All Episodes 2016 - 2017

A thousand years ago a Viking, a Norman, and a Saxon fought for glory: the crown of one small island on the edge of Europe. Within a single year, two would be killed in battle, leaving just one of them victorious, rich and powerful. Military historian Dan Snow is at the heart of the action, travelling to Caen, Norway, Stamford Bridge and Saint-Valery-Sur-Somme along with Hastings and Westminster Abbey. Entering a world of Viking longboats and axe-wielding warriors he'll conduct key experiments to get to grips with supplies, transport and most importantly of all, weapons, to piece together this extraordinary story and bring a brutal ancient world to life. Witness the lies, betrayals, and twists of fate that ultimately led to the bloody, one-day Battle of Hastings.

King Harold of England has to take on two invasion forces. His brother Tostig first attacks the south coast. He's repelled, but there is more to come. Later in the year, a vast Viking invasion force led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway lands in the north of England. Harold rushes to Stamford Bridge to fight for his kingdom and for his life. Meanwhile, Duke William of Normandy is ready to invade, but storms keep his invasion fleet trapped in port. Witness the two vicious attacks on England in 1066 that preceded the history-changing Battle of Hastings.

Dan Snow explores the political intrigues and family betrayals between Vikings, Anglo-Saxons and Normans that led to war, and the Battle of Hastings. After months of being trapped in port in northern France, the winds finally change and Duke William leads his vast invasion fleet across the Channel. But King Harold is 300 miles away in the north having defeated the Vikings. He has to rush back south, gather a new army, and head to Hastings to take on this new invasion. The two armies will meet at Battle in Sussex on 14th October 1066. And the outcome will change the shape of England and Europe forever. Witness the end to one of the most dramatic reigns in British history in the epic Battle of Hastings.