The Bloody Aftermath of the Battle of Hastings

The harrying of the North never ended. Most of the wealth, land and power of 'England' is STILL held by the descendants of the Normans. The billionaire Duke of Westminster was once asked for advice on how to succeed and answered "Make sure they have an ancestor who was a very close friend of William the Conqueror". My ancestors were Northern.

The North remembers…

I'm from the North (Middlesbrough specifically) and I've yet to meet a northerner into history that calls him the conquerer. He will forever be known as the bastard.

What a great Documentary - You guys are quickly becoming my favourite channel on YouTube. Fantastic to see new, young presenters cutting their teeth and breathing fresh life into Great Britain's treasured past. Thanks to all of you both in front and behind the camera.

He's still called William the Bastard in Northumberland to this day.

That was genocide, regardless.

This is a first rate historical documentary as so much of what History Hit produces. I am a firm Northerner and very conscious of the unique nature of the North and where it is rooted. I am also a Medievalist Historian. I am bound to say though that I think that the views of the broader historical context are not one that all historians share. That does not detract from the production values; nor from its coverage if the Harrying itself,

I absolutely loved the History channel growing up. But… then it wasn’t the same one day. Keep going guys your doing amazing! Love it!

There's an old Teesside saying that dates back allegedly to the Harrying of the North. You say that someone who swears a lot is swearing like Billy Norman (aka William the Conqueror). The story is that when he came North to deal with the rebels hiding out in the marshes near Coatham near the mouth of the Tees, it was still cold at night and snow still lay in the north facing valleys. William stayed up late at night shivering by the fire swearing to keep warm.

So many reasons why there's a north south divide, it's rooted in 1000 years of history

I now understand just why GRRM used the north of England's history as part of his inspirations for GoT, etc.

The north of England has massive rich history

I subscribe to History Hit and aboslutely love it. It is worth every penny. I am mainly English and Scottish, and I love learning about their history. History was my favorite subject in school, and I majored in it at university.

I just started a book on William the conqueror so this is coming and the perfect time

There's a similarity between what the conqueror did and what Thatcher did in the 80's. Devastating the north economically from her southern power base and causing the people severe suffering, crushing dissent with her army of helmeted thugs. Hope it's nice and warm down there Margaret

Nice , good to see what the relatives were up to in those days. Loved it.

Thanks for this, most interesting and informing. I did not know about the "Slaughter of the Innocents" in the North, what a ghastly attack on the people by someone who, possibly could have been defeated at Hastings by Harold and his very brave but possibly depleted and tired army after the march north and then fight a battle, and then march south to fight William at Hastings. What has puzzled myself and others, is why little or nothing has been recovered from the site at Hastings reportedly where the battle took place.

The effects are still with us today... Levelling Up, my arse!

A very powerful explanation of a pivotal point in our history.

Well done. Very nicely written and produced. This could become an unhealthy addiction. I'm worried.