Battle Of Hastings

Question 1

Who did William have support from

Answer 1

Asked the pope for support against England
He agreed and called his invasion a holy crusade against England as they were not as Christian as the Norman’s
This made Norman’s feel like God was on their side

Question 2

During spring and summer how big ships did William have built and what else did he gather

Answer 2

Built so they could carry 2000 horses
They also gathered 13 tonnes of grain and 13 tonnes of hay everyday to feed them

Question 3

Why couldn’t William cross the channel

Answer 3

The wind was blowing against him stopping his ships leaving France
Some of his ships attempted to cross the channel but were wrecked in the storm and some of his men drowned

Question 4

When did the Norman’s finally manage to cross the channel

Answer 4

27th September 1066 and landed in pevensey the next day

Question 5

What did William do when he arrived in pevensey

Answer 5

Harold was still in the north so William managed to build castles and plunder local villages for supplies

Question 6

What did Harold do when he found that William has invaded the south

Answer 6

He took his men south and stopped in London to gather new soldiers however he still didn’t have as many as he did before the Viking battle
His aim was to get to pevensey quickly and surprise William

Question 7

Why were the Norman’s not surprised by Harold’s army

Answer 7

Their scouts spotted the English coming

Question 8

Where did Harold stop

Answer 8

Senlac hill in Hastings to get high ground

Question 9

What was Harold’s front line made up of

Answer 9

Well armed house carls who were experienced warriors and stood in a shield wall at the top of senlac hill

Question 10

Who was behind Harold’s house carls

Answer 10

The fyrd made up of peasants some had training but others just carried pitchforks

Question 11

What did Williams men consist of

Answer 11

Archers
Cavalry on horseback
Soldiers on foot
Mercenary

Question 12

What did William have with him

Answer 12

A papal banner sent to William for support by the pope

Question 13

How many men did William have

Answer 13

7500

Question 14

When did the battle of Hastings start

Answer 14

14th October 1066

Question 15

Why did William initially struggle to attack up senlac hill

Answer 15

The English threw spears axes and rocks down the hill as William charged up
And Harold held a tight shield wall

Question 16

What was the 1st turning point in the battle of hasting

Answer 16

The Norman’s began to weaken
They continued to attack the anglo Saxons shield walk but eventually fled back down the hill
Some English followed the Norman’s and were slaughtered

Question 17

Why did the Norman’s start to fear the worst

Answer 17

The shield wall remained tight
And there had been rumours that William had been killed
Therefore William took of his helmet to prove to his troops he was alive

Question 18

Why did William take his helmet of

Answer 18

To keep moral alive

Question 19

Why was there a pause in battle

Answer 19

Battles often stopped so people could eat drink and take back the wounded

Question 20

What must Harold do overnight to defeat the Norman’s

Answer 20

Keep the high ground and his shield wall

Question 21

What was the second turning point

Answer 21

As they started fight again William sent his men up to attack the shield wall
The Norman’s then did a feigned retreat and the English chased them down the hill
Breaking the shield wall and weakened the English as hole started to appear in there line

Question 22

What was Williams last final push

Answer 22

William sent all his men up the hill while archers fired on the English line
They broke through the gap in the line and started a full scale battle

Question 23

How did William win the battle

Answer 23

His archers focused on Harold’s position and was eventually killed with what most people believe was an arrow through the eye

Question 24

What happened to the remaining English army

Answer 24

Many survivors fled and some were surrounded and killed by the Norman’s

Question 25

3 reasons why the battle was won by William

Answer 25

Williams leadership and tactics
Harold mistakes
Military