Uhtred el pagano

The mix of real historical events with fictional characters creates a vivid world. I'm curious about how much research went into the historical details versus creative liberty.

The spiritual practices and rituals felt authentic and contrasted interestingly with the Christian influences. How did this aspect shape the characters' motivations?

His internal struggles felt very real and human, even in a world of warfare and politics. I wonder if this was based on any particular historical figures or purely fictional creation.