Anglo-Saxon Britain - Battle of Hastings

1. Edward the Confessor died with no clear heir to the throne.

2. Harold Godwinson, the rich and powerful Earl of Wessex became king of England.

3. William of Normandy, another contender, said Harold had sworn an oath to support his claim to the throne.

4. William did not like being deceived and made plans to invade England to claim the throne.

5. The Viking king, Harald Hardrada chose this time to land in the north with Harold’s brother Tostig.

6. Harold defeated the Viking army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

7. As Harold was in the north the Norman army landed unopposed at Pevensey.

8. Harold marched back and set up his defences at Senlac Hill.

9. This gave Harold an advantage as the Normans had to fight uphill wearing heavy armour.

10. Part of Harold’s army were housecarls who were full-time professional soldiers.

11. They wore conical helmets, chain-mail jackets, carried kite-shaped shields and fought with battleaxes and swords.

12. The other part were fyrds, land-owning nobles and lords who were part-time soldiers.

13. The fyrd provided their own armour and weapons and had to fight in the army for a certain number of days each year.

14. The Normans were well-trained, well-equipped soldiers, they included cavalry, infantry, archers and crossbow-men.

15. William was a skilled military leader and Harold too, was a fine soldier and leader.

16. The Battle of Hastings began on 14th October 1066, it was a fierce battle and lasted all day.

17. Harold had no cavalry and few archers, whereas William had cavalry, archers and infantry.

18. William’s cavalry had special horses to carry the weight of the soldiers.

19. Their special saddles locked them in, but left the soldier’s arms free to fight.

20. Harold’s army established a tight shield wall to protect them from the Norman archers.

21. The Normans charged up the hill, but suffered heavy casualties.

22. It is thought that the Normans pretended to retreat so the shield wall would break down to chase them.

23. The Normans then re-grouped and charged at the helpless English, whose wall had broken down.

24. Harold was shot in the eye and his men were slaughtered.

25. William won the Battle of Hastings and was crowned king on Christmas Day in Westminster Abbey.