Armies and Tactics at the Battle of Hastings Flashcards
What type of Soldiers did William army consist of?
Knights on horseback, archers, crossbowmen, and infantry (footmen)
What armour did the Norman archers and crossbowmen wear?
Norman archers had padded jackets, called gambesons, as armour
What weapons did the Norman knights and infantry use?
lances, javelins, swords and maces
What were the Norman war horses called?
Destriers
What shape were the Norman knights shields?
Kite shaped, protecting their left side
What type of armour did the Norman knights and infantry wear?
chain mail
What type of helmet did the Norman knights wear?
Conical helmet with a nose-piece
How did the Norman knights fight on their horses?
Saddles held the knights in place to free their arms for fighting, while stirrups allowed them to stand up for extra power in attacks. Spurs were used to direct their horses in manoeuvres.
What type of communication tactic did the Norman knights use?
Gonfanon
How experienced were the Norman knights?
Training as early as the age of 10
What type of soldiers did the Anglo-saxons have?
Housecarls and fyrd
What were the Housecarls armed with?
Swords, javelins, and long heavy axes
They carried a round wooden shield, with a metal boss in the centre for reinforcement
What did Housecarls wear?
Their armour was chain mail, or metal plates sewn onto leather. They also had a conical helmet with a nose-piece.
How were housecarls trained?
Housecarls were trained to open gaps in the shield wall for axe blows, then to close it up again. They were skilled with their axes and had great strength, discipline, and endurance.
What weapon did fyrd use?
Farm tools
