arthurian Britain?<\/h2>\n<p><em><strong>Discover the major characters in The Winter King \u2013 and how they differ from their counterparts of Arthurian legend<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Arthur (Iain De Caestecker)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Not King Arthur, just Arthur. Uther\u2019s bastard son, exiled across the sea, urged home by Merlin as the Saxon threat to his father\u2019s kingdom grows.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Derfel Cadarn (Stuart Campbell)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The narrator of Bernard Cornwell\u2019s novels. In the show, Arthur rescues Derfel from bleeding to death on a spike, engendering a lifelong loyalty that will make him one of Arthur\u2019s most stalwart captains.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Uther Pendragon (Eddie Marsan)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>High King of all Dumnonia, respected for his prowess, but rarely respectable. Arthurian legends hold that Arthur was conceived when Merlin enchanted Uther to look like Duke Gorlais, husband to Igraine, Arthur\u2019s mother. In most of the tales, Uther also marries Igraine, making Arthur a legitimate heir.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-handlercontainer image-handlercontainer--aspect\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ 1.501210653753);\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img class=\"wp-image-240432 align size-landscape_thumbnail image-handlerimage image-handlerimage--aspect no-wrap js-lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-144812-ep2-833fffa-e1692358638339.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" alt=\"Uther Pendragon in The Winter King\" title=\"Uther Pendragon in The Winter King (Photo courtest of MGM+ \/ Simon Ridgway 2022)\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"caption-hold\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-copy\"><i class=\"icon-arrow icon-camera-circle\"\/> Uther Pendragon in The Winter King (Photo courtest of MGM+ \/ Simon Ridgway 2022)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"im-image-caption\"\/><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Nimue (Ellie James)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The druidess who, in Arthurian tradition, becomes the Lady of the Lake and bestows the sword Excalibur on Arthur. In <em>The Winter King<\/em>, she is an orphan taken in by Merlin because the gods speak to her.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Merlin (Nathaniel Martello-White)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Neither a gnarled wizard nor a crafty conjurer, the Merlin of <em>The Winter King<\/em> is much more of politician \u2013 though he boasts a connection to the pagan gods.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-handlercontainer image-handlercontainer--aspect\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ 1.501210653753);\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img class=\"wp-image-240437 align size-landscape_thumbnail image-handlerimage image-handlerimage--aspect no-wrap js-lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220927-WinterKingB1D54-111432-ep1-dcabaf1-e1692358721427.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" alt=\"Merlin in the The Winter King\" title=\"Merlin in the The Winter King (Photo courtesy of MGM+ \/ Simon Ridgway 2022)\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"caption-hold\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-copy\"><i class=\"icon-arrow icon-camera-circle\"\/> Merlin in the The Winter King (Photo courtesy of MGM+ \/ Simon Ridgway 2022)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"im-image-caption\"\/><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Morgan (Valene Kane)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Perhaps better-known in Arthurian tradition as Morgan le Fay, she is Arthur\u2019s half-sister in Arthurian tradition, though in <em>The Winter King<\/em> she is both his full sister and another of Uther\u2019s bastards. A student of Merlin, in many Arthurian stories she starts as Arthur\u2019s ally and later becomes an enemy.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Guinevere (Jordan Alexandra)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In the romantic tales, Guinevere is Arthur\u2019s great love \u2013 until she betrays him with Lancelot. In <em>The Winter King<\/em>, she is an ambitious political player.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Gundleus (Simon Merrells)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The rival king of Siluria with a love of slaughter, Gundleus is the source of many of Dumnonia\u2019s problems.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-handlercontainer image-handlercontainer--aspect\" style=\"padding-bottom: calc(100% \/ 1.501210653753);\"> <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 320px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=299%2C199, https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=45&resize=599%2C399 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 375px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=354%2C236\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 425px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=404%2C269\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(max-width: 589px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 992px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=407%2C271\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 590px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=555%2C370\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><img class=\"wp-image-240436 align size-landscape_thumbnail image-handlerimage image-handlerimage--aspect no-wrap js-lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/7\/2023\/08\/20220909-WinterKingB1D44-143850D-ep2-f224993-e1692358831698.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" alt=\"Silurian king Gundleus in the Winter King\" title=\"Silurian king Gundleus in the Winter King (Photo courtesy of MGM+ \/ Simon Ridgway 2022)\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\"caption-hold\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"caption-copy\"><i class=\"icon-arrow icon-camera-circle\"\/> Silurian king Gundleus in the Winter King (Photo courtesy of MGM+ \/ Simon Ridgway 2022)<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\"im-image-caption\"\/><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Gorfydd (Aneirin Hughes)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>King of Powys and ruthless long-time enemy of Uther and Dumnonia.<\/p>\n<h2>Is <em>The Winter King<\/em>\u2018s Derfel Cadarn real?<\/h2>\n<p>The entirety of the <em>The Winter King<\/em> novel is told through the eyes of Derfel, an elderly monk recounting his time as one of Arthur\u2019s most loyal warriors.<\/p>\n<p>Just as there was a <a href=\"\/period\/anglo-saxon\/uhtred-bebbanburg-real-historical-figure\/\">real Uhtred of Bebbanburg<\/a>, so too Derfel has a very loose real-life counterpart \u2013 though perhaps not one his zealously Christian nemesis Bishop Sansum would recognise.<\/p>\n<p>Though the Derfel of the novel cleaves to his adherence of the old gods, there is a historical Derfel considered a Christian saint.<\/p>\n<p>Saint Derfel Gadarn (not Cadarn) was said to be one of seven warriors who survived King Arthur after the battle of Camlann, the clash in which Arthur was mortally wounded.<\/p>\n<p>Following <a href=\"\/period\/medieval\/who-killed-king-arthur\/\">Arthur\u2019s death<\/a>, Derfel is said to have hung up his sword and entered religious life \u2013 which author Bernard Cornwell mirrors in <em>The Warlord Chronicles<\/em> by having Derfel tell his tale while scribing in a monastery.<\/p>\n<p>The church dedicated to him \u2013 St Derfel\u2019s in LLanderfel, Gwynedd \u2013 became a popular site of pilgrimage in the medieval period owing to its wooden carving of the saint.<\/p>\n<p>Sadly, you can\u2019t see this sculpture of Derfel today. Owing to a legend that said the effigy would one day burn down a forest, it was requisitioned by <a href=\"\/period\/tudor\/thomas-cromwell-who-facts-biography-life-henry-viii\/\">Thomas Cromwell<\/a> during the <a href=\"\/period\/tudor\/what-was-reformation-henry-viii-break-rome-catholic-protestant-martin-luther-guide-facts-origins\/\">Reformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>He used it in the pyre of the unfortunately named Father John Forest, a priest who was burned alive for denying <a href=\"\/period\/tudor\/king-henry-viii-facts-wives-spouse-execution-weight-reformation-cromwell\/\">Henry VIII<\/a>\u2019s position as head of the Church of England.<\/p>\n<h2>Is <em>The Winter King<\/em> a true story?<\/h2>\n<p>In the entirety of Arthurian legend, there is just one event we can be sure of as being true, according to British folklore expert Ronald Hutton \u2013 the <a href=\"\/period\/medieval\/mount-badon-how-much-king-arthur-story-true\/\">battle of Mount Badon<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>We know this, he says, because it appears in a \u201cnear-contemporary text\u201d a list of complaints written by a man named Gildas. \u201cThe real problem is that we\u2019re still not certain if there was a historical Arthur actually linked to it and if he won it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for <em>The Winter King<\/em> \u2013 the story of the novel is simply another version of a legend.<\/p>\n<h2><em>The Winter King <\/em>release date: how to watch in the US and the UK<em><br\/><\/em><\/h2>\n<p>In the US, <em>The Winter King<\/em> premieres on subscription channel MGM+ from 20 August 2023.<\/p>\n<p>In the UK, <em>The Winter King<\/em> will be broadcast on ITVX in December 2023.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Looking for something else to watch? Explore our full round-up of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/modern\/best-historical-tv-shows-films-stream-right-now-uk-what-to-watch-netflix-amazon-prime-now-tv-us-america-period-dramas\/\">best historical TV and film<\/a> available to stream right now, or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/period\/history-tv-and-radio-whats-on-this-week\/\">new history TV and radio<\/a> airing in the UK this month.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> The Winter King brings the Arthurian legend to life in another adaptation from the works of The Last Kingdom author Bernard Cornwell \u2013 but it makes King Arthur no king at all <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":27570,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/08\/the-winter-king-what-to-expect-from-bernard-cornwells-arthurian-drama.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The Winter King brings the Arthurian legend to life in another adaptation from the works of The Last Kingdom author Bernard Cornwell \u2013 but it makes King Arthur no king at all","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/27569"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}