logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
25m 47s

Battle of Hastings

History Hit
About this episode

Over the previous three episodes in our special series, Gone Medieval has taken a close look at the three main contenders for the throne of England in 1066. From Harold Godwinson who sat on it, to Harold Hardrada who might have seemed the most likely to win it, and William the Conqueror, the hardened Duke of Normandy.


In this episode, Matt Lewis explores the final clash of that seismic year. Who would wear the crown of England by the end of 1066 was still an open question and there was only one place that question could be answered. This is the story of the Battle of Hastings.


This episode was mixed and produced by Rob Weinberg.


Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code MEDIEVAL - sign up here.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Nov 21
Scotland's Stone of Scone
<p>How did a medieval Scottish stone become the centre of a daring heist in the 1950's?</p><p>This is the extraordinary saga of the Stone of Scone, aka the Stone of Destiny, a relic that created the kings of Scotland, is shrouded in myth and legend and was taken by the English.</ ... Show More
1h 1m
Nov 18
How the Wind Blew Up The Middle Ages
<p>From the tactical nautical decisions of the Normans and Vikings to medieval monks' meticulous wind records, medieval civilisations have always harnessed and feared the wind.</p><p>Dr. Eleanor Janega and Simon Winchester explore the intimate relationship medieval people had wit ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 14
The Birth of the Medieval World
Matt Lewis pays a visit to Gone Medieval's sister podcast The Ancients for a lively debate with Tristan Hughes about the blurred boundary between the ancient and medieval worlds. Can Tristan champion Roman Emperor Justinian as an Ancient? What about Charlemagne? Which period can ... Show More
47m 35s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2023
The Hundred Years' War
<p>The Hundred Years' War plunged England, France and their allies into over a century of conflict. This bleak period of history had rebellions, assassinations, open warfare and even the Black Death as the two rival dynasties went head-to-head for the French throne.</p><br><p>Dan ... Show More
51m 9s
Aug 2024
Lawrence of Arabia
<p>The famed British officer who fought alongside Arab guerrilla forces in WW1. Best known for his legendary exploits as an intelligence officer in the Middle East, Thomas Edward Lawrence was also an archaeologist, scholar and photographer. His life was one of adventure and espio ... Show More
59m 29s
Apr 2024
The Battle of El-Alamein Explained
<p>Fought in the second half of 1942, the Battles of El Alamein were a series of climactic confrontations in Egypt between British Imperial and Commonwealth forces and a combined German and Italian army. Intended as a last-ditch attempt by the British to halt Axis gains in North ... Show More
41m 58s
May 2023
2. Story of England: Medieval Invaders
<p>Great Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, bloodshed at the battle of Hastings, Bubonic Plague and Roland the celebrity flatulist. As dawn breaks, Dan walks the beach at Pevensey where William the Conqueror and his Norman Invaders landed in 1066, but not before getting a quick lesson from Me ... Show More
59m 51s
Oct 2022
Battle of El Alamein Explained
<p>Fought in the second half of 1942, the Battles of El Alamein were a series of climactic confrontations in Egypt between British Imperial and Commonwealth forces, and a combined German and Italian army. Intended as a last-ditch attempts by the British to halt German gains in No ... Show More
44m 45s
Jun 2022
HS2: Digging up the 'Dark Ages'
<p>An extraordinary discovery has been unearthed by archaeologists working alongside the HS2 rail project. The find, made at an undisclosed location near Wendover in the Chilterns, consists of a 5th-6th century burial site that has been described as one of the most important post ... Show More
1h 5m
Feb 2024
The Real King Arthur
<p>If King Arthur never existed, why does he loom so large in England's history? Dan traces the real-life figures who could have been the legendary King Arthur- the medieval king who pulled the sword from the stone and led the English against the Anglo-Saxons who arrived in Engla ... Show More
1h 18m
Oct 2022
243. Trafalgar: A World at War (Part 1)
Was the Battle of Trafalgar the most decisive battle of the 19th century? Join Tom and Dominic as they embark on a three part series discussing this incredible conflict between the British Royal Navy and combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies, focusing in this episode o ... Show More
49m 21s
May 2023
Dan Snow's Story of England COMING SOON
Tales of feuding monarchs, bloody battles, plagues, explorers and scandals. In a special mini-series dropping from the 22nd May 2023 in this feed, Dan hits the road for a 5-day road trip to bring listeners his favourite parts of England's epic history. He dashes through one milli ... Show More
1m 32s