The Normans (TV series)
Three-part BBC series on Norman expansion and ambition.
The Normans is a three-part British documentary series that aired on BBC Two in August 2010. Over the course of the programme, historian Professor Robert Bartlett travels from Great Britain to Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Sicily, exploring the Normans’ expansion and ambition from the 10th to the 13th centuries.
The first episode, "Men from the North," traces the Normans’ evolution from Viking raiders into the Christian warriors who conquered England in 1066. It covers their establishment of Normandy in northern France, their construction of some of Europe’s finest churches, and their rise as an unstoppable military force. Under Duke William, they expanded into neighbouring French provinces, culminating in the Battle of Hastings, which ended Anglo-Saxon rule and transformed England’s culture and politics.
In "Conquest," the second episode, Bartlett examines the Norman takeover of Britain and Ireland. William the Conqueror imposed a new aristocracy, crushed opposition, and built castles and cathedrals to intimidate and control. He also commissioned the Domesday Book, England’s first comprehensive national survey. As Normans and English intermarried, language and culture shifted, and Bartlett argues that the Normans created a blueprint for modern colonialism, shaping Scotland, Wales, and Ireland as well.
The final episode, "Normans of the South," looks at their impact on southern Europe and the Middle East. In the 11th century, the Normans took control of southern Italy and Sicily, establishing a prosperous kingdom where Christianity and Islam coexisted with relative tolerance, becoming a centre of medieval learning. However, in 1095, they answered the Pope’s call for holy war, joining the First Crusade. They besieged Jerusalem and helped reclaim it from Muslims, a bloody conquest that deepened the rift between Christianity and Islam, still felt today.
Critics praised the series. Lucy Mangan of *The Guardian* called the first episode “splendid,” noting how it firmly presented facts while conveying the strangeness and excitement of medieval history. Simon Usborne of *The Independent* found Bartlett’s tone “stolid at times” but said it let the history speak, and noted it paired well with Dan Snow’s *Norman Walks* on BBC Four.
- Type
- Television documentary series
- Network
- BBC Two
- Episodes
- 3
- Presenter
- Professor Robert Bartlett
- First aired
- 4 August 2010
- Last aired
- 18 August 2010
- Subject
- Norman expansion and ambition
Lore & Background
The series comprises three episodes. The first, 'Men from the North', explores how the Normans developed from Viking marauders into the warriors who conquered England in 1066 under Duke William. It covers the establishment of Normandy and the transformation of the Normans into Christian knights. The second episode, 'Conquest', examines the impact of the Norman conquest of Britain and Ireland, including William the Conqueror's imposition of a new aristocracy, construction of castles and cathedrals, and the commissioning of the Domesday Book. The third episode, 'Normans of the South', covers Norman expansion into southern Italy and Sicily, where they created a prosperous kingdom with relative coexistence of Christianity and Islam, and their participation in the First Crusade, including the siege of Jerusalem.
Reader's Guide
The series presents a comprehensive overview of Norman history from the 10th to 13th centuries, tracing their origins as Viking raiders to their establishment of powerful states across Europe and the Middle East. It highlights their military conquests, cultural transformations, and lasting legacies, such as the Domesday Book and the blending of Christian and Islamic cultures in Sicily. The documentary argues that the Normans created a blueprint for colonialism in the modern world. Reception was generally positive, with critics praising Bartlett's authoritative and engaging presentation, though some found it stolid at times. The series aired alongside Dan Snow's Norman Walks on BBC Four, forming what one reviewer called 'a winning double-act'.
Did You Know?
- The series first aired on BBC Two from 4 to 18 August 2010.
- Professor Robert Bartlett presents the series, traveling from Great Britain to Jerusalem and the Kingdom of Sicily.
- The second episode covers William the Conqueror's commissioning of the Domesday Book.
- The third episode notes that Normans joined the First Crusade in 1095 and helped capture Jerusalem.
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