Godwin, Earl of Wessex, was arguably the most powerful man in England during the last years of Anglo-Saxon rule. He was the father of Queen Edith and future King Harold Godwinson, who fell at the iconic Battle of Hastings in October of 1066.

In this biography, we follow the life of perhaps the greatest noble of eleventh century England, a man who rose from almost nothing under the rule of the Danish conqueror Cnut the Great to the power behind the throne in the days of King Edward the Confessor.

Godwin, as effective ruler of southern England held immense influence throughout the middle decades of the 1000s and played a major part in the events leading up to William the Conqueror's invasion of England in 1066, setting the stage for his equally capable son to take the throne.

This was a History Hub Production. All maps, logos and voice audio are copyrighted to the individual A. D. Clarke. All non-map imagery and the music are either sourced from copyright-free sites or used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

Yes, you read that right! There was in fact another (earlier) Norman-backed invasion of England of a much lesser scale, undertaken by none other than future King Edward the Confessor himself!

But why were the Normans interested in conquering England thirty years before Duke William's infamous conquest? Why was the Anglo-Saxon prince, Edward invading his own homeland?

In this video, we explore the answers to these questions, as well as re-live the events surrounding the invasion, as well as a disturbing event that would later shape the very destiny of England itself...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cfUM5Z5pSM

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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The year of 924 saw the death of King Edward the Elder, son and successor of Alfred the Great and the accession of one of the great (if largely forgotten) kings of English history, the first king of a unified England!

In this video, we take a look at Æthelstan, who claimed the title "King of the English" in 927 AD and went on to fight a triple alliance of British kings for the very survival of this new Saxon kingdom, (probably) at a place near modern Bromborough, which would become known to subsequent generations as simply: "the Great Battle."

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFB3tQ1b_G4&t=342s

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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In this short video we explore the impact of Wulfnoth Cild, probable father of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and grandfather of King Harold Godwinson.

Wulfnoth was a minor Sussex thegn of early eleventh century England and an experienced naval commander, however, a rivalry with the brother of one of Anglo-Saxon England's greatest villains would undo his life, leaving his mighty son and grandson to eventually revive the family fortunes...

YouTube: https://youtu.be/uFb-z3yYFl8

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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History had noted some remarkable and truly badass women, such as Boadicea, Joan of Arc and the Empress Matilda, however, in this video we focus on three badass medieval women who are often overlooked today.

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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Stephen was the last of the Norman Kings of England, and though one of the more obscure monarchs of the nation's history today was at the centre of a conflict that, during much of the first half of the 12th century, tore England in two in a war known today as "the Anarchy."

Stephen was never born to be king, but (much like his forebears) seized the opportunity to become so in late 1135. This proved momentous for the kingdom he sought to rule, as there was arguably a legitimate child of the previous king who had a greater claim than he, the Empress Matilda.

In this biographical video, we follow the life of one of the more controversial kings of English history; a man of contradiction, who fought like a lion, but proved a weak ruler and unable to fully secure the realm against the ambitions of his cousin Matilda and her Angevin faction.

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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In this short video, we look at the cruel and brutal half-brother of King William the Conqueror, who effectively ruled England throughout much of William's reign as regent.

Odo's story is both colourful and dark, his role as the Conqueror's enforcer earning him an enduring and black reputation among the defeated English as an avaricious and ambitious tyrant.

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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The Battle of Hastings was merely the high point in William the Conqueror's military career. Throughout his earlier reign as Duke of Normandy, William had to face several challenges to his own title, as well as to his larger ambitions. One such challenge was from the King of France himself.

In 1047, William was assisted by his overlord, Henry I, King of the Franks in crushing an internal challenge to his own rule in Normandy at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes.

Following this, however, Henry grew weary of his ambitious and over-mighty vassal, allying with Geoffrey Martel - the Count of Anjou and William's rival - but were defeated at the Battle of Mortemer in 1054.

By 1057, the King who still smarted from his defeat three years before, once again resolved to invade Normandy and bring William, Duke of Normandy, to heel. William was well-informed of Henry's invasion and waited for an opportune moment to strike back, near a place called Varaville.

Links:

Battle of Val-ès-Dunes (1047 AD): https://www.bitchute.com/video/GwBZtjEjat7y/

Battle of Mortemer (1054 AD): https://www.bitchute.com/video/YLBosUkyAHuq/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8dHL42INtHM

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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William the Conqueror's path to the English Crown was by no means smooth and for a time he struggled to hold even his power and title of Duke in Normandy itself.

William had spent his formative years as Duke avoiding rebellions, as well as kidnapping and even assassination attempts, this harsh trial by fire forging an iron will that crushed an internal rebellion in 1047 at the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes.

However, William's grip on power was not secure. In this video, we look at the early to mid 1050s, culminating in the Battle of Mortemer (in 1054), which saw William, Duke of Normandy, face off against King Henry I of France himself.

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/GwBZtjEjat7y/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8dHL42INtHM

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

In this video I do something a little different and speculate, based on the known factors and characters of the time, what would have happened if King Harold Godwinson had won at the Battle of Hastings.

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, this video had to be reloaded, so apologies to those who have already watched this one.

Past Tenz is a history channel, however, it can be fun for history buffs like us to speculate on what might have been, which differs from pure historical fiction, if based on what we know about the factors, motivations and characters of the period.

The first part of the video details just how Harold emerges victorious at Hastings and then deals with immediate effects of this and finishes with his "alternative" death in 1086. So enjoy and don't take it too seriously, as we will never really know what might have been.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTenzChannel

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

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What if William never conquered? The implications are many and in this video we explore what might have been, had Duke William of Normandy failed to seize the throne of England in 1066.

What if Harold Won at Hastings? Link: https://www.bitchute.com/video/T2Bin2YRGKJn/

Past Tenz is a history channel, however, it can be fun for history buffs like us to speculate on what might have been, which differs from pure historical fiction, if based on what we know about the factors, motivations and characters of the period.

BitChute Channel: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/eL2z...

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

William the Conqueror earned his title following his victory at the iconic Battle of Hastings and his subsequent Conquest of England, however, there was a time when the young Duke of Normandy barely held onto to his Duchy, let alone having any power to aggressively pursue the Crown of England.

The Battle of Val-ès-Dunes, fought in the summer of 1047 AD, was William's first true test as Duke of Normandy. As a bastard son of Duke Robert the Magnificent, there were other Norman lords who thought they had a greater claim to lordship of Normandy.

One such pretender was the legitimate grandson of Duke Richard the Good, William's grandfather, a certain Guy of Burgundy. Guy held lands under William, but in 1046 felt strong enough to openly challenge the teenage Duke himself, attempting to ambush and kill the young Duke at Valognes.

Escaping the trap, Duke William fled to the only man who could truly help him crush this deadly threat to his rule: King Henry I of France. With Henry agreeing to back his vassal, the Royal host marched back into Normandy in 1047 and headed towards the Caen region, where the rebel coalition under Guy met them near the town of Conteville.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/8dHL42INtHM

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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A video presentation of the entire Bayeux Tapestry, with annotations.

The Bayeux Tapestry, actually an embroidery, dates from the eleventh century, indeed probably just a few years after 1066 and details the events immediately preceding and including William, Duke of Normandy's landing in England in 1066.

The Tapestry was commissioned by King William the Conqueror's half-brother Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and is kept there to this day. However, the embroiderers who created the work were almost certainly English, possibly at Canterbury.

Brief Description of the Narrative:

The first slide had Harold with King Edward, before he takes ship from Bosham and finds himself wrecked in the land of Guy of Ponthieu. Guy imprisons him, but is then forced to hand Earl Harold over to Duke William.

Harold, the most powerful man in England after the king himself, then accompanies William on campaign into Brittany, before returning with William to Bayeux and swearing an oath.

On his return to England, Harold, Earl of Wessex, is then depicted as being present at King Edward's death and funeral before taking the Crown himself. This prompts Duke William to begin preparations for an invasions to claim what he saw as his rightful crown.

The Tapestry concludes with some of its more famous images, of the Norman knights charging the English housecarls at the Battle of Hastings, of William landing and then defeating the English, under King Harold, in battle.

The final two slides are NOT part of the original Tapestry, but are in fact the work of Jan Messent, an embroidery artist who created them in 1997 as a possible ending of the original. These depict the surviving nobles of England submitting to William at Berkhamsted and then his coronation as king.

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

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The year of 1066 was not just marked with one history-shifting battle, but three and with three principle claimants to the throne of England. In this episode, we focus on the first and least well-known of these struggles, known today as the Battle of Fulford Gate, which took place on 20th September, 1066.

The story of Fulford and the whole 1066 drama goes back much further than 1066, so as well as covering the battle itself, much of this video will explore (in detail) the events, characters and history leading to it.

On one side, we have the exiled English Earl Tostig, brother of the English King Harold Godwinson, and a man with a blood lust for vengeance and seeking the restoration of his lands. Alongside Tostig, and leading the Norse invasion force was Harald III, the awesome King of Norway.

At 6 foot 6 inches tall, Harald, known as "Hardrada" (or the "Hard Ruler"), was a mountain of a man and by far the most experienced battlefield commander of the three main protagonists of the year. Having experienced his first battle at aged just fifteen, Harald spent many years as a mercenary in the service of the Eastern Roman Emperor, as part of the famed Varangian Guard.

Facing this alliance were the English Earls Edwin and Morcar, two men with a grudge against Tostig and a vested interest in defending the new King Harold Godwinson's throne against this new threat in the North.

This video will be part of a mini-series on the Battles of 1066, or as historian Frank McLynn terms it, in his eponymous book, "The Year of the Three Battles."

If you've watched and enjoyed this content then drop it a like and subscribe, while being sure to turn on the notification button as both the Battles of Stamford Bridge and Hastings will be covered in future, as well as other videos on this and other eras. By subscribing and watching you help the channel grow, for which I am immensely grateful.

This was a History Hub Production. All maps, logos and voice audio are copyrighted to the individual A. D. Clarke. All non-map imagery and the music are either sourced from copyright-free sites or used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

In this video, we look at the life and times of twelfth-century Archbishop of Canterbury and martyr Thomas Becket, a man who rose from relative obscurity as the son of a merchant to the heights of power as England's Primate.

Who was Thomas Becket? How did he become the right-hand man of King Henry II and was his infamous death avoidable? I leave such judgements to you as we delve into the life of England's most controversial Archbishop...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTenzChannel

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen or France and England, crusader, patron and lady of Courtly Love. In this video we chart the long and coloured life of one of the best-known figures of medieval history.

Who was Eleanor of Aquitaine? How did she rise from most eligible maiden in Western Europe to Queen of both France and then England? Wife and mother of kings, tune in here to find out!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTenzChannel

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

In this video, part of a larger series on the History of Ancient Sparta we take a look at the Spartan Constitution itself, so admired by Xenophon. The oddest part to modern eyes, perhaps, is Sparta's two kings, however, they were just part of a larger web of institutions and offices that produced the ultra conservative state we know and love today...

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/GjDlljxbzz7h/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTenzChannel

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

The backing music is by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters, all credit must go to them. I do not own the rights to the backing music and only use it for educational purposes to compliment historical videos. Thanks.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

In this talk, we consider the influence, origins and laws of Lycurgus, the man most directly responsible for creating the Spartan state we are familiar with today. Who was Lycurgus? What laws did he give? Did he even exist? These and other questions are considered, so sit back and enjoy as we continue our look into the history of Sparta.

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/osTkZEOkYeaY/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTenzChannel

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/qO3UGUk0Rjs2/

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

The backing music is by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters, all credit must go to them. I do not own the rights to the backing music and only use it for educational purposes to compliment historical videos. Thanks.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

Having defeated the Messenians in two battles already, the Spartans held the upper hand over their rivals, however, soon their relentless advance would be halted by the supposed intervention of the Gods themselves and the rise of a new and controversial Messenian leader who would challenge Spartan supremacy on the battlefield...

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/hEMvx1C7WaRI/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTenzChannel

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/qO3UGUk0Rjs2/

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

The backing music is by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters, all credit must go to them. I do not own the rights to the backing music and only use it for educational purposes to compliment historical videos. Thanks.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Bell" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

Around the year 743 BC, tensions between the two southern minor powers of the Peloponnese - Sparta and Messenia - had boiled over into open war.

As recounted in the previous episode (linked below) the Spartans had launched a surprise attack on the Messenian border town of Ampheia, securing a foothold west of the Taygetos Mountains that separated the two regions.

Now the Spartans would fight a prolonged and bloody conflict for the soil, resources and even the very men and women of Messenia itself...

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/AbsYItEqAMBw/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/qO3UGUk0Rjs2/

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

The backing music is by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters, all credit must go to them. I do not own the rights to the backing music and only use it for educational purposes to compliment historical videos. Thanks.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Bell" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

Welcome to Past Tenz! This second episode of my series on the History of ancient Sparta focuses on the road to war with neighboring Messenia, west of the Taygetos Mountains.

In the first episode we charted the rise and origins (both historical and mythological) of ancient Sparta. From the first there was always rivalry between the two regions either side of the Taygetos range, with the Dorians of the Eurotas Valley always coveting the fertile region of Messenia...

This episode looks closer at the specific events that led to the decisive war that would eventually be so important in evolving the Spartan state we all remember today, a state founded on Messenian slaves - the helots...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/qO3UGUk0Rjs2/

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

The backing music is by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters, all credit must go to them. I do not own the rights to the backing music and only use it for educational purposes to compliment historical videos. Thanks.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Bell" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

Welcome to Past Tenz and the first episode of our series on the history of Sparta. This talk focuses on the origins of Sparta, both historical and mythological. Next episode we then move onto the run up to the First Messenian War so stay tuned...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Bell" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

On November 12th 1035 AD King Cnut, who had conquered and held the Kingdom of England since 1016, breathed his last.

In this concluding episode of the series we focus on the death and afterlife of one of England's greatest kings as well as his enduring legacy or lack of.

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/1t667qtHLzK9/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

This video is part of a larger series on King Cnut and his era, which is available exclusively on this channel.

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

For such a great monarch, King Cnut is perhaps best known not for the North Sea Empire he ruled or his conquest of England around a half century before the Normans, but for the legend that he allegedly though his power was so vast that he could command the tides themselves.

But from where does this story originate? Is it true that the story was more to demonstrate the king's piety than any delusions of power? In this episode we explore these questions and more...

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/nrB2ZCAlJcpq/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

This video is part of a larger series on King Cnut and his era, which is available exclusively on this channel.

All Past Tenz content, logos, maps and audio are copyrighted to A. D. Clarke, with all other images being used under "fair use" and for educational purposes only.

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

On July 29th 1030 the Norse kingdom plunged into a bloody battle over the destiny of realm.

Around 1014, Olaf was baptised in Normandy by the Duke's brother Robert the Dane, Archbishop of Normandy. In 1015, as the descendant of Harald Fairhair, Olaf returned from his adventures as a Viking raider, under the leadership of Thorkell the Tall and declared himself king.

In 1016, Olaf secured his place through victory at the Battle of Nesjar, defeating the Lades and removing the influence of the recently deceased Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark and England.

However, Olaf's time as king was an unpopular one. The support of the petty kings waned as Olaf's attempts at centralisation chaffed against them, as did his attempts at Christianising the pagan inland areas of the kingdom.

By 1028, this unpopularity was fomented by Cnut, son of Sweyn Forkbeard, who bought the support of many in the kingdom before sending a fleet to enforce his own claim to lordship. This proved too much for Olaf, who fled the kingdom, but not for long.

In 1030, Cnut's regent died by drowning leaving the kingdom open to attack. Olaf moved quickly hoping to gain support as he headed inland with a small force of his own household guards and some Swedish mercenaries; however, Olaf's path to the crown would be much harder than first anticipated...

Previous Episode: https://www.bitchute.com/video/UJFhPArS6XR6/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfQ2ByZW6yVwkXtSji8L5NA

Facebook Channel: @PastTezChannel

This is Past Tenz: history videos in under 10 minutes. If you enjoyed this video, please consider dropping it a like. Subscribe and hit that "Notification" button to keep up to date with new content. Thanks.

#vikings #medievalhistory #olaf