observer Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 - the battle for Middle Earth - CH 4 Monday 9pm - a drama based in the year when the course of history was fundementally changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted May 15, 2009 Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 You mean the battle of H?? Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2009 That's the title of the CH4 prog - but it supposed to be about the invasions of 1066, as seen from the point of view of the peasants so it should include Stanford Bridge and Hastings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Just had alook at the time and at that time i will be on my way to the UK,so i wont get to see it,.... Tuought it would be about Hastings ect. i bet its quite interesting but how do they know what the peasants thought of it all?? A bit like saying that politicians know what the people want... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Think they've based it on some depictions on the Bayeaux Tapestry, plus historical records etc: anyway I'll watch it and report back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve the Original Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 OK will be interesting to see if what they say is plausable... Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 The three featured battles are Fulford, Stamford Bridge & Hastings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Fulford: where the Northern Fyrd was defeated by the Vikings. Stanford Bridge: where the Vikings were defeated in turn by Harold's main Army. Interesting story about Stamford Bridge: the Vikings were relaxing (without armour) on a hot day, awaiting what they believed would be the surrender of the remaining English at York. Then along comes Harold, following a record march from London to surprise them. They were seperated by a small river, with a wooden foot bridge; which was defended by a lone Berserker, in order to give time for the Viking Army to get into formation. The Berserker, with his large axe, was chopping down every Saxon that came at him until; an enterprising Saxon found a small boat and manoevred under the bridge, right beneath the Berserker. Then through a crack in the bridge planking, he thrust upwards into an unprotected part of his anatomy, killing him instantly. Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Erm, a good concept, however the attempt was undermined by it's obvious low budget nature, thus they were unable to recreate the battles - thought they may have tried some computer trickery to compensate for the lack of extras?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted May 19, 2009 Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Good concept, informative but as you say Obs, poor enactment. Nice touch though the battle of Stamford Bridge won by a pile driver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 The limited funds no doubt limited the scope to portray the battle in an adequate scale to be fully informative: my reading of events was that the Berserker who held out at the bridge, allowed the rest of the Army to form up in a "swinfing" (boar head) formation, thus refusing both flanks, much further back on high ground: also I'm not sure the area was as heavily wooded as portrayed. There also seemed a distinct absence of Saxon Housecarls; who were the full time professionals, usually armed with the large axe; and placed in the front line, while the fyrd (part-timers) threw javelins etc over their heads into the enemy lines. The Housecarls were so regarded as elite warriors, that after Hastings, many sought employment in the elite Byzantine Varangian Guard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2009 Seems there was a bit of feminist historical revisionism in Part II; I like to see the evidence for a female fighting in the Saxon shield wall at Hastings?! Interesting footnote at the end: William the Conqueror took ownership of 50% of English land, gave 25% to the Church, and 25% to his top 198 nobles. To this day, the descendents of the 198 nobles, still own 20% of the land in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.