Part 7/10:
Perhaps Harold would forge alliances with the royal houses of Ireland, establishing a more unified entity in the British Isles. The Anglo-Saxon identity could have been far more integrated with its Norse ancestry, resulting in a different cultural and political landscape across Northern Europe.
The Linguistic and Cultural Legacy
One of the most significant impacts of the Norman Conquest was the transformation of the English language and literature. The defeat of Harold would prevent the profound French influence that shaped Middle English, resulting in an English language rooted more firmly in Germanic linguistics. Over centuries, England would retain a closer relationship with its Scandinavian roots, perhaps leading to a very different evolution in literature and culture.