Program Information

Most battles have little effect beyond the blood and pain of those involved. No one can say that about Hastings.

A Moment in Time is a brief, exciting and compelling journey into the past. Created to excite and enlighten the public about the past, its relevance to the present and its impact on the future, A Moment In Time is a captivating historical narrative that is currently broadcast worldwide.

Transcript

Lead: Most battles have little effect beyond the blood and pain of those involved. No one can say that about Hastings.

Intro: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Content: A generation ago it would have been hard to find a student who could not tell you the significance of year 1066. It was then in October that the forces of William, Duke of Normandy, crossed the channel from France and defeated the English army of King Harold before the coastal village of Hastings.

The year began with the death of King Edward the Confessor. He had no direct heir and the only logical successor was the most popular man in England, Harold Godwinson, who controlled most of the districts south of London. Rousing from his final coma, Edward seemed to those present to give the throne to Harold and, on the day after the King's death, he was unanimously elected by the Witan, the ancient Anglo-Saxon assembly of nobles. Harold was tall, even-tempered, a good diplomat, and an effective leader for the army--but he had big problems.

First, he was not of royal blood, though his sister was the old king's wife. Second, the King of Norway was conspiring with Harold's brother to invade with a Viking army and take the throne. Third, the Pope in Rome was hostile to Harold, because his father had violated church law by helping to remove one Archbishop of Canterbury and install another.

The greatest threat, however, came from France. In Normandy, Duke William--also a tall and imposing figure, slightly overweight, addicted to hunting, who by sheer force of will had controlled his principality more tightly than any in France--claimed that old King Edward had promised him the throne in a private conversation fifteen years before. Moreover, Harold had taken a public oath to back William's claim to the throne and was considered by the Normans to be an oath-breaker.

Though Harold was secure at home, his enemies abroad were circling for the kill.

Next time: Harold's confusing mistake.

At the University of Richmond, this is Dan Roberts.

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