Welcome to the British History Podcast.

My name is Jamie and this is episode 410, the F-word.

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They appeared as if from nowhere.

A great force of forces and men armed to the teeth charging towards the city of York.

Where the hell did this army come from?

And who was that in the back?

Was that William the Bastard?

He was supposed to be a Normandy.

What was even happening here?

Well, William had apparently learned the thing or two from Harold Godwinston because it

was this exact strategy that Harold had used to great success at Stanford Bridge and

then to lesser success at Hastings.

The idea was to push hard to get ahead of any messenger and then take your enemy completely

by surprise.

And just like Harold at Stanford Bridge, the speed and stealth of William's approach meant

that he was able to get his army within striking distance without any warning.

The sudden appearance of such a large force would have shaken even a seasoned army and

...