King and Conquorer - from 24 August BBC and iPlayer

[IwantToRetire]

I had heard about this and sort of didn't listen as I thought it was Netflix.

But it isn't. Its the BBC!

"A clash that defined a country, and a continent, for a thousand years. The epic story of 1066 and the brutal battle for a kingdom. Starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024pyz

Supposedly based on verified historical facts.

I am imagining a mash up of Game of Throne and Vikings.

(Haven't seen another thread but am nominating this as a binge watch thread, rather than tv pace. If available on iPlayer.)

He went to fight the Norwegian King Harald who was the thread

Now Harald Hardrada's life would make an interesting subject - or a fictional companion of his, so he could survive - but probably far too much exposition needed for the average viewer to understand where he was and what he was doing. Varangian Guard? Byzantium? What's that? Where's that?

how do they get their horses over the sea? we only see the men in little boats?

Like trying to follow the plot line in Vikings, which has as many tangled family histories as this series, but didn't fall for laddish dialogue.

Again based on Vikings rampaging all over Europe, and further afield.

Apparently the Normans were descendents of "Norsemen" who settled in what may or may not have been France at the time.

Apparently there are illustrations in the Bayeaux Taperstry, and seems that was quite common since Roman times.

Not quite. It was Tostig that encouraged him to fight for the crown

( not Emma as the series )

On the English heritage website.
The horses

Is Viking’s worth a watch

Do they still have all the dress up gear and the Helmets and shields of each side ?
Interesting to see those ( copies obv )

i think so, not been for some years

I found it hard to get into, and in parts is nearly as weird as Britannia (a druid history of England which must have been made by some stoned out old hippies).

I have no idea how "real" any of it is, but assuming even a light link with history certainly seems to shows that the Vikings influenced far more of the world that we know that is acknowledged.

(By chance have just seen a tv news snippet about how Starboard comes from the Viking word for Stearing Board!)

Its on Netflix but I watched it when I had a temporary sub to Prime. And although very gory found it worth watching.

https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/70301870

I think it must have been popular as Netflix has gone on to make another series set 100 years later. Vikings Valhalla

Thanks
Looks like I know what we’re watching next

The programme with the Snows about the Battle of Hastings that was on BBC4 after the first episode was interesting on how Harold nearly won.

Be interested to hear what you think.

I will

Just starting episode 7 now
Itll be all the fighting from now on
How exciting

7 episode already ??

We have limited ourselves to 2 a night.
I thought we were being good with the rationing 😇

Just finished the final episode
I enjoyed it
There Could have been more chaos in the final battle scene like Battle of the Bastards (GOT amazing battle)

But I’ve enjoyed it and definitely leant a lot from all the googling around it

Maybe start Viking tomorrow if dh can take more bloodshed so soon.

Sorry - I misunderstood, I thought you had somehow whizzed through 7 episodes of Vikings.

I finished the Harold William bromance yesterday. Only because I started.

Glad I've got it out of the way.

I’m on episode 6…I’d say I’m enjoying it despite suspending belief in reality. Also surprised at how much I am disliking Harald the further in we get…he starts off as someone you are rooting for, then all that business sidelining his “wife”, having his (admittedly horrible) brother murdered, giving his other brothers Earlship away etc…I think it is supposed to show that he was a good guy that was forced into making some tough decisions but it’s coming off like he was entirely motivated by the crown and didn’t care about anyone… agree with PP that the two male leads would have been better the other way around.
My favourite character is Mathilda by a long way. Played brilliantly I think. I also like Haralds sister…looks angelic and meek but is very politically astute and ruthless.
Ponies for me are also a highlight 😁
Overall I’ve enjoyed it…has sparked an interest in the period I knew very little about. May dig out the Georgette Heyer. Do love a plodding historic fiction novel (Sharon Kaye Penman or Margaret George style in anyone has any recommendations for this period).

I think Hardrada based his claim on some agreement with Knut, which he had not exercised before.

I know someone said it earlier on but I can't remember where, so I looked up the gaits of Icelandic horses. The word was 'tolt', with an accent over the 'o', which I don't think I can reproduce with my keyboard.
It has nothing to do with the poem 'The Highwayman' but it reminds me of the word 'tlot' which is used there, to make the sound of the hoofs.

@Buiderswoe

I recommend Elizabeth Chadwick's novels based around this period and slightly later. One of my favourites is The Winter Mantle about William I's niece Judith, the mother of David I's future wife Maud. Their marriage would ultimately lead to The Great Cause and Wars of Independence almost 2 centuries later.

https://elizabethchadwick.com/wintermantle/

A few years ago I read 'The Handfasted Wife' by Carol McGrath and enjoyed it very much. It's about Edith Swan Neck.
Also the aforementioned 'Wife to the Bastard' by Hilda Lewis.
Think I'll dig out the Georgette Heyer again too 🙂

Hah! Elizabeth Chadwick has written a review on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethChadwickAuthor

Some highlights:

"The consensus among those who know the period well including historians such as Marc Morris, is that it's appalling and has naff all to do with history".

"Nothing is actually good and a lot is REALLY bad but despite the naff plastic leather, the scraggy looks of the nobles even in their bling, and all the women lacking their wimples, I was able to push through it for a limited time"

"Harold sheathes his sword still covered in blood from hilt to tip. No, no, no, no, NO! No man of weapons would be so stupid. This was a spot where my jaw dropped!"

She's only watched half an episode so far.

Jings! .

Gone Medieval is good…a lot on Norman, less Anglo Saxons. Listened to loads of those. Women of crusades, medieval obscenity are just two of recent enjoyable and enlightening episodes ( issue is more I go to sleep listening, and have to repeat each night till I catch up with what I missed 🤣)

I’ve just seen there’s a podcast called “history of England, that has a series called Anglo Saxon England (series 3) , quick listen for a few mins it seemed lively enough .

Williams new fangled technology included the innovation of flat bottomed boats (shown in thread) to carry the LARGE horses his cavalry needed - Becuase the wee Icelandic horses would have collapsed under weight of Norman armoured cavalry