The place, Normandy.

An illegitimate son is born to Duke Robert the First and his

mistress Herleva. His name is William, William the Bastard. Seven years

later when the Duke unexpectedly passes away, rival factions in the Norman aristocracy vie for control, doubting Williams legitimacy as Robert's heir.

But before he's 20 years old, William has fought tooth and nail to establish his authority over the duchy, earning a reputation for his unyielding spirit.

With each and every victory he solidifies his

grip on Normandy, but his eyes are set on a greater prize.

When his cousin King Edward the Confessor dies childless,

William sees the throne of England as his birthright. One man stands in his way,

Harold Godwinson, whom Edward has named as king on his deathbed.

William builds a large fleet and sets sail for England.

The year is 1066.

I'm Dr. Eleanor Yannaga,

and this is Gone Medieval from History Hit.

In the third episode of our special series examining the build-up to the Battle of Hastings,

I'm joined by Judith A Green,

the Emmaraeta Professor of Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh. Her books include the aristocracy of Norman

England, forging the kingdom, power in English society

973 to 1189, and most recently the Normans, power, conquest, and culture in 11th century

Europe.

So there's no one better to talk to about William the Conqueror, a man who defied his

inauspicious beginnings and changed the course of English and European history.

...