Time Team S15-E01 Hunting King Harold, Portskewett, South Wales
Time Team - Season 15, Episode 13 - Hunting King Harold (Portskewett, Gwent)
Posted on 02/29/2016 8:18:03 AM PST by SunkenCiv
As well as examining the official battlefield and the alternative site at Caldbec Hill, Time Team also considered the much-publicised theory that the battle took place in Crowhurst.
Presenter Tony Robinson travelled to the village to meet local historian Nick Austin, who first made the claims in his 2011 book, The Secrets of the Norman Invasion.
Nick told Tony that his evidence is based on written material from the period, typography and archeological evidence.
And he added that dowsing had revealed traces of a Turkish-style crossbow on the site - leading him to believe that Turks played their part in the Battle of Hastings.
He told Tony: "You see the guys with the crossbows in the bottom section of the (Bayeux) Tapestry and you look carefully at them and you'll see that these aren't Frenchmen - they've got big noses and skirts.
"These are Turks. I'm quite sure of it."
Tony responded that it was the first time he had ever heard the theory of Turks playing a role in 1066.
Weapons specialist Tom Richardson then examined two archeological finds from the area which Nick believed could be a couple of Norman helmet rings.
But Mr Richardson said his instinct was the item was not a piece of armour - but more likely a rusty metal bucket rim.
Tony concluded: "I'm convinced that the battle didn't happen in Crowhurst, if these finds are anything to go on."
English Heritage had previously decided not to consider an application to amend the location of the Battle of Hastings to Crowhurst.
However this is currently under review, with a decision due early next year.
(Excerpt) Read more at hastingsobserver.co.uk ...
It wouldn’t surprise me. There was seagoing trade from Constantinople to a lot of nooks and crannies in Britain throughout the so-called Dark Ages, and this was much later, after the Varangians had been working for the Byzantines for centuries. The Viking mercenaries helped run the saracens out of Sicily, and the Normans later established a short-lived kingdom there.
I’ve probably got the series you’re talking about. I enjoy the home restoration programs. George Clarke’s The Restoration Man is another good series.
This looks like the one I’ve watched:
LOL!
It's an excellent program about the restoration of historical buildings that the Landmark Trust rents out to the public. I'm hoping there will be a second season down the road.
Thanks. I might pick it up.
They were pretty busy with their own wars at the time of the Norman Invasion.
An official Turk presence, I agree, would be unlikely.
But small bands of mercs from all sorts of places were wandering in wide ranges all over the place in that time.
Even with the primary Turk military pumping up for a push at the time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that some Turk soldiers wouldn’t want to go private enterprise if the opportunity presented itself.
I’m not defending the idea that Turks were there. I’m just not able to see how it could be impossible for some Turks (or anyone else from anywhere else in Europe or the Mid East) to be present at that or any other battle of that period.
Thanks!
I watched Time Team when it was on in the US. It was maddening how their shows were limited by time. They’d get a glimpse that maybe something happened in an area but they only had 24 or 48 hours to find something before they had to give up the search.
I liked the history and enthusiasm, but hated the artificial time limit.
I believe in most of the digs they did, once the 3 days was up, local groups/organizations took over and continued the work.
There were Turks there...only long enough to drop the crossbow and ride like heck outta there. ;)
Elvis has left the battlefield!
(He heard the buffet tent was serving food.)
Time Team S15-E01 Hunting King Harold, Portskewett, South Wales
Time Team - Season 15, Episode 13 - Hunting King Harold (Portskewett, Gwent)
Note: this topic is from . A Timeline of the Life of King Harold II (Godwinson) 1002 - 1066 | Heather Y Wheeler | Totally Timelines:
1022 (around) Born the second son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and Gytha of Denmark (sister-in-law of King Cnut)
1025 (during) Harold's sister, Edith, was born to Gytha and Godwin.
1026 (during) Harold's brother, Tostig, was born to Gytha and Godwin.
1032 (during) Harold's brother, Gyrth, was born to Gytha and Godwin.
1035 (during) Harold's brother, Leofwine was born to Gytha and Godwin.
1037 (during) Harold's brother, Wulfnoth, was born to Earl Godwin and his wife, Gytha
1043 (during) Harold's brother, Sweyn became Earl of Hertfordshire.
1045 (23rd January) Harold's sister, Edith, married King Edward the Confessor
1045 (around) Harold married Edith the Fair also known as Edith Swanneck. They were married by the Danish handfasting ceremony which was not recognised by the Church. The couple had five children, Godwin, Edmund, Magnus, Gunhilda and Gytha but there are no records of the dates of their birth.
1046 (during) Harold's brother, Sweyn, was exiled for seducing the abbess of Leominster
1051 (September) Harold's father refused to punish the town of Dover after some of Edward's Norman friends were killed in a drunken brawl but instead raised an army against the King. The Witan intervened and the family were exiled. Earl Godwin, Gytha, Sweyn, Tostig and Gyrth went to Flanders while Harold and Leofwine went to Dublin. Harold's brother Wulfnoth was kept as hostage.
1051 (during) Harold's brother, Tostig married Judith of Flanders.
1052 (date unknown) Harold and his family returned to England at the head of an army. King Edward was unable to raise a force that would defeat the Godwins and was forced to sue for peace terms. It was agreed that the Godwin family could return and their former lands would be restored to them. Edward agreed to reduce the number of Norman advisors at court.
1052 (Summer) Harold's brother, Sweyn chose not to return to England but left on Crusade instead.
1052 (29th September) Harold's brother, Sweyn became ill and died.
1053 (15th April) Harold became Earl of Wessex and the most powerful nobleman when his father died.
1055 (date unknown) Harold's brother, Tostig became Earl of Northumbria.
1058 (date unknown) Harold was created Earl of Hereford.
1062 (around) Harold led a series of campaigns against the Welsh King Gruffydd ap Llywelyn. The conflict ended with the death of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn.
1064 (Spring/Summer) Harold was shipwrecked off the coast of Ponthieu. William, Duke of Normandy ordered that Harold be brought to him. Harold was placed under virtual house arrest, accompanying William into battle at Rouen. After the battle he swore an oath to support William's claim to the throne of England after the death of Edward.
1065 (during) The people of Northumbria rebelled against the rule of Harold's brother Tostig. Harold was sent to deal with the situation and sided with the people and sent his brother into exile.
1066 (5th January) King Edward the Confessor died. It was claimed that he nominated Harold as his successor.
1066 (6th January) Harold was crowned King Harold II
1066 (March) Halley's comet appeared in the sky
1066 (March) Harold married Edith, daughter of the Earl of Mercia. This was likely a political marriage to strenghten ties with Mercia and ensure Harold has support in case his rule was challenged. Harold's two sons by Edith, Harold and Ulf, were born after his death.
1066 (Spring) William learned that Harold had been crowned King of England and began preparing an invasion. He also gained papal support for his invasion.
1066 (Spring) Anticipating a challenge to his Kingship by William of Normandy, Harold stationed militia along the South coast and on the Isle of Wight.
1066 (8th September) With food provisions and morale running low Harold took the decision to send his troops home.
1066 (8th September) Harald Hardrada supported by Harold's brother Tostig invaded England. They landed at the mouth of the River Tyne.
1066 (20th September)
1066 (after 20th September) Harold Godwinson marched rapidly north
1066 (24th September) Harold Godwinson reached Tadcaster, 15 miles south of York.
1066 (25th September)
1066 (28th September) William, Duke of Normandy sailed overnight and landed at Pevensey on the South coast of England in the morning. He was surprised to find no army waiting for him.
1066 (1st October) Harold learned of the Norman invasion. He immediately made plans to return South.
1066 (6th October) Harold reached London. He sent out a call to arms for men to join his army.
1066 (10th October) Harold ignored the suggestion that he should remain in London and let his brother Gyrth lead the army into battle and told his army to prepare to leave London.
1066 (11th October) Harold left London at the head of the Saxon army. He ordered that his men should muster at Caldbec Hill just north of Hastings.
1066 (13th October) By the evening of 13th October Harold reached Caldbec Hill. He had hoped to make a surprise attack on the Norman camp at Hastings but he found out that William knew of his presence and had to change tactic.
1066 (14th October)
William arrived and set up his forces at the bottom of the hill. He had three groups – Normans, Flemings and Bretons, both cavalry and infantry. William opened the battle with a barrage of arrows which, because of the hill flew over the heads of the Saxons. Next William sent in his infantrymen but they were unable to break through the shield wall. A group of Breton infantrymen turned and ran down the hill. The Saxons that had been withstanding that group broke the shield wall and ran down after them. William ordered that they become the focus of the next attack and although some managed to return to their line most were cut down. It is thought that Harold's two brothers lost their lives at this point.
Having seen how the Bretons fleeing down the hill broke the shield wall, William changed tactic and ordered his men to do the same thing. Although the shield wall did not break so spectacularly again it did begin to weaken. With the light beginning to fade William ordered his archers to fire again but to angle them higher so that they hit the men just behind the shield wall. It is thought that one of these arrows went through the eye slit of Harold's helmet and struck him in the eye or near to the eye. It is thought that while reeling from this injury he was cut down by a sword, possibly to his thigh, or an axe and died of his injuries.
Harold's body was so mutilated that it could only be recognised from marks on the body and may have been identified by his long term mistress, Edith Swanneck. Harold's mother offered William her son's weight in gold for the body but William refused. The exact burial place of Harold's body remains a matter of dispute but a body found at Bosham in 2003 which was lacking a head and leg is a likely candidate.
1066 (after 14th October) William of Normandy went on to take the South of England and then London. He was crowned King William I on 25th December 1066.
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