Original subtitles

(dramatic music) - (soldiers shouting)

BERTAN: I'm Robert Bertan,

and I was there, in England, not far from Hastings.

and I was there, in England, not far from Hastings.

I was about to experience the battle of a lifetime.

- (soldiers shouting) BERTAN: I knew the Anglo-Saxons,

their king, and the power they wielded.

There they were, lined up for battle.

There they were, lined up for battle.

It was terrifying.

- (battle trumpet blows)

BERTAN: It was a hellish fight.

One which would have seemed hopeless...

One which would have seemed hopeless...

..if not for the faith we had in our lord, William.

- (arrows whooshing) - (soldiers shouting)

(dramatic opening theme music)

(haunting, powerful brass music) - (wind whistling)

NARRATOR: It's 1066, in the south of England,

NARRATOR: It's 1066, in the south of England,

near a cliff overlooking the English Channel.

Two men are about to launch into a battle

that will make them legends:

that will make them legends:

Harold, the new King of England...

..and William, Duke of Normandy,

who seeks the throne for himself.

who seeks the throne for himself.

- It is quite remarkable to think about these two magnificent armies,

facing each other finally in Hastings.

facing each other finally in Hastings.

And we know that, by the end of the day,

one of these men,

either William or Harold, will be slain,

and the other will be the King of England.

and the other will be the King of England.

(tense music)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- But now, these friends, allies,

- But now, these friends, allies,

their relationship has completely broken down.

William, Duke of Normandy, who has come

to invade his country and take his crown.

to invade his country and take his crown.

As far as William's concerned,

Harold, who's standing at the top of this hill, is a person

who has usurped the crown of England,

who has usurped the crown of England,

has broken his oath to William.

(battle music)

NARRATOR: Many accounts of the Battle of Hastings

have swirled through history.

have swirled through history.

But few tell this story of politics and war

from the events of October 1066...

..like this extraordinary artefact

on display in Normandy, France:

the Bayeux Tapestry.

the Bayeux Tapestry.

- (Bostal speaks French)

NARRATOR: This chronicle of the Battle of Hastings reveals

the origin of the dispute between Harold and William:

the origin of the dispute between Harold and William:

a pact that would ultimately lead

to a war of succession between the two men.

- (Bostal speaks French)

- (Bostal speaks French)

NARRATOR: Harold took this oath in 1064.

NARRATOR: Harold took this oath in 1064.

At that time, England was ruled by King Edward the Confessor.

His nation was rich and powerful and the envy of all of Europe.

However, there were storm clouds in the distance.

However, there were storm clouds in the distance.

Edward the Confessor had no children

and without an obvious successor to the throne,

an unsettled air permeated the land.

an unsettled air permeated the land.

Edward's own brother-in-law - Harold Godwinson -

was one of the men who believed the throne should belong to him.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- He had the respect, not only of the King,

but also the Witan, which was a group of powerful nobles,

who make decisions about how to run the country.

who make decisions about how to run the country.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (soldiers shouting) - (swords clinking)

- (soldiers shouting) - (swords clinking)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: And yet, Edward had already chosen his successor.

And it was not Harold, but someone of his own blood...

And it was not Harold, but someone of his own blood...

..a relative who didn't even live in England.

- On the other side of the English Channel in Normandy,

- On the other side of the English Channel in Normandy,

you have William, Duke of Normandy,

who is a cousin of King Edward.

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: And part of the Duchy of Normandy's influence came

NARRATOR: And part of the Duchy of Normandy's influence came

from its ties to another power player on the continent: the church.

- (P Bouet speaks French)

(mellow choral chanting music)

- (church bells tolling)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: At the beginning of 1066, Normandy's status is on the rise.

Its leader, William, is on his way to becoming King of England,

Its leader, William, is on his way to becoming King of England,

the most powerful country in Europe.

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- 1066 is all about a succession crisis.

NARRATOR: A crisis whose origins are carefully threaded

NARRATOR: A crisis whose origins are carefully threaded

into the Bayeux tapestry.

- (Bostal speaks Fench)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (Bostal speaks French)

(dramatic music)

- (church bells tolling) (mellow choral chanting music)

- (church bells tolling) (mellow choral chanting music)

NARRATOR: The news speeds across the English Channel in a matter of days

and takes William by surprise.

- (soldiers shouting)

- (soldiers shouting)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- He has broken his oath to William,

and has taken the crown without due right.

and has taken the crown without due right.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- And William is determined then to come to England

- And William is determined then to come to England

to claim his rightful inheritance.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

He's probably doing this very quickly

because he knows that there are other claimants to the throne.

because he knows that there are other claimants to the throne.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

BERTAN: Harold betrayed us.

BERTAN: Harold betrayed us.

- (wind whistling)

BERTAN: But then, there's Harald, the Norwegian,

BERTAN: But then, there's Harald, the Norwegian,

who also claims the royal title of England.

How dare he!

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

(battle music)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- This legendary group of Housecarls,

the very name tells you something about the Scandinavian influence.

And these are the people who are, if you like,

And these are the people who are, if you like,

the natural leaders of the English Army in 1066.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

(battle music) - (soldiers shouting)

- (speaks French)

- (horse whinnies)

- (horse whinnies)

NARRATOR: Creating one of these axes requires exceptional skill and time.

It's an elite weapon that few craftsmen are capable of making.

It's an elite weapon that few craftsmen are capable of making.

- (Lecouturier speaks French)

NARRATOR: Vincent Lecouturier is a wrought-iron craftsman

specialising in the reproduction of historic objects.

- (speaks French)

(dramatic music)

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: But neither the reputation of Harold's army...

- (warrior grunts)

NARRATOR: ..nor the fear of his Housecarls,

was going to stop William.

was going to stop William.

(mellow choral chanting music)

-He's convinced of his own righteousness.

-He's convinced of his own righteousness.

He's convinced that what he's doing in 1066

is not only simply aggrandising his own personal position,

but that God is on his side.

but that God is on his side.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

(dramatic battle music) - (soldiers shouting)

- And so he had the papal banner with him flying in the wind,

fluttering above the army.

And, effectively, that was saying that this was a holy war.

And, effectively, that was saying that this was a holy war.

It was God's divine judgment

that thought, you know, William should be the one on the throne.

that thought, you know, William should be the one on the throne.

(soft choral and string music)

NARRATOR: With the Pope's support,

William could now convince the Norman nobles

to rally behind his cause.

to rally behind his cause.

But it was still going to be a treacherous affair.

England is three times the size of Normandy in land...

and population.

William had no choice but to ask these other lords to join his quest.

- (P Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: Now that he has gathered his forces,

William faces a colossal challenge.

In just a few months,

In just a few months,

he must pull off the equivalent of the 1944 invasion of Normandy.

And to invade England,

he'll first need to brave the English Channel.

he'll first need to brave the English Channel.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (Bostal speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

BERTAN: For months, all of Normandy was mobilised,

BERTAN: For months, all of Normandy was mobilised,

day and night, wherever they were.

Many members of my own family worked there,

on this open-air construction site.

on this open-air construction site.

Now the ships are assembled and lined up.

Nearly 700 of them!

Our fear of Harold and his massive fleet seems to be shrinking...

Our fear of Harold and his massive fleet seems to be shrinking...

and we take heart.

We reach the sea, but none of us can swim.

We reach the sea, but none of us can swim.

I've never even been on a boat.

But we are committed - ready to fight for the crown, for England.

But we are committed - ready to fight for the crown, for England.

We all know that, in battle, we will find glory,

or we will find death.

(dramatic string music)

NARRATOR: Through his network of spies and informants,

NARRATOR: Through his network of spies and informants,

Harold knows what the Normans are up to.

His ships wait for William's army on England's southern shores.

- Harold spends the summer prepared for an invasion from Normandy.

He masses his army along the south coast of England.

He masses his army along the south coast of England.

He himself spends a lot of the summer on the Isle of Wight,

expecting that part of Hampshire

to be the main thrust of, uh... William's invasion.

to be the main thrust of, uh... William's invasion.

NARRATOR: William knows that his fleet is no match for Harold's,

so he plans to land somewhere unexpected.

so he plans to land somewhere unexpected.

He leaves Dives-sur-Mer and stations his army at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme.

There is now just one thing standing in his way: the weather.

There is now just one thing standing in his way: the weather.

- William, on the other side of the English Channel,

is waiting for the wind to change.

The wind is blowing in the wrong direction

The wind is blowing in the wrong direction

for him to be able to sail across the English Channel.

(dramatic music)

NARRATOR: William's luck, however, is about to change.

NARRATOR: William's luck, however, is about to change.

- The beginning of September, Harold's resources run out.

The army who has been called up need to go home for the harvest.

The army who has been called up need to go home for the harvest.

And so the army is sent back...

..at exactly the point when the wind changes.

NARRATOR: After months of delay,

NARRATOR: After months of delay,

the situation is finally coming to a head.

William is ready to invade, but he is not the only one!

Harald Hardrada, also known as Harald the Merciless, attacks first.

Harald Hardrada, also known as Harald the Merciless, attacks first.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (soldiers shouting) - (sword clinking)

- (soldiers shouting) - (sword clinking)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (battle trumpet blows)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

(dramatic battle drum and choral music)

- It wasn't by chance that William arrived at Pevensey Bay.

It was a very carefully calculated move.

It was a very carefully calculated move.

And he actually knew quite a lot about Pevensey and Hastings

because this area had a particular connection to France.

NARRATOR: Nearly 1,000 years

after Julius Caesar landed on the English coast,

William and his men set foot on the same spot that the Romans did.

William and his men set foot on the same spot that the Romans did.

The region has strong Norman ties,

as it is partly owned by the monks of Fecamp Abbey,

who previously revealed all of its secrets to the Duke of Normandy.

who previously revealed all of its secrets to the Duke of Normandy.

- They knew about the... the beach.

He knew exactly what it would be like to land there

He knew exactly what it would be like to land there

so that he could completely prepare accordingly.

So that was a real help for William's calculations.

- One of the first things that William does when he lands is

to make the places where he's staying defensible.

He makes the old Roman fort of Pevensey defensible,

He makes the old Roman fort of Pevensey defensible,

In terms of message giving to the local population,

it's also saying that William has arrived.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: William mobilises thousands of men

NARRATOR: William mobilises thousands of men

over several days to build his fortification.

More than just a defensive structure,

More than just a defensive structure,

building this tower means claiming this land as Norman.

- (Rio speaks French)

NARRATOR: Bertrand Rio has recreated the building

as it was in the time of William the Conqueror.

- (Rio speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: Harold has no time

to celebrate his victory over the Norwegians.

to celebrate his victory over the Norwegians.

He hurries back to London to call up more soldiers.

After the battle at Stamford Bridge,

he'd be wise to rebuild his army

he'd be wise to rebuild his army

before facing off with William of Normandy.

- William appears to have deliberately provoked Harold.

- William appears to have deliberately provoked Harold.

When he's at Hastings, he's ravaging the land around here.

Now, much of the land around here, uh...

is the land of Harold himself;

is the land of Harold himself;

it's his personal property.

But also by ravaging land,

by burning houses, by pillaging this place,

by burning houses, by pillaging this place,

what William is demonstrating is

that Harold is not a good Lord.

He's not protecting his people.

And so, having been provoked,

Harold is placed in a situation where he obviously feels

he has to rush down to this part of Sussex as quickly as possible.

he has to rush down to this part of Sussex as quickly as possible.

He didn't have to.

He could have waited in London could have built his army up,

but instead, fired by the victory of Stamford Bridge

but instead, fired by the victory of Stamford Bridge

just a few weeks earlier, he rushes down.

But William isn't staying still at Hastings.

He's aware that Harold is likely to come down and approach him.

But what William decides to do is to move out away from Hastings.

But what William decides to do is to move out away from Hastings.

He doesn't want to fight with the sea at his back.

(dramatic battle music)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: Harold and his men have beaten the Normans

to the best position on the battlefield.

They overlook a hill covered in apple trees...

They overlook a hill covered in apple trees...

..an enviable, elevated vantage point

packed with 8,000 infantrymen,

packed with 8,000 infantrymen,

centred around the elite corps of Housecarls.

- (soldiers shouting)

NARRATOR: They control the field and if the Normans want to take it,

NARRATOR: They control the field and if the Normans want to take it,

they will need to be the ones to launch the attack.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (battle trumpets blow)

- The battle started with the sound of trumpets.

- The battle started with the sound of trumpets.

You can just imagine this great sound emerging from the battlefield.

- (soldiers shouting)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

(dramatic battle string music)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (arrow whooshes)

- (arrow whooshes)

- (speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- Harold, on top the hill,

- Harold, on top the hill,

aligns his soldiers in the famous shield wall,

a classic piece of English tactical arrangement at this time.

a classic piece of English tactical arrangement at this time.

NARRATOR: Harold's Anglo-Saxon infantry has developed

NARRATOR: Harold's Anglo-Saxon infantry has developed

a highly effective defensive strategy

coordinating its elite units, the Housecarls,

with the Fyrds or local militias made up more commonly of peasants.

with the Fyrds or local militias made up more commonly of peasants.

- (Knight speaks French)

NARRATOR: Archaeologist Damien Bouet has studied

this Anglo-Saxon art of defence inside and out.

- (D Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: Each soldier carefully places his shield

slightly above his neighbour's.

There's virtually no room for enemy projectiles

There's virtually no room for enemy projectiles

to pierce the scales of this giant shield.

All the opposition sees is an impenetrable wall.

All the opposition sees is an impenetrable wall.

- (D Bouet speaks French)

- (D Bouet speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (speaks French)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: William's troops have just suffered two stinging defeats.

His archers and his infantry are now neutralised.

His archers and his infantry are now neutralised.

The Duke of Normandy has no choice

but to launch his army's greatest weapon: the cavalry.

but to launch his army's greatest weapon: the cavalry.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (Bostal speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

(dramatic battle trumpets blow) - (soldiers shouting)

(dramatic battle trumpets blow) - (soldiers shouting)

NARRATOR: The fate of the Normans - and Wiliam's claim to the throne -

rests on the backs of these fearsome horses.

rests on the backs of these fearsome horses.

After hours of fighting, will they be able

to overcome the might of the Housecarls?

- So densely packed is the English line.

- So densely packed is the English line.

And one of the things the Normans particularly fear

are the great battle axes the English are wielding...

are the great battle axes the English are wielding...

- (grunts)

- ..which can cut through armour,

can cut through flesh, can cut through horses.

So the carnage is absolutely terrible.

So the carnage is absolutely terrible.

(tense battle music)

- (soldiers shouting) - (swords clinking)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: The Norman cavalry - the pride of William's army -

NARRATOR: The Norman cavalry - the pride of William's army -

has failed to break through Harold's defence.

BERTAN: "The sun is now at its peak,

but our hopes grow dimmer.

Rumours are spreading that William is dying.

Suddenly, I see a horseman.

It's our Duke!

And he shouts to anyone within earshot:

And he shouts to anyone within earshot:

"God is on our side!"

- (shouts in French)

NARRATOR: William needs to change his strategy quickly.

While his Flemish and Norman soldiers remain

While his Flemish and Norman soldiers remain

at the bottom of the hill,

he commands his Breton troops to attack the English right flank.

- (soldiers shouting)

- At one point,

the Bretons on the left flank of William's army fell back in retreat,

the Bretons on the left flank of William's army fell back in retreat,

and that the English in front of them, witnessing this,

break ranks and ran down the hill behind them.

break ranks and ran down the hill behind them.

- Harold's army breaks its shape,

and that is the real key moment.

The discipline in Harold's army, that was the real strength,

The discipline in Harold's army, that was the real strength,

and when that fell through, that's when he lost it.

(dramatic battle music) - (horses whinnying)

(dramatic battle music) - (horses whinnying)

- William was able to order the knights

who are descending down the slope to rearrange themselves

and to cut down the English and pursue them through the hill.

and to cut down the English and pursue them through the hill.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- They are finally able to inflict real injury on the English.

And we're told the Normans decided to take advantage of

And we're told the Normans decided to take advantage of

what they witnessed when the left flank fell back

by feigning a retreat.

by feigning a retreat.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (speaks French)

NARRATOR: William has finally landed on an effective tactic

to counter the English.

He'll return to it throughout the afternoon...

He'll return to it throughout the afternoon...

and little by little,

his troops chip away at Harold Godwinson's shield wall.

The confrontation rages for hours without a clear victor.

The confrontation rages for hours without a clear victor.

Already the longest battle of the 11th century,

the bloodletting at the Battle of Hastings will continue.

the bloodletting at the Battle of Hastings will continue.

- (speaks French)

- (soldiers shouting) - (swords clinking)

- (Gondoin speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (arrows whooshing) - (P Bouet speaks French)

- (arrows whooshing) - (P Bouet speaks French)

(sombre music) - (soldiers shouting)

(sombre music) - (soldiers shouting)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: After nine hours of fierce fighting,

the battle is finally over.

the battle is finally over.

Against all odds, William, the Duke of Normandy,

has become William the Conqueror.

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- (P Bouet speaks French)

NARRATOR: Though he leaves Hastings victorious,

NARRATOR: Though he leaves Hastings victorious,

two months will pass before William is crowned King of England,

on December the 25th, 1066.

- The death of Harold is something steeped in mystery,

which is quite strange

because it's obviously the key moment of William's success.

because it's obviously the key moment of William's success.

It's remarkable that chroniclers at the time

don't talk about it in the same way.

BERTAN: We won.

The English lost their nerve and scattered in every direction,

The English lost their nerve and scattered in every direction,

leaving us alone on that damned hill.

Now I see Harold's crown on the ground.

Now I see Harold's crown on the ground.

He must be dead, but how did this happen?

- (Bostal speaks French)

NARRATOR: William - or one of his followers -

created the myth of Harold's "death by divine arrow."

But if you look closely at the tapestry,

But if you look closely at the tapestry,

you'll find a second reference to Harold's death.

This image, brutal and raw,

shows him butchered on Senlac Hill.

shows him butchered on Senlac Hill.

PORTER: There are numerous stories about how King Harold died.

As years went by, his fall at Hastings becomes legendary

because Harold was such a totemic figure for the English.

If you take our earlier source,

If you take our earlier source,

that tells a quite horrific story of how King Harold was standing

here at the top of the hill,

and he was taken down by four knights -

and he was taken down by four knights -

one of whom was William of Normandy himself -

and he was literally hacked to pieces on this spot.

His head was taken off. A lance was thrust in his chest.

His head was taken off. A lance was thrust in his chest.

He was essentially slaughtered.

NARRATOR: In the absence of a recognisable corpse

NARRATOR: In the absence of a recognisable corpse

or even a burial site,

Harold's death goes on to inspire legends and conspiracy theories.

- (Gondoin speaks French)

NARRATOR: William decides to rename the site of the confrontation.

From that point forward, it would simply be known as "Battle."

From that point forward, it would simply be known as "Battle."

To pay tribute to the thousands

of Anglo-Saxon and Norman soldiers who died there,

he constructs an abbey, now known as Battle Abbey.

he constructs an abbey, now known as Battle Abbey.

(deep choral chanting music)

- I'm standing at the traditional site

- I'm standing at the traditional site

of the high altar of Battle Abbey.

The abbey had two purposes:

one was to remember William's great victory at this spot,

one was to remember William's great victory at this spot,

but also to atone for the bloodshed as well.

He wants the monks here to pray for the souls of the departed

He wants the monks here to pray for the souls of the departed

and to pray for his soul as well. He is the person...

the lead person who has, in a sense,

caused a lot of the bloodshed here.

caused a lot of the bloodshed here.

NARRATOR: William would continue to fight against the Anglo-Saxons

NARRATOR: William would continue to fight against the Anglo-Saxons

for another five years.

It would take this long for Harold's heirs

and followers to finally submit.

and followers to finally submit.

- The battle of Hastings was genuinely

one of the most important events in English history

one of the most important events in English history

because of the great legacy it left.

This was not on... It wasn't just changing a king,

it was actually the start of a brand-new dynasty: the Normans.

it was actually the start of a brand-new dynasty: the Normans.

And it completely reshaped the country forever.

- Until now, England has been firmly in the sort of orbit

of the Scandinavian countries.

For much of its cultural influences, looked across the North Sea.

For much of its cultural influences, looked across the North Sea.

From now on, it's going be looking across the English Channel

towards the Kingdom of France.

- (P Bouet speaks French)

- And of course, ultimately it will also feed into the great battles

and campaigns of the Hundred Years' War.

NARRATOR: The Battle of Hastings linked England

to the European continent more strongly than ever...

forging a new destiny for a nation...

seemingly ready to dominate the world.

(dramatic closing string music)

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