Norman Conquest of England

In this episode, we explore the Norman Conquest of England, beginning with William the Conqueror’s victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the turbulent struggle to secure his new kingdom. We look at the years of English resistance that followed, from rebellions and Danish invasions to the Revolt of the Earls, as well as William’s devastating Harrying of the North, a scorched-earth campaign that left lasting scars across the region. The episode also examines how Norman rule transformed England through castle building, the Domesday Survey, and the replacement of the Anglo-Saxon elite, reshaping the country’s landholding, government, culture, and language for generations.