The year 1066 is the most famous date in English history when William of Normandy defeated

Harold II of England and won himself a crown and the epithet, The Conqueror. But there is a lot more to

it than just one bloody battle at Hastings. You'll find half a century of invasion and political

manoeuvring before it and decades of brutal subjugation afterwards. Medieval historian Mark Morris

is an expert in the subject. His books include The Norman Conquest and the Anglo-Saxons,

and in this four-part podcast series he talks to me, David Musgrove, about the full story

of the Norman Conquest. So welcome to 1066, the Battle for England.

This is episode four, the long and violent conquest of England.

We have talked through the run-up to the battle.

We've talked about the politics and power play that happened throughout the 11th century,

and we've established the drama of the battle itself.

And now we need to look at the aftermath.

So last time we talked, Mark, Duke William had won the Battle of Hastings.

He was advancing on London, and the people of London were about to submit to him.

What happens?

Yeah.

Well, I mean, they submit is what happens.

And then he enters London in the very last days of the year.

So we can't be more precise than that.

But at some point, probably early mid-December, he's in London.

And making immediate preparations for his coronation.

Because what we're told by the sources is that the English who came and submitted to him

...