History Extra Podcast: The Normans – Everything You Wanted to Know
Host: Dave Musgrove
Guest: Dr. Mark Morris
Date: October 11, 2025
Episode Overview
In this in-depth "Everything You Wanted To Know" episode, historian Dr. Mark Morris joins host Dave Musgrove to field audience and popular internet questions about the Normans. The conversation covers Norman origins, the Battle of Hastings, personalities like William the Conqueror and Harold Godwinson, myth-busting about the Bayeux Tapestry, cultural transformations after the conquest, and quirky queries about Norman haircuts and rabbits. With scrupulous attention to the sources, Morris unpacks what we know—and don’t know—about this pivotal chapter in British history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Who Were the Normans and Where Did They Come From?
[04:05]
- Norman = Norseman/Northman—the term has the same root. Initially, they were Vikings who settled in what became Normandy, France, in the late 9th and early 10th centuries.
- Over generations, they intermarried with locals and quickly adopted Frankish customs—names became Christian (e.g., William, Richard, Robert), they built castles, founded monasteries, and fought on horseback.
- By 1066, the Normans were distinct from their Norse ancestors, though other Frankish rulers still saw them as descended from 'barbarians.'
"Yes, they're ancestrally Viking, but they are quite different, especially by the time we get to 1066..." — Mark Morris [05:39]
2. Why Did the Normans Invade England? Was There a Promise to William?
[06:47]
- The Norman invasion was triggered by disputed succession after King Edward the Confessor died childless in 1066.
- Though evidence isn’t incontrovertible, sources suggest Edward may have promised the throne to William, especially during a period when Edward had exiled the powerful Godwin family.
- By 1066, the Godwins had regained power; the royal council (Witan) naturally favored Harold Godwinson, the dominant English candidate.
"William did make a promise of the throne to William in 1051, 1052. But then the Godwins come back in 1052... I think that explains why the Witan... decided to go a different way in 1066." — Mark Morris [09:44]
3. The Battle of Hastings: Why, Where, and How?
Why was it called the Battle of Hastings? [10:39]
- William landed at Pevensey but camped at Hastings—hence the name.
- The actual site is now marked by Battle Abbey, built by William.
Is the battle’s site correct? [12:00]
- Despite conspiracy theories suggesting otherwise, contemporary sources (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, William of Malmesbury) and the construction of the abbey affirm the traditional location.
"If you think otherwise, you fall into the category of conspiracy theorists, because you have to dismiss a lot of good contemporary evidence." — Mark Morris [12:09]
Why did Harold fight so soon after Stamford Bridge? [15:00]
- Harold had to react rapidly: after defeating the Norwegians up north (25 Sept 1066), he learned of William’s landing almost immediately and had to march south. Kings of the era were expected to lead in person—he couldn't delegate.
"It's inconceivable that Harold would have said, well, I'm going to send my brother... to fight this battle for me." — Mark Morris [17:26]
Who led the last stand at the Malfosse? [18:18]
- Sources are too vague to know; it’s only described in passing by chroniclers.
- There's debate whether it was part of the main battle or its aftermath; no names of leaders are recorded.
"Unfortunately we don't have fairly detailed sources about the Malfosse, so it's unanswerable, I'm afraid." — Mark Morris [18:39]
How long did the Battle last?
[21:21]
- Likely started around 9 a.m. and lasted until dusk (4–5 p.m.), around 8 or 9 hours. The fighting and rout continued into the night.
4. The Bayeux Tapestry: Mysteries and Depictions
What’s missing at the end? [24:28]
- The tapestry nearly survives in full (70 meters), but the end—which likely depicted William’s coronation—is lost, probably due to early modern damage.
Harold’s death—arrow in the eye? [26:50]
- Despite the iconic image, contemporary written sources are silent on the arrow. The poem Carmen claims Harold was hacked down by a "Norman death squad."
- Mark Morris notes the tapestry borrows imagery from biblical illustrations, so the arrow-to-eye motif might derive from artistic traditions, not eyewitness fact.
"The real stumbling block for the arrow in the eye story is that no other contemporary source mentions an arrow in the eye." — Mark Morris [29:08]
5. What If? Speculating on Harold’s Potential Reign
[31:40]
- Known as capable and popular, but the main glowing source for Harold was commissioned by his own (the Godwin) family.
- Morris cautions skepticism of 'great man' images derived from factional or hagiographic sources.
6. Aftermath for Anglo-Saxon Aristocracy and Resistance
What happened to English nobles post-1066? [34:24]
- In devastation per capita, the native aristocracy suffered almost total removal—Doomsday Book analysis shows only 13 of ~1000 top landowners in 1086 were English, down from all in 1066.
- Survivors died in battle, fled abroad (some to Scandinavia or Byzantium), or were demoted to minor rank.
English resistance:
- Crushingly defeated. Some sporadic uprisings followed but were eventually suppressed; the harrying of the north was especially brutal.
7. Was William the Conqueror Brutal or Typical?
[37:04]
- William is notorious for the ‘harrying of the north’ (causing mass famine, deaths of 100,000+).
- However, in politics, he may have been less murderous than his Anglo-Saxon predecessors—executing rebellious nobles was rare (and after 1076, almost unheard of until 1306).
- Continental chivalric norms, not sadism, marked much Norman policy.
"It's arguable that William and the Normans introduced a new idea to English politics, which was, you ought to be chivalrous ... you don't lob people's heads off and execute them." — Mark Morris [39:19]
8. Language, Culture, and Enduring Consequences
Did William speak English? [41:03]
- Possibly tried, lost interest—sources suggest he started using Old English at first but gave up as rebellions wore him down.
"...as the conquest kind of runs out of control... within four or five years, he gives up on that and embarks on a more repressive policy." — Mark Morris [42:13]
Why was the conquest so significant? [43:08]
- Unlike earlier Danish conquest, the Normans replaced the entire aristocracy, rebuilt religious and secular buildings, altered the language, and reformed social hierarchies (even abolishing slavery).
- The changes were seismic, unmatched by previous invasions.
9. Fun Facts and Quickfire Curiosities
- Did the Normans introduce rabbits to England & Ireland? [45:14]
- Likely yes, as evidence suggests rabbits became common only post-conquest when they were bred in aristocratic warrens.
- Norman haircuts—what’s with 'curtains'? [46:25]
- Norman/Viking fashion: shaved up the back with long fringe over the forehead ("curtains"—think 1990s style!).
- Anglo-Saxons had long, flowing hair and prominent moustaches.
"The implication is no clean-living Anglo-Saxon type would have their hair cut in such a ridiculous fashion." — Mark Morris [47:20]
- Impact of the conquest in one word? [47:55]
- Mark Morris, put on the spot, replies:
"You can't say unrivalled." — Mark Morris [47:55]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "God had decided, according to contemporary minds, that his claim to the throne of England was the greater one." — Mark Morris, on medieval beliefs about victory at Hastings [03:10]
- "If you think otherwise, you fall into... conspiracy theorists..." — Mark Morris, on the battle’s location [12:09]
- "[Harold’s] victory over Harald Hardrada is rightly the sort of stuff of later legend." — Mark Morris [32:02]
- "...the Norman conquest sees this huge and sweeping change." — Mark Morris [44:48]
Useful Timestamps
- [02:58] Who won the Battle of Hastings and why?
- [04:05] Normans’ origins and connection to Vikings
- [06:47] Did Edward the Confessor promise the throne to William?
- [10:39] Why is it called the Battle of Hastings?
- [12:00] Authenticity of the battlefield location
- [15:00] Harold's forced march south—from Stamford Bridge to Hastings
- [18:18] The mystery of the Malfosse/melee ditch
- [21:21] Duration of the battle
- [24:28] What’s missing from the Bayeux Tapestry?
- [26:50] How did Harold really die?
- [31:40] Counterfactual: Would Harold have been a good king?
- [34:24] Fate of English aristocrats & resistance after defeat
- [37:04] Was William a cruel tyrant?
- [41:03] Did William the Conqueror speak English?
- [43:08] Why was the conquest significant?
- [45:14] Did Normans bring rabbits?
- [46:25] What’s with Norman haircuts?
- [47:55] The Norman conquest in one word
Tone and Style
- Mark Morris throughout is candid, evidence-driven, and gently skeptical of myths and nationalist nostalgia.
- The conversation balances lively storytelling, academic caution, and a touch of humor ("curtains" for Norman haircuts; "world’s greatest dad" for source criticism).
- The episode serves both as a myth-buster and an engaging primer for anyone intrigued by medieval history.
Recommended for:
Listeners after a fact-rich journey through one of history’s most transformative eras, with plenty of nuance, fresh insight, and a few smile-worthy sidelines along the way.