The Battle of Hastings: The Birth of Modern England

→ Subscribe for new videos two times per week.

Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:

This video is #sponsored by Keeps.

Source/Further reading:

“William the Conqueror” by David Bates

“Edward the Confessor” by Frank Barlow

“The Feudal Kingdom of England 1042-1216” by Frank Barlow

[MrTexasDan]

One arrow. One lucky arrow, and the history of the world for the last thousand years is much different.

[joseybryant]

I think it's even more interesting, to consider the effect the battle had on the English language.

[christopherouellette]

If I could offer I minor correction: The round shields and Kite shields used by the Normans and Anglo-Saxons most likely did not have metal rims. It was more likely that they had leather or rawhide rims, which would potentially allow for an opponent's weapon to become stuck in the rim, which essentially made the opponent's weapon unusable until removed, which as one might imagine, would not end well.

[seanbrazell]

I can't help but wonder how exactly does the conversion begin when a hair loss company asks to sponsor a magnificently bald youtubers channel? 😉

[ignitionfrn]

2:10 - Chapter 1 - The anglo saxons
3:20 - Chapter 2 - The normans
4:30 - Chapter 3 - The crisis of king edward
6:05 - Chapter 4 - Rival claimants emerge
8:20 - Chapter 5 - The battle of stamford bridge
10:15 - Chapter 6 - The norman invasion
12:20 - Chapter 7 - The battle
14:10 - Chapter 8 - Turning point
16:30 - Chapter 9 - Long live the king
- Chapter 10 -

[darkglass]

Simon: Two germanic speaking groups...the Angles and the Saxons.
Jutes: Why you no love us?

[EclecticDD]

While going to university in Paris I signed up for a trip that included Mont St Michel, the Normandy American Cemetery, and to see the Bayeux Tapestry. What I remember most about it (besides that it is embroidery and not tapestry) is the depiction of Haley's Comet and the naked people on it.

[morlath]

1066, the quartet of numbers that got drilled into our heads through the first few years of Secondary School. Great to see this talked about!

[alexamg]

You should do the Battle of Agincourt where most of the French aristocracy died and Medieval total war II is where I learned of this battle to lol.

[alexanderking]

My favourite part of Hastings was always the last stand around the Kings body, quite literally the last stand of the old Englishmen.

[TheGuv]

Man, clicked on the video feeling good and within a minute Simon had stripped away my good feeling by reminding me I need to shine my head 😩😩

[iangrant]

Any chance we might see a Biographics on Alfred the Great?

[philliberatore]

Thank you Simon and Company. Very interesting.

[Greyapas]

Huh, I forgot that Stamford Bridge was a pre-cursor to the Battle of Hastings. "Harald Hardrada's face was red. Came to Brition and he wound up dead. Stamford Bridge is where he's found. He got 6 feet of English ground."

[grapeshot]

I just read about the Harrying of the North. One word to describe it, brutal.

[cjamthepatricianakabilldoo]

I love the idea of having a half time break
It’s a shame they didn’t switch ends

[Legion_Victrix]

Simon, how about a video about the Birth of that sweet British Accent then?

I would be curious to know how it came to be since England was born from Normands. I know a little how Old French was (I'm French Canadian and I had some interest into it a few years ago) but I don't know anything about the current British accent.


Cheers from Montréal, Canada

[victoriachasse]

I've always been fascinated by this era of English history. Emma of Normandy was a remarkable woman: wife of two kings, mother of two kings, and one of the richest, most influential women of the era. I'd love to see a video about her.

[supergabbar]

The last kingdom tv series brought me here. If you have not watched it yet go watch it its on Netflix it's amazing.

[davewilliams]

Went to the 1066 re-enactment on Senlac Hill in 2016...a very moving experience I can tell you!