551. The Road to 1066: Countdown to Conquest (Part 4)

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Mar 27, 2025

Unravel the captivating rise of Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, and learn how his cunning family navigated politics to reach power. Discover the significance of his marriage ties, particularly to Edith, and the royal turmoil that ensued. Explore the tense dynamics leading up to 1066, marked by shifting loyalties and the bitter rivalries of the time. As the stakes escalated, the fate of England hung precariously in the balance, setting the stage for monumental clashes ahead.

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ANECDOTE

Edward the Confessor's Biography

Edith, Edward the Confessor's queen, commissioned a biography of him.
This biography omits details about Edward's palace, emphasizing his saintliness by focusing on Westminster Abbey.

INSIGHT

Edward's Chastity

The biography claims Edward consecrated himself to virginity, potentially explaining the lack of an heir with Edith.
This framing protects Edith's reputation and associates her with a saintly image.

ANECDOTE

Godwin's Death

Godwin died unexpectedly from choking during an Easter feast in 1053.
This led to Harold inheriting his father's title as Earl of Wessex.

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In the triumvirate of 1066, William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada, and Harold Godwinson, the latter has above all endured as one of the great heroes of English history. But how did he become the short-lived King during that tumultuous year? The answer lies in his formidable family, the Godwins. Often symbolised as the last of the Anglo-Saxons, their stratospheric rise to power was engineered by Godwin, an obscure Thaine from Sussex, in a striking case of social mobility. Making himself integral to Cnut, he was made Earl of Wessex to help him run his new kingdom. But Godwin was also cunning and conniving, constantly shifting sides to ensure the maximum advantage to his family. Even Edward the Confessor, who hated the Godwinsons, had no choice but to promote Harold and Godwin’s other sons, and marry his daughter, Edith. But, with his hatred mounting and the couple childless, the fortunes of the Godwins would soon change…in September 1051, with tensions reaching boiling point, they went into exile. It would not last, and their return would see them catapulted to even greater heights of influence. Meanwhile, just as Edward’s life was dwindling, Harold’s star was rising, and across the channel William of Normandy’s prowess was also mounting. What would happen when, in a remarkable turn of events, the two men finally met? What fateful oaths were taken that day…?

Join Tom and Dominic as they lead us to the brink of 1066, and discuss the family behind it all: the Godwins. How would their hold on England see Harold crowned King of England, and turned oath-breaker?

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Twitter:

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@holland_tom

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Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor

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