The Rise of the Normans: The Road to 1066 (Episode 3)

This is episode 3 in our series on the road to 1066.

Watch the full series on the road to 1066 here:    • 1066 & The Norman Conquest  

Part 1 in our series on the road to 1066 can be seen here:    • Anglo-Saxon Apocalypse: The Road to 1066  

Born into a world of treachery, violence and death, William of Normandy defied all expectations, forging a legacy that lasts to this day. Born out of wedlock and dismissed as an upstart, he was originally known as William the Bastard. Inheriting the Duchy of Normandy at just eight years old, William was faced with betrayal, bloodshed, and anarchy. From the restless Normans, who expanded across Europe as mercenaries and horsemen, to the growing threat of Anjou, the early years of his reign were blighted by power struggles. Following the brutal murder of his guardians, and with Normandy on the brink of collapse, William was forced to survive in a world without loyalty, where ambition was the ultimate currency. Meanwhile, across the Channel, the English throne was in turmoil, as the sons of Æthelred the Unready fought for survival and power…


0:00 – Introduction to the Normans, the origins of knights, and the history of castles
0:23 – Description of the Normans: their toughness, strength, and expansionist nature
1:06 – The Normans' ambition to dominate rather than serve
1:38 – The history of the Normans as described by the monk Amatus
2:18 – Comparing the Normans to the Mongols
3:04 – The Normans’ expansion southwards into Italy
7:03 – The stability of Normandy under Richard II
7:48 – The status of Normandy as a powerful duchy in France
8:34 – The fragmentation of France and the relative independence of its dukes
9:50 – The Norman rivalry with the Counts of Anjou
10:56 – The rise of Fulk Nerra, the brutal Count of Anjou
13:05 – The castle-building revolution in France
15:16 – The militarisation of France and the rise of a new warrior class
16:09 – The emergence of knights as a distinct military elite
18:03 – The social impact of castles and the formation of medieval villages
20:07 – The shift in military and social structures in medieval France
21:59 – The potential for anarchy due to castle-building
22:49 – The expansion of Normans into southern Italy as mercenaries
24:02 – Robert the Magnificent’s pilgrimage to Jerusalem
25:29 – Robert falls ill and dies in Nicaea, leaving Normandy vulnerable
27:03 – The young William the Bastard (later William the Conqueror) inherits Normandy
28:08 – The challenges of William’s illegitimacy and young age
29:37 – The internal struggles and anarchy in Normandy after Robert’s death
31:05 – William’s harsh upbringing and survival in a violent world
34:52 – The rise of William’s military skills and leadership
38:23 – The emergence of William as a dominant leader
40:05 – The exile of the Anglo-Saxon heirs to the English throne in Normandy.
41:48 – The struggle for power between Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut in England.
44:26 – Emma of Normandy’s political manoeuvring and betrayal of her own sons.
46:02 – The brutal fate of Prince Alfred at the hands of Harold Harefoot’s men
48:29 – The unexpected death of Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut’s return to England
50:16 – The sudden death of Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor’s rise to power
52:09 – The final downfall of Emma of Normandy
53:01 – William the Bastard consolidates power in Normandy
54:04 – William watches the developments in England

Twitter:
@TheRestHistory
@holland_tom
@dcsandbrook

Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Social Producer: Harry Balden
Video Editor: Jack Meek
Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett
Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor