Following King Harold Godwinson’s climactic victory at the Battle of Stanford Bridge, and the death of Harald Hardrada, what did he do when news reached him that William of Normandy’s army had landed further south? How did the two armies finally come together for one of the most totemic clashes of all time, on the morning of the 14th of October 1066? What exactly unfolded during the infamous Battle of Hastings? And, how did Harold truly meet his grisly end? Join Tom and Dominic as they unfold, in spine-tingling detail, the build up to and events of one of history’s greatest collisions: Harold Godwinson vs William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings. _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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MUSIC Suddenly, looking towards the forest, the Duke saw glimpses of English columns and a great glittering of spears. Spilling out from the trees there came troops of men and then, emerging into full view, an entire army. There was a hill near the forest, set beside a valley, and the ground had been left untilled because the terrain was so rough.
Advancing in massed order, which is the English custom, they seized possession of this place and readied for battle. Ignorant of war as they are, the English scorn to ride horses, preferring instead to trust in their strength and stand fast on foot, and they count it the highest honour to die in arms in defence of their native soil so as to prevent any foreign yoke being imposed upon it.
The King of the English, preparing to meet the enemy, climbed the hill and strengthened both his wings with noble men. On the very summit of the hill, he planted his banner and ordered his other standards as well to be set up. All his men dismounted and left their horses in the rear. And then, taking their stand on foot, they let the trumpets sound for battle.
So that's a source called the Song of the Battle of Hastings, probably written within months of the battle. And we'll come back to exactly what that source is. But listeners who have stuck with us through this mighty series will remember that last time we followed the heart-stopping, blood-curdling drama of Harold Hardrada's invasion of Northern England.
And we heard how Hardrada was cut down and killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. by the English King Harold Godwinson, formerly Earl of Wessex, in one of the greatest victories ever won by Anglo-Saxon, or indeed English, arms. So Tom, Stamford Bridge was the 25th of September, and we heard how at the turn of October, Harold heard the terrible news of the landing of William of Normandy.
And so now, less than three weeks later, he is at or just outside Hastings, and he is facing another mighty, epoch-defining showdown. So it's the 14th of October. He's, of course, facing William of Normandy. And what follows is the most famous and arguably the single most decisive battle in all English history.
Absolutely. And the one I would say that is most familiar probably to anyone who has even the faintest interest in history in England, certainly. Scenes from the battle will be familiar to most people who live in this country. The idea of the English battle lying on Senlac Hill, this great hill outside Hastings. The Normans serried in their armour on their horses at the foot of the hill.
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