Vikings: Who Is Judith, Is Judith Based On A Real Person? | TV & Radio

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Vikings has seen many characters come and go over the past six seasons, with many meeting brutal deaths. Jennie Jacques starred as Judith of Northumbria in seasons two, three, four and five of the historical drama. Express.co.uk has everything you need to know about Judith.

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Who is Judith in Vikings?

Judith in Vikings was the daughter of King Aelle of Northumbria (Ivan Kaye) and Queen Elsewith (Roisin Murphy).

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She was known under the official title, Judith of Northumbria.

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Judith was the wife of Prince Aethelwulf of Wessex (Moe Dunford), due to an arranged marriage. Together they had one son, Aethelred (Daniel Cahill).

Despite her marriage, she was the lover of Athelstan (George Blagden), the man she really wished to marry.

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Judith of Northumbria (Image: HISTORY/AMAZON)

Jennie Jacques played Judith in Vikings (Image: HISTORY/AMAZON)

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Together, they had an illegitimate son, Alfred (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who went on to become King Alfred of Wessex.

After Athelstan’s death, she became the lover of King Ecbert (Linus Roache), her father-in-law.

Judith was also close friends with Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), before her death from cancer in season five.

Judith of Northumbria is based on the real Judith of Flanders (Image: AMAZON/HISTORY)

Is Judith in Vikings based on a real person?

Yes, Judith of Northumbria in Vikings is based on a real person.

Vikings creator Michael Hirst loosely based Judith on Judith of Flanders.

Judith of Flanders was the eldest daughter of Charles the Bald, the King of West Francia and the future Holy Roman Emperor.

She became the Queen Consort of Wessex through her marriages to two Wessex Kings, Aethelwulf and Aethelbald.

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Judith sadly died in season 5 of Vikings (Image: HISTORY/AMAZON PRIME)

As seen in Vikings, Judith and Aethelwulf were husband and wife.

However, in Vikings, she is portrayed as a Northumbrian princess, instead of the daughter of a Frankish king.

In the series, Judith is also portrayed as an adulterer, having an affair with Athelstan. This is not occur in real life.

The real Judith of Vikings then married Baldwin I and she became the first Countless of Flanders.

Judith was also an ancestor of Matilda of Flanders, the consort of William the Conqueror, and thus of later monarchs of England.

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Who is Jennie Jacques?

Jennie Jacques is an English actress from Coventry.

Vikings fans may recognise her as Annie Miller in the six-part series Desperate Romantics.

In Desperate Romantics, Jacques starred alongside Aidan Turner, Tom Hollander, Amy Manson and Zoë Tapper.

from 2013–2014 she played the lead role of WPC Gina Dawson on the BBC television series WPC 56.

Most recently, Jacques played the role of Amber in the BBC police drama, London Kills.

Her other credits include Casualty, Love Life, Father Brown and Stanley Park.

Vikings is streaming on Amazon Prime now

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