Rebecca and historian Matthew Lewis launch a new series exploring the Norman kings, beginning with the man who changed England forever: William the Conqueror.
Born the illegitimate son of the Duke of Normandy, William survived a childhood filled with violence, betrayal and political uncertainty. Those early experiences helped shape the ruthless ruler who would eventually cross the Channel and claim the English throne.
Rebecca and Matt follow William from his rise in Normandy and his complicated relationship with Harold Godwinson to the disputed oath that helped ignite the succession crisis of 1066. They examine the Battle of Hastings, William’s chaotic Christmas Day coronation and the brutal methods he used to secure his new kingdom—including castle building, the destruction of the Anglo-Saxon elite and the devastating Harrying of the North.
Was William a brilliant military leader, a calculating propagandist or simply a conqueror willing to destroy anyone who stood in his way?
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Host: Rebecca Larson
Guest: Matt Lewis