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People think the English have never had any problems only caused them. The truth is that we don’t whinge on about them for centuries looking for pity and people to blame for our inadequacies. 🇬🇧

More content on Anglo-Saxons please; this was excellent.

The Michael Wood documentaries on the subject of the Anglo-Saxon kings are mostly available on KZfaq and very worth the watch.

Fascinating. I never knew about the Norman's wiping out the ruling class, clergy, intelligentsia and, as a consequence, Anglo-Saxon written language and books.

Old English should be taught in English schools as well. It's a good language.

Really well thought out look at the far-reaching ramifications of the Norman invasion but delivered in a nice concise presentation. Thank you as always, Dr Starkey.

I wonder how Monsieur Macron would react if we asked him for an apology and reparations!

I'd like more Anglo Saxon history. My ancestors are from the Midlands and Scotland and, since I'm from California, learned next to nothing about our history.

Harold II was titled the King of the English, William I was King of England - subtle but all important difference. I think Starkers goes a little too far in presenting 1066 as a year Zero in England governmentally, as the Normans left the majority of English laws & governmental administration intact, merely adapting it to their purposes, but it certainly was a Year Zero for the governing order, & one was annihilated by the other, and by an "other" which was a brutal & violent warrior caste with little in common with the population they found themselves ruling, they were even becoming pretty governmentally brutal & violent with their own people back in Normandy by this time. All this came about because of Harold rushing to Hastings, & not rest & refitting in London before he did so after the lightning march up North to strike down the Norwegians at York. One of the key questions in English history is whether there was a secret alliance between the Norwegians & Normans to attack England simultaneously to break its defences, or whether their simultaneous assaults was happenstance?

I like the written question at the beginning. It lets Dr Starkey spend his time answering.

Not wishing to undermine Starkey - but Robert Tombs is excellent on this topic in his book: "The English & their History" - tldr: the conquering Normans were gradually sucked in to maintaining + then embracing Anglo-Saxon traditions + culture - despite their initial "decapitation" of the ruling elites

Hey there’s a thumbs up before it’s even started.

There was already a strong change in English before the Norman conquest, in the kind of English spoken in the Danelaw due to the impact of Old Norse: that kind of English - simplified in its grammar and invaded by some Norse words - was to be taken up by the Normans and further influenced by French borrowings; and is the immediate forebear of the English that we now speak. However, at the street level the kind of Modern English that we now speak is still 70% Germanic (56% Old English and 14% Old Norse) with 30%, admittedly quite a lot, coming from French, Latin, Greek and so forth. The music or rhythm of Modern English, however, is still close to Dutch, and Frisian/Plattdeutsch. Trying listening to these tongues: they sound English, although you somehow cannot understand them - that is due to the grammar more than to anything else.

Thank you for talking on this subject. More of similar topics please. 🙂

I always found the story of William Peverel interesting, as little is known about his origins, only that he was a Norman knight. I believe that this was where Rowling obtained her idea for her books.

Excellent...... as usual.

David, thank you for uploading these videos. You are a remarkable man, especially in the era of grifters

As always, fascinating. Thank you, David.

For anyone who enjoys history and music, I would recommend listening to Show of Hands' song Breme Fell At Hastings. A wonderful exploration of the Norman Conquest from the perspective of a crestfallen Englishman. Or Frank Turner's English Curse - a fun acapella ballad telling the story of the death of William's son Rufus.

Harold's daughter Gytha married a Prince of Kievan Rus Vladimir Monomach.

Thank you so much, Professor!

Very interesting!🌟

Very interesting and well presented what brilliant memory .

Thinking about the Norman Conquest always makes me frown, it was probably the single biggest disaster ever to happen to this country. William the Bastard (as he was known before he conquered anything) was relying on a mercenary army and was financed by the Pope in Rome (another reason to dislike that office). Being illegitimate of birth, it’s hard to see how any claim of legitimacy stands at all in those times. Had King Harold’s brother Tostig not been conniving with Harald Hardrada of Norway, and had the Pope not interfered, there would have been no conquest, and there would have been considerably more freedom for the common Englishman. Would the feudal system have been so fully implemented if the Witan had continued?

The most Chad gay guy I’ve ever seen. What a legend.

Thank you sir.

Can William the Conqueror return and erradicate the woke itelligencia please?

There's something I find fascinating about the early Norman period and the Matilda-Stephen-Anarchy period as well. I hope we get to hear more.

Happening to the UK ..right now ..being conquered by stealth..

Legend 👍

There is a modern English called ''Anglish'', with all the post Norman words taken out, it's a lot more earthy and less upper class sounding.

Relation to Stasavage's view articulated in The Decline and Rise of Democracy: A Global History from Antiquity to Today about relative importance of Anglo-saxon and Norman contributions to English freedom?

Love my Anglo-Saxon ancestors

Really interesting

Brilliant as always

Is 1066 a roadmap for overcoming the current stagnation and lack of leadership in Great Britain? Completely wipe out the ruling class, the religous authorities and intelligentsia and allow a new growth of ideas, language and other proceses to develop so the country may eventually flourish again.

The Norman aristocracy wasted much of the 400 years after the Battle of Hastings, invading France, Ireland and Scotland. The most expensive part being endless invasions in France. They wasted vast amounts of resources of the conquered English people on their obsession with conquest. They also destroyed the name of England in those countries. The pursuit of conquest gave the Norman aristocracy of England purpose, and it seemed they found none other on anywhere near the same scale. Even their side branches in Wales and Ireland never seemed as obsessed with conquest, and developed more interest in religion and music. The end result of this "conquest as purpose" obsession, was that the Military class finally wiped most of themselves out in the War of the Roses. ..... Those that rise by the sword, fall by the sword..... The Anglo Saxon kingdoms did not Invade their neighbours on anything remotely of the same scale. Perhaps Prof Starkey may wish to comment on this.

Excellent although this needs to be broken down into about 10 90 minute episodes for my bedtime listening

Dr Starkey must be psychic. Was thinking last week what his thoughts might be regarding the Anglo Saxon kings?

Fabulous...

Just as Davos man wishes to do us all now.

Genious of a Man

And still today we have the remnants of two languages, where two words of similar meaning have either AS or Norman origin. eg lamb (AS) mutton (mouton- norman) love (AS) amourous (amour, norman).

Does a synthetic language like Old English require a custodial class of speakers to prevent its disintegration? Or, to pose the question less provocatively, to stall an otherwise hastened rate of natural lingustic processes of change? I understand the history of the English language supports this supposition, but, myself, I have my doubts.

Hello, am I right in thinking that when the Normans came to England, and defeated Alfred, they began to take over all the places of power and indstalled themselves as the rulers of England? Is it true that the Normans replaced all the nobility of the Anglo Saxons, and replaced them with their own? so when the Normans ruled it was only in the high places of Power? but had little to do with the common man, who was not replaced by Normans and stayed as they were, Anglo Saxons?

Perhaps David could cover the origins of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain and separate history from legend. There is a tale that Hengist and Horsa were employed as mercenaries by Vortigern, they rebelled against their employer and began taking the country. It even has its own decapitation event in 'the night of the long knives', where Nennius and Geoffrey of Monmouth claim the celts and Saxons were discussing terms of a truce when the Saxons pulled knives from their boots and killed the Celtic leaders.

Peasant Grunts! Ha! Ha! You've been to Stockport then!

Some parallels for today, no?

Who here has watched the Last Kingdom? Is Uthred of Bebbenburgh a real person David?

I proudly consider myself Anglo-Saxon, and England is mine!

Anglo-Saxon didn't lose its grammar, its grammar evolved :) Although it's been argued that the process began before the Norman Conquest, through contact with Scandinavian (the Danelaw). It's just that there was little record of the transition period between the 11th and 14th centuries, so it looks more abrupt than it probably was.

A most welcome talk on the Anglo Saxons and the development/evolution of a national language. There is little doubt that the Normans practiced genocide but the idea of destroying the ethnicity and culture of Anglo Saxon England is confounded by the way the language absorbed and survived the Normans. When the Normans arrived in France their own language did not survive and they spoke, as I understand it, 'low' French. In England this did not happen. For example, the Vikings invaded England and appear to have dominated, lived with and traded with the Saxons. They brought to English the ending 'en' so we have in English the words 'oxen' and 'children' both derived from Viking grammar. Therefore, if these survived along with many shared words the Saxons and Vikings enjoyed, the genocide was not fully completed. I have to question the voracity of your idea of subjugation and I would point out that with the three languages of State, Church and People the only one that was understood by everyone (in the passing of the years) was the german based Early English. In the end it suited Henry (the second?) to demote French in state affairs and we saw the steady emergence of English in the following years, seeing, e.g., Tyndale and the St. James Bible make their mark. I visited the Ashmolean Museum yesterday to see the Anglo Saxon artefacts and the practical skills and the administration of the Anglo Saxons, as well as the strength of their economy suggests some depth to the culture, probably supported by many of the clergy. My argument is that something survived the Normans and what brought that about should not be mis-stated. I look forward to more of your talks on the Anglo Saxons and the Normans.

Cor! Just over 1 minute in and already I disagree with you. William could have a legitimate reason to assume that the Crown of England would come to him. In 1025, William’s uncle, William, dies aged 18. also at Fecamp Abbey was Edward Atheling. Now, in 1035, Robert, William the bastard’s dad, spends time and effort to get Edward the English throne ( he was unsuccesful). In 1041, «Edward» becomes co-regent and Harthacnut dies in mysterious circumstances (as did Harold I 4 years before). 1051 and William visits Edward and goes home happy according to William of Jumeiges. Now, could it be that Will the Con found out that Ed the Con was in fact Will the monk? Easy to check as body of «Will the monk» Lies in Fecamp Abbey and has a good provenance. Just check the DNA and compare with Emma in Winchester. If Will, the relationship Will be Aunt/nephew. If Edward, the relationship will be mother/son.

I wonder if England could ever throw out the current lot and attempt to recreate a Saxon type Witan and reverse the land grabs and boot out those Norman sounding aristos in the Lords and also the church?

Hang on, this isn't the same as South Africa. It's worth remembering that the majority of the black population in South Africa are Bantu and mostly came after Europeans settled and bought land from the indigenous Khoisaan. Apartheid was largely the Europeans trying to seperate the massive immigrant population of Bantu from the settler one, as the Bantu had arrived in such large numbers that they eventually became 10-1 and would of dominated a democracy. Wether you agree with the morality of not allowing foreigners to out vote you in your democracy is subjective but that's what it was.

Lovely video. Could have done without the Ukraine rhubarb at the start.

I feel ppl of the British Isles are their own race, with some celt, viking and the native peoples all mixed up.

On the modern basis the people who can trace their ancestry to the Anglo Saxons can demand reparations ?

This country is done btw. Gg no re.

i don't believe i have any Anglo saxon heritage at all, as i'm italian origin on my fathers side and german origin on my mother side, although born in the uk.

There is no such language as "Anglo-Saxon," Mr. Starkey, as you should know very well. The language is referred to as Old English.

Don't I recall reading that the Norman invasion was never more than 5% of the population? (far less than the current immigration!) Why didn't the lower orders come here too, or was everyone feudally tied to the land? As to language, wasn't there a QI question which said that in Rome itself Latin was a minority language for the patricians and the bulk of Romans were very 'diverse' and speaking a multitude of languages

Do think Tony Blair would changed UK general election voting system for UK general election politically no Thomas. He not interested in it Politically he interested in power politically as British government Prime Minister. You get it with the Liberal Democrats politically Thomas. STV voting system for UK general election politically Ireland politically has for it Irish general election politically Thomas. Awesome. Excellent channel.

A sad day indeed when Harold was defeated.The Normans ruined our culture our country really.

So the Normans did to the Anglo-Saxons what they had done to the Romano-British, what goes around comes around I guess.

Norman's are French yes. William want to be King of England London politically he wanted it Thomas. Scotland politically never understood that but you did Thomas yes politically. Awesome. Excellent. My father English German born 1930.

a point to note that apartheid was not one sided, it was enforced both ways.

drop the putin references and this might be ok

what people forget is all the Anglo Saxon leaders were Catholic

Thomas you win Austria Vienna politically for FPO get 51 seats David Starkey get FPO votes in England I got Austrians friends who vote FPO they cried Thomas FPO they got something politically to vote for Austria Vienna. That something SNP run Scotland never have politically Thomas. British government get Scottish independence referendum but you vote no Thomas because Art know it nuts.Italy win that politically. England London politically Thomas that tight.

The early references to Putin not helpful. Ukraine 2022 doesn't look like it's going to roll over in quite the same way as England 1066.

The comparison to the events in Ukraine is so sad, pointless, subjective opinion, and wholly incorrect. Otherwise, interesting talk.

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with Prof Starkey's opening statement. Putin's war aims are limited and he clearly does not seek regime change.