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What If Harald Hardrada Won in 1066?

Pivot Point History

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At the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, Harald Hardrada was warned, and the Norman Conquest died before it ever began. What if the Last Viking King had crushed King Harold Godwinson, trapped William the Conqueror, and claimed the English crown?

In this alternate history documentary, we explore the rise of a fractured, Anglo-Norse empire, a forgotten religious schism with Rome, and a timeline where the modern English language was strangled in the crib.

#alternatehistory #1066 #haraldhardrada #vikings #medievalhistory

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20 Comments

@TimeWindowOfficial 16 hours ago

The idea that Hardrada being warned at Stamford Bridge could unravel the entire Norman Conquest is such a great hook. You can really feel how thin the line was between the England we know and a Norse one.

@georgekenney8121 4 days ago

here is another idea what if King Harald Godwinson win the battle of hastings

@carterbentonjr399 1 day ago (edited)

What if, with the conquest of all England, Harold Hardrada rutlessly establishes the Balto-North Sea Empire.
Then Harold not only defeats William of Normandy but conquers Normandy itself then Harold conquers Wales, the Shetlands, Iceland, Greenland, Ireland, the Oakeneys, Scotland, Mann, the Netherlands, Brittany, Sweden, Finland, the Baltics and coastal Germany. Then Harold established a Northern Church independent of Rome and Constantinople.

@richardweil8813 4 days ago

Fascinating and believable, thanks for doing this one. I heard a historian say that Harold, "Saved England for William", which sounds about right. One of the most pleasant experiences I had there was walking around the Roman basement of the York cathedral hearing the choir's voices float down. If anyone goes to York take the Jorvik Viking Centre ride through a Medieval village. It's Disney-like but more realistic (dirt! cesspools!).

@Claudius43 3 days ago

Thank you very much. What a very interesting concept, very well thought through. Another view is what if King Harold had won both Stamford Bridge and Hastings

@chrisbunka 3 days ago

Chelsea FC will tell you that there is still plenty of drama that happens at Stamford Bridge.

@echomande4395 4 days ago

What if the wreck of the White Ship either never happened or if the heir to Henry I of England survived it?
At a minimum, the Anarchy does not happen.

@anomynoususer2358 4 days ago

Can you do a scenario of What if the Anglo-Saxons won the Battle of Hastings?

@StevenSmith-dc1fq 4 days ago

Terrific. In a way, sounds more probable than what really happened...

@Bogman1313 4 days ago

Orthodox vikings..... I did not see that one coming. Love it!

@robertmason-i2w 4 days ago

love these videos could you do one on the french and indian war like what if the french under montcalm won the battle of quebec in 1759 and another one what if the British lost at louisbourg in 1758

@ryansperry2693 3 days ago

Another CK3 save gone wrong.

A very interesting take, creating a Norse Orthodox York versus a Catholic Norman on a balkanized English isle. This has been one of my favorites on your channel.

@AlwaysWrightShow 4 days ago (edited)

Hopefully I’m not the only one who wanted this one! How about if the Huns won the Battle of the Catalonian Plains or if they would have conquered Rome instead of turning back?

@W4dzey 2 days ago

What if Harold Godwinson had backed Duke William to be King? The latter would have had to work with the Saxon system and nobility, bringing far fewer of his own with him. The Saxons would have gained the more advanced military developments and architecture. Meanwhile it wouldn't be certain that William's sons could inherit the throne after him and Normandy itself may have orientated back towards its Norse origins...

@derekkerr5590 4 days ago

What if Ancient Egypt Discovered Gunpowder in 3,000 years ago?
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What if the Vikings invaded Japan in 1066?
What if Alexander the Great Discovered America First?
What if George Washington lived longer in 1799?
What if the Mexican American War Never Happened?
What if America Civil War started Again in 1865?
What if Hitler was killed in 1939?
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@margaretbarrow6782 2 days ago

Great Video ❤😊

@fransitoraymol 3 days ago

Love it!! One of my favourites And try this one: what if the French huguenots had been expulsed to New France, that is, Canada, in 1685? 200.000 men and women. In 1685 only 150.000 english lived in North American colonies. Think that in 1763, after 7 Years War, only 60.000 french lived in New France.

@criminallaw9573 2 days ago

These alternate history videos are fascinating and well done. I would really like to see a video about what might have happened if, after launching Operation Barbarossa, Hitler had accepted Stalin's desperate, early peace feelers. Stalin was eager to cut a land-for-peace deal with Hitler, and cede some territory to halt the invasion. I think he would have been quite willing to resume shipments of oil, grain, and other necessities to Germany was well, provided that it stopped its war with the USSR and re-focused on the West. A Nazi Germany in that scenario might be unstoppable. Having beaten the French, the British, and the Soviets, with ease, what chance was there of it losing the war at that point? At peace--a victorious peace--in the East, and only fighting England in the West, surely that version of Germany would have won WW2.