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History Daily

The Harrying of the North

History Daily

History Daily

History

4.42.5K Ratings

🗓️ 28 January 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

January 28, 1069. The killing of the Earl of Northumbria leads William the Conqueror to unleash a terrible vengeance on the people of northern England.


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Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:04.1

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0:06.0

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0:10.5

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0:30.6

Okay. It's January 28, 1069, in the city of Durham and the north of England. Robert de Kameen, ducks as an axe, swings through the air at his head.

0:35.6

Robert is the Earl of Northumbria and a man in his

0:38.2

fighting crime, but even Robert can't fight off an entire mob. He thrusts his sword at the man

0:44.0

with the axe who's chasing him down the street. As the man loses his balance, Robert retreats.

0:49.5

He and a handful of his soldiers are hopelessly outnumbered by a hostile crowd of locals who were

0:54.7

determined to kill them and send the message of defiance to their hated king, William,

0:59.4

the Conqueror. Just over two years ago, Robert was part of William's army that successfully

1:04.4

invaded England from Normandy. And after William seized the English throne, he set about

1:09.8

rewarding his followers.

1:11.5

But the noble title that King William gave Robert was a double-edged sword.

1:15.9

Robert was made Earl of Northumbria, a region of William's kingdom that has been especially

1:20.5

reluctant to accept its new Norman overlord. And today, the people of Durham have launched an

1:25.9

uprising. Robert is their primary target.

1:29.7

Robert and his soldiers stay close as they retreat away from their attackers.

1:33.7

But the mob is happy to hang back for now,

1:36.1

because they know this city better than the Normans.

1:38.8

Robert is leading his men into a dead end.

1:41.9

But Robert suddenly recognizes the door next to him. It's the bishop of

...

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