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Timeline

The Last King (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2016 · 99 min · Norwegian
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Directed by
Nils Gaup

Amidst the dawn of a turbulent medieval Norway, a seasoned nobleman and a fierce Viking chieftain join forces. Their dangerous quest is to protect the young heir, the last hope for peace, while civil war engulfs the kingdom. Facing betrayal and constant threat, the warriors must demonstrate unwavering loyalty to secure the future of Norway and confront those who seek to claim the throne by force.

On this page (4)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Every angle
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15 events in order · contains spoilers

The Last King Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of The Last King (2016) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Norway in Civil Strife

    In Norway in 1204, the Birkebeiners and King Haakon Sverresson possess the throne in Nidaros. Their rule is threatened by the Baglers, a rebel faction that has seized power in Eastern Norway with help from Denmark.

    When
    1204
    Where
    Nidaros, Norway
  2. A Treacherous Plot Is Formed

    Gisle, a corrupt aristocrat and Bagler supporter, conspires with the former queen Margaret to have King Haakon murdered. In return for her cooperation, he promises to return her to power as queen.

    Where
    Nidaros
  3. Kristin Overhears the Conspiracy

    Margaret's daughter Kristin overhears the murder plot and confronts her mother about it. Margaret claims that exposing the scheme would mean certain death for the both of them, scaring Kristin into secrecy.

    Where
    Nidaros
  4. The King Is Poisoned

    Margaret poisons King Haakon and departs Norway for her native Sweden. Before he dies, Haakon reveals he has a son with a woman named Inga, whom he has sent the two Birkebeiner agents, Torstein and Skervald, to find.

    Where
    Nidaros
  5. Gisle Consolidates His Power

    Gisle frames his own brother Inge, taking him out of the picture politically. He also arranges to marry Kristin, further cementing his position among Norway's elite.

  6. Inga and Her Son Are Secured

    Skervald successfully secures Inga and her infant son, the young heir Haakon. After ensuring their safety, he returns home, unaware that enemies are closing in on him.

  7. Skervald Is Captured by the Baglers

    Skervald is seized by Baglers led by the knight Orm, who were guided to him by a Birkebeiner traitor. Under pressure, Skervald reluctantly reveals the location of Inga and young Haakon.

    Where
    Skervald's home
  8. Slaughter at Skervald's Home

    After learning the child's whereabouts, Orm murders Skervald's wife and infant child in cold blood. Skervald himself narrowly manages to escape with his life.

    Where
    Skervald's home
  9. A Warning at the Birkebeiner Camp

    Skervald arrives at the Birkebeiner camp to warn them of the impending Bagler attack. However, when he admits that he told the Baglers their location, the fort leader decides to execute him for his betrayal.

    Where
    The Birkebeiner camp
  10. The Camp Falls in an Ambush

    With the Birkebeiners distracted by Skervald's planned execution, the Baglers ambush and overwhelm the camp's guards. In the chaos, Skervald breaks free together with Torstein, Inga, and young Haakon.

    Where
    The Birkebeiner camp
  11. A Desperate Flight

    The small band endures numerous attacks by Baglers as they flee across the country. Torstein and Skervald finally arrive at a village and rally the locals to join them for a final fight.

  12. The Final Battle

    In the fierce battle against the Baglers, Skervald dedicates himself to protecting Inga and Haakon. He manages to kill Orm, avenging his murdered family, though he is fatally wounded in the process.

    Where
    The village
  13. Rescue in Nidaros

    On the very day of Gisle's planned wedding to Kristin, Torstein and the other Birkebeiners enter Nidaros. They storm the city and free Inge, ruining Gisle's celebration and striking back at the Baglers.

    When
    On the day of Gisle's planned wedding
    Where
    Nidaros
  14. Gisle Faces Justice

    Gisle is seized by the Birkebeiners and taken away, presumably to be executed. His scheming against the king and his final downfall bring the conspirators' tyranny to an end.

    Where
    Nidaros
  15. A New King for Norway

    The young heir Haakon is officially secured as the next king of Norway, fulfilling the mission the Birkebeiners risked and lost their lives for. A closing text explains that during his reign, there was peace in Norway.

Last updated: October 26, 2026 at 13:28

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Movie threads

More Movies Like The Last King, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Last King tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies like The Last King: Perilous Last-Heir Quests

An heir becomes the fulcrum as rival forces threaten a fractured kingdom. If you liked The Last King, explore movies like The Last King in which a child or endangered heir stands between rival factions. These tense historical dramas and adventures combine succession threats, warrior alliances, betrayal, constant peril, and a fiercely fought effort to preserve national unity.

  • heir under threat
  • civil war
  • betrayal
  • warrior alliance
  • constant peril
  • political intrigue
  • Tone: tense, grim, heroic
  • Pacing: fast, urgent
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These stories typically place an innocent or vulnerable claimant at the center of a struggle for power. A hardened protector and a volatile ally must cross hostile territory, expose conspiracies, and survive ambushes while rivals exploit civil conflict. The quest succeeds only if personal loyalty survives family loss and repeated betrayal, leaving unity hard won rather than effortless.

Why they belong together: They share a linear, urgent objective: keep the legitimate heir alive and out of hostile hands. Fast-moving journeys and battles make every alliance precarious, while the succession stakes connect battlefield action to political intrigue and the fate of the realm.

Bittersweet War Movies Like The Last King

Savagery and personal loss give way to fragile hope after the rebellion falls. Find movies like The Last King with the same grim blend of brutal warfare, political betrayal, and fast-moving rebellion. If you enjoyed its heavy emotional toll and hard-earned sense of peace, these tense action dramas pair sustained danger with tragic losses and a fiercely hopeful final resolution.

  • brutal warfare
  • grief
  • betrayal
  • patriotic hope
  • grim victory
  • constant danger
  • Tone: grim, bittersweet, heroic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The emotional arc moves from danger and intrigue into grief, desperation, and violent confrontation. Victories remain costly because characters lose family members, allies, and moral certainty while protecting what comes next. When the threat finally collapses, relief arrives, but the ending carries mourning rather than uncomplicated triumph.

Why they belong together: These films share a grim, fast-moving register in which sustained peril repeatedly interrupts any sense of safety. Their climaxes deliver collective relief, yet assassinations, slaughter, and personal bereavement ensure that the restored future feels fragile, patriotic, and bittersweet.

Every angle

The Last King (2016) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Last King in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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