HistoryExtra
type: channel
link: https://www.historyextra.com
description: The official website for BBC History Magazine
date: 2025-09-11T16:41:48.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: King and Conqueror’s most gruesome death should never have happened and would be “totally out of character”
items: Emma of Normandy: not just a two-time queen consort of England
items: How historically accurate is King and Conqueror? Here’s the real history that should have happened
items: How well did Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror know each other prior to the battle of Hastings?
items: Turning points in British history
items: Join HistoryExtra at In Conversation at Kew Gardens
items: Who was the real Kaʻiana in Chief of War? Meet the warrior noble who defied a king
items: 27 July: On this day in history
items: Spring-Heeled Jack: the fire-breathing phantom that terrorised Victorian England
items: Recent HistoryExtra podcasts

King and Conqueror’s most gruesome death should never have happened and would be “totally out of character”
type: item
date: 2025-08-31T19:58:29.000Z
creator: Kev Lochun
subject: Anglo-Saxon
subject: Medieval
subject: Norman
subject: Period
subject: Trends-Entertainment
description: Historian Tom Licence takes issue with one of King and Conqueror’s most egregious historical liberties
encoded: Bringing the Norman Conquest of 1066 to the small screen, King and Conqueror plays fast and loose with real history to tell the story of how Duke William of Normandy became King William I of England. The eight-part drama begins with the coronation of King Edward the Confessor and ends exactly where you think it would, with King Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, dead on the field at Hastings with an arrow in his eye. That’s a span of more than 20 years – and as such there is a lot of editing of the historical record going on. Some important characters are missing, and not just Edgar Aetheling, the claimant many overlook in the 1066 story. Events happen out of order. And a lot of real historical figures die in times, places and ways that raise eyebrows. But one particular plot point is so shocking, so unexpected, that we put it to medieval historian Tom Licence to get his reaction. And it’s such a massive spoiler that we’ve hidden it after these two images of the show's leads, James Norton as Harold and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as William the Conqueror. Edward the Confessor is portrayed in King and Conqueror as a weak and ineffectual man, touched even – he believes he hears the voice of God whispering to him. If there is anyone whispering in his ear, it is his mother, Emma of Normandy. The real Emma was queen consort to both Aethelred the Unready and Cnut the Great, the only woman to have married two English kings. Two of her sons were also kings, first Harthacnut, and then Edward the Confessor. For her whole life, she had been an able political player. In King and Conqueror, she is vicious and manipulative, a woman who dominates Edward and goads him for his failures. She is the power behind his throne. When Edward finally snaps, he does so totally and utterly. In a moment of red mist worthy of Game of Thrones, he beats his mother to death with his crown. Did Edward the Confessor beat his mother Emma of Normandy to death with this crown? “Be…

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Emma of Normandy: not just a two-time queen consort of England
type: item
date: 2025-08-24T20:02:16.000Z
subject: Anglo-Saxon
subject: Early medieval
subject: Period
subject: Viking
subject: Historical people
subject: Trends-Entertainment
subject: Viking Britain
description: Emma of Normandy was queen consort to two of England’s best known pre-Conquest kings, Æthelred the Unready and Cnut the Great. But she was also a savvy political player who came into her own as queen mother, writes Dr Cat Jarman
encoded: Emma of Normandy is best-known as being queen consort to two kings – Æthelred the Unready and Cnut the Great – and the mother of two more, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor. She was the daughter of Richard I (the Fearless) of Normandy and the Danish-descended Gunnor. She is also a pivotal character in King and Conqueror, the BBC's Norman Conquest drama, which paints Emma as a dominating force over her son King Edward – which leads to a very ahistorical demise – and in Netflix's Vikings: Valhalla, where she is portrayed as a politically-savvy queen wielding quiet power in the English court, often working to subvert the machinations of the ever-grasping Earl Godwin. Who was Emma of Normandy? Emma was one of nine children and most likely born in the AD 980s. A daughter of the Norman dukes, she was the great-granddaughter of the Viking warrior Rollo, the founder of Normandy who hailed from either Norway or Denmark. This made her of Scandinavian ancestry on both sides of the family. She was also the great-aunt of William the Conqueror. In the words of Godfrey, prior of Winchester’s cathedral monastery, writing in the 11th century: “She had kings as sons and kings as husbands; she shone forth in the glory of her progeny of kings; she excelled in virtue even the ranks of her glorious ancestors.” Emma of Normandy's first marriage: Æthelred the Unready In 1002, probably aged in her late teens or early 20s, Emma was sent to England to marry King Æthelred, as his second wife. The marriage was clearly a strategic one, aiming to strengthen an alliance between England and Normandy in light of harrowing attacks on both English and Norman shores by Scandinavian raiders. Æthelred had apparently accused Emma’s brother, Duke Richard II, of harbouring the Vikings and enabling their attacks, and the marriage was designed to ensure his allegiance. Read more | Aethelflaed: who was the warrior queen who crushed the Vikings? Their union was an unusual one, as although several English prin…

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How historically accurate is King and Conqueror? Here’s the real history that should have happened
type: item
date: 2025-08-24T20:01:15.000Z
creator: Kev Lochun
subject: Anglo-Saxon
subject: Medieval
subject: Norman
subject: Period
subject: Trends-Entertainment
description: The BBC’s Norman Conquest drama starring James Norton and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau brings 1066 to the small screen. Here’s what King and Conqueror gets right about the build-up to the battle of Hastings – and where history takes a backseat to the drama
encoded: In a decade in which Vikings have been incredibly vogue – how else to explain the small-screen invasion posed by Vikings, Vikings: Valhalla and The Last Kingdom in recent years – it’s surprising that it’s taken this long to get to a dramatisation of the Viking Age’s purported end in 1066. The BBC’s King and Conqueror steps into that breach, taking us back to 11th-century England and the Norman Conquest, to the story told in the Bayeux Tapestry – which you may have heard will be loaned back to the UK from France in 2026. King and Conqueror is the story of how Duke William of Normandy, a man descended from Vikings, won the English throne and became William the Conqueror. But it’s also the story of the rise and fall of Harold Godwinson, the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England, and a man who had to die for William to succeed. And it’s the story of an unlikely bromance between these two men, underscored by an almost-certainly ahistorical heart-to-heart in a bathtub. Who are the king and conqueror of King and Conqueror? James Norton (Happy Valley) stars as Harold Godwinson and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones) plays his nemesis, William of Normandy, aka the Conqueror. The eight-part drama begins with the coronation of Harold’s predecessor, Edward the Confessor, in 1043, and takes us through to exactly where you’d think it would (and if this is a spoiler, apologies, but you’ve had nearly 1,000 years to catch up): with Harold dead at the battle of Hastings, with an arrow in his eye. Whether Harold really was felled by an arrow is a point of scholarly debate (tied to the Bayeux Tapestry, which confusingly, isn’t even a tapestry) but the show does a nifty job of explaining the arrow away. Also neatly handled in a story dominated by three men are the women behind the Norman Conquest: Matilda of Flanders (William’s wife), Emma of Normandy (Edward’s mother), Edith the Fair (Harold’s wife) and Edith of Wessex (Harold’s sister and Edward’s wife, who is named Gunhild in …

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How well did Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror know each other prior to the battle of Hastings?
type: item
date: 2025-08-24T18:58:25.000Z
subject: Anglo-Saxon
subject: Medieval
subject: Norman
subject: Period
subject: Historical people
subject: Trends-Entertainment
description: Their fabled clash at hastings in 1066 changed England and Europe, but how well did Harold and William know each other prior to that fateful day? While King and Conqueror paints them as having something of a bromance, the truth is less clear cut, as historian Tom Licence explains
encoded: Everyone loves a good story, and the clash between Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror on 14 October 1066 has been a starting point for storytellers ever since – not least the creators of new BBC drama King and Conqueror. How did the two men meet? Why did they come to blows, and why did England’s king die at the hands of a foreign invader? Few people knew the answers to those questions, and those who did were not impartial. A backstory was therefore invented, to suit the tastes of William’s supporters. Or is that Harold’s? In fact, there are multiple overlapping backstories, stitched together from legends, guesswork, and propaganda. The historian’s task is to sift through all the stories and pick out what might be of use. When did Harold Godwinson and William the Conqueror first meet? We know that Harold and William met late in Edward the Confessor’s reign, most likely in the summer of 1065. But is this when they first met? In the absence of detailed records, this question is difficult to answer. Harold isn’t mentioned in the chronicles before 1049, well into his twenties, so an early meeting with William can’t be ruled out. And it’s likely that Harold knew who William was. As a son of the Earl of Wessex, he should have known something of the neighbouring princes who, through trade and peacekeeping, had dealings with his father. Normandy was just across the Channel – a neighbour of Wessex in effect. He would have known that the king, Edward the Confessor, had recently lived in Normandy and attended William’s court. But the early 1050s brought trouble for Harold: There was a powerful party of Normans at Edward’s court, vying with Harold’s family to dominate the king’s counsel. Matters came to a head in 1051 – Harold’s family lost, and were driven into exile. In late 1051, William visited Edward in England, but Harold was in Ireland and would not have met him then. At some point, probably in 1052, William also got hold of two of Harold’s close relatives – a bro…

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Turning points in British history
type: item
date: 2025-08-12T13:36:44.000Z
subject: General History
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: Discover the most momentous years in every half century of British history, as chosen by historians – starting with the Danish conquest of England in 1016 and ending with the death rattle of the British Empire in 1956

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Join HistoryExtra at In Conversation at Kew Gardens
type: item
date: 2025-08-04T12:37:30.000Z
subject: General History
subject: Period
description: Discover an exciting NEW four-day celebration of culture, conversation and entertainment in the heart of Kew Gardens, from 4–7 September
encoded: Presented by HistoryExtra, Radio Times, BBC Gardeners’ World Live and BBC Countryfile, this unique event brings together behind-the-scenes stories, expert insights and unforgettable moments from a stellar line-up, including Tom Holland and Mary Beard on Friday 5 September. Thursday 4 September: In Conversation with Richard Osman and The Best Quiz Ever with Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman Presented by Radio Times and hosted by Tom Loxley, spend the morning with King of Entertainment, Richard Osman, for a lively conversation about all things TV. Expect behind-the-scenes insights, entertaining anecdotes and plenty of cultural chatter, plus hear more about Richard’s latest book. In the afternoon, Richard will be joined by fellow quiz host, Alexander Armstrong, as they bring ‘The Best Quiz Ever’ live to the Kew Gardens stage. Join in the fun as Richard and Alexander introduce fiendish brain teasers, puzzles and all-round general knowledge quizzing. Friday 5 September: Ancient Rome: Republic to Empire with Tom Holland and Mary Beard Presented by HistoryExtra and hosted by Ellie Cawthorne, journey through the heart of ancient Rome with historians Tom Holland and Mary Beard. Dive into the captivating story of how Rome transformed from republic to mighty empire – from gripping tales of Caesar's power plays to imperial scandals, uncover politics, battles and betrayals that shaped history. Saturday 6 September: Digging Deeper with Adam Frost and Frances Tophill Join BBC Gardeners’ World presenters, Frances Tophill and Adam Frost, as they take to the stage to talk all things gardening with host, Nicki Chapman. Expect a delightful mix of practical gardening advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and candid conversations, all delivered with the joy, passion and expertise you know and love. Sunday 7 September: In Conversation with Countryfile with Matt Baker, John Craven and Adam Henson Step into the heart of rural Britain and get set to go behind the scenes of one of the nation…

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Who was the real Kaʻiana in Chief of War? Meet the warrior noble who defied a king
type: item
date: 2025-08-01T15:06:32.000Z
subject: Georgian
subject: Period
subject: Trends-Entertainment
description: Warrior, explorer and man of action, Ka’iana was for a time the most famous Hawai‘ian in the world. This is the story of the real man at the centre of Jason Momoa’s Apple TV+ drama Chief of War
encoded: Apple TV+ historical drama Chief of War is story of the unification of the Hawai‘ian islands through the lens on one man and his larger-than-life exploits – Ka’iana, a Hawai‘ian nobleman who was considered a legend in his own lifetime. “Imposing” and “handsome” is how the show’s co-creator Thomas Paʻa Sibbett described Ka’iana to us in our breakdown of the true story behind Chief of War, but he made sure we knew he was more than a warrior – that he was a “student of the world” too. The show offers a Polynesian perspective on the struggle to maintain their indigenous identity against a backdrop of growing American and European influence, and Ka’iana (played by Jason Momoa, Chief of War’s other co-creator) was at the heart of that journey. Was there a real Chief of War? Yes, there was a real ‘Chief of War’ – a Hawai‘ian warrior and aliʻi (noble) named Ka’iana. He is believed to be the first Hawai‘ian to visit China and North America, and is central to the history of Hawai‘ian unification. Who was Ka’iana? The Hawai‘ian warrior Ka’iana was born around 1755 into a noble family. He would have had a privileged upbringing, being taught the art of war from a young age. By the time he reached adulthood, wrote the English captain John Meares, he was “six feet five inches in stature, and the muscular form of his limbs was of an Herculean appearance”. His physical prowess would soon serve him well, as in the late 18th-century Hawai‘i slid into a series of brutal conflicts. For his part, Ka’aina fought alongside Kahekili II, the aliʻi nui (supreme leader) of Maui during the latter’s invasion of O’ahu in 1783. Warfare on the islands at this time was up close and personal. Many Hawai‘ian warriors at the time would have carried the leiomano – a fearsome club encrusted with sharpened shark teeth that could do horrific damage to bare flesh. In no small part due to his strength and athleticism, Ka’iana excelled in combat and soon became a warrior of great renown. But Ka’iana would hav…

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27 July: On this day in history
type: item
date: 2025-07-27T05:00:15.000Z
subject: On This Day
description: What events happened on 27 July in history? We round up the events, births and deaths…
encoded: 27 July 1361 King Valdemar of Denmark defeated the Gotlanders at the battle of Visby in modern-day Sweden. Mass graves of the dead from the battle were discovered and excavated in the early 20th century. 27 July 1452 Birth inVigevano, Lombardy, of Ludovico Sforza. He was a Duke of Milan and patron of Leonardo da Vinci, commissioning da Vinci’s mural 'The Last Supper'. 27 July 1549 The Spanish Jesuit monk Francis Xavier is the first Christian missionary to reach Japan, although local suspicion forces him to wait for weeks before being allowed ashore. 27 July 1710 An allied army, including a British contingent, defeated the Spanish at Almenara in Catalonia. Humphrey Bland, a young British officer serving with a Huguenot regiment, was wounded. He commanded Cumberland’s cavalry at the battle of Culloden 35 years later. 27 July 1953 The United Nations, North Korea and China signed an armistice to bring about a ceasefire in the Korean War. However no peace treaty was ever signed. Browse more On this day in history Previous: 26 July Next: 28 July

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Spring-Heeled Jack: the fire-breathing phantom that terrorised Victorian England
type: item
date: 2025-06-25T16:53:30.000Z
subject: Period
subject: Victorian
subject: Evergreen
description: A supernaturally athletic ghost is alleged to have menaced the towns and cities of 19th-century England. Able to spew fire from its mouth and jump extraordinary distances, this phantom confounded the police and press alike for decades
encoded: Tall and thin, with glowing red eyes, a monstrous face, sharp metallic claws and the power to breathe fire – this was, for several decades, the most common description of a supernatural entity that terrorised Victorian England. Who was Spring-Heeled Jack? Spring-Heeled Jack was the name given to a ‘phantom’ of urban legend that plagued fretful Victorians and delighted readers of penny dreadfuls. He was so named by the press for his seemingly supernatural ability to leap nine feet – or more – into the air to evade capture. Newspapers struggled to keep up with an influx of alleged sightings, which saw this phantom appear miles apart in quick succession. Police forces across the country were likewise bombarded with reports of the ghost, which could not be captured on account of its ability to leap away at extraordinary speeds and distances. And this earned it a moniker which was to become synonymous with the paranormal for nearly a century: Spring-Heeled Jack. When was Spring-Heeled Jack first seen? The earliest rumours of this ghostly entity emerged from rural villages south of London. In late 1837, villagers in Barnes reported that a white bull had attacked several people (mostly women) at night. Reaching East Sheen, it assumed the form of a white bear and was referred to by locals as the ‘Evil One’. Spring-Heeled Jack first took human form in January 1838, when he appeared wearing brass armour, claw gloves, and the spring-loaded shoes that were to become his hallmark. He was occasionally accompanied by other apparitions, and evaded capture by scaling walls and jumping away – to heights of up to nine feet. Gossip, rumour and occasional newspaper reporting quickly spread these alleged sightings of a fearsome, dangerous devil-man. Victorian Londoners were fascinated and horrified by this supernatural attacker that appeared to be closing in on the capital. In January 1838, the Lord Mayor of the City of London announced that he had received a letter from a ‘Peckham resid…

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Recent HistoryExtra podcasts
type: item
date: 2025-06-23T23:11:10.000Z
subject: General History
subject: Membership
subject: Period
description: Explore the latest episodes of the HistoryExtra podcast

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