Battle Of Hastings

Question 1

Where was Harold when he got the news that William had anded at Pevensey?

Answer 1

he was in York recovering from the Battle of Stamford Bridge. His troops were exhausted from such a long and bloody battle

Question 2

What day did William land at Pevensey?
Why was this a good place to land?
What did his soldiers do when they got there?

Answer 2

William set sail on the 27th September and landed at Pevensey on the 28th
This was a good choice as the old Roman fort there offered some protection
Normans quickly created their first pre-fabricated castle to further defend their position

Question 3

Why did Harold decide to get to William’s forces as soon as they landed?

Answer 3

Heard that William’s forces were attacking villages in the south and were heading for London -left straight away.

Question 4

When Harold heard William had landed, how many quickly did his soldiers march there?
What date did Harold near Hastings?

Answer 4

Harold and his army covered 200 miles in 5 days

Harold neared Hastings on the 13th October

Question 5

Where did the battle of Hastings take place?

Answer 5

Senlac Hill

Question 6

What date did the battle of Hastings take place?

Answer 6

14th Oct 1066

Question 7

William’s army and weapons

Answer 7

• 7000 trained mercenary soldiers
• Knights (trained from age 3)
• bows, pikes, large shields

Question 8

Harold’s army and weapons

Answer 8

• 7000 fyrd
• Housecarls & thegns: double – handed axes; pikes; circular shields; armour
• Fyrd – pitchforks & farming equipment

Question 9

William’s battle style

Answer 9

• Infantry and archers wore down enemy
• Troops organised into divisions – used flags to communicate with each other
• Calvary used lances and horses were trained to kick and bite
• Feigned retreat

Question 10

What were the army’s positions on Senlac Hill?

Answer 10

(Anglo-Saxons) Top

(Normans) Arrived at the battlefield first- chose bottom of hill

Question 11

Harold’s battle style

Answer 11

• Shield Wall

- Most were infantry

Question 12

What happned at the start at the Start of the Battle of Hastings? (3)

Answer 12

Normans arrows flew over Anglo-Saxon’s heads
-Norman infantry then charged up hill BUT blocked by housecarls using shield wall manoeuvre which remained firm.
The hill-top position of the English gave them an advantage as the Norman cavalry could not charge up the steep hill.
Fighting had to take place closely between men - the English battle axes were effective in this situation

Question 13

What was the turning point of the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 13

• Norman army thought (prentended) William was dead and so ran away
• Fyrd ran after them but got stuck in the marshy land and were killed by Normans

Question 14

What happned at middt in the Battle of Hastings? How did William change his tactics?

Answer 14

Fighting paused to let both sides removed their dead/ injured
William moved his archers behind his cavalry, so the arrows wouldn’t fly over the Saxons’ heads – this caught the Saxons by surprise

Question 15

What were the final events of the Battle of Hstings which led to William’s victory?

Answer 15

William ordered his cavalry to charge = heavy casualties on both sides
Normans’ pretended to run away again
He ordered his knights to get off their horses and charge at the Saxons with his infantry
Saxon shield wall starting to disintegrate – Normans were breaking through
King Harold was killed – the fyrd broke ranks and fled once they saw he was dead

Question 16

Why was Harold’s army so exhausted and so not fit to fit at the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 16

Exhausted from marching north to face Harald Hardrada on 25 Sept, then had to march south very quickly

Question 17

Why was William’s army well rested and ready to fight in the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 17

Had arrived on south coast on 28 Sept; had time to put up a temporary castle and rest for several days; William had brought plenty of horses & supplies so his army could refuel before fighting

Question 18

How did leadership and tactics lead to the Normans winning the Battle of Hastings? (7)

Answer 18

• William had flags to communicate during the battle- allowed flexibility
• English not as flexible as they only had the shield wall tactic
• William chose marshy land to help him in battle
• William’s feigned retreat allowed him to break the shield wall (was v effective while it lasted)
• Harold positioned his men at the top of the hill- archers arrows went over their heads
• Death of key Saxons (Gyrth) in battle caused problems
• William had knights which were trained since sine they were 3 and horses trained to kick and bite whereas Harold’s was mostly made up of the fyrd

Question 19

How did luck lead to the Normans winning the Battle of Hastings? (6)

Answer 19

• Harold lacked supplies and resources by the time he got to Hastings as he had to fight two battles
• William had 7 days to rest when landed at Pevensey when Harold had been fighting at Stamford bridge
• William got their early due to the winds changing
• Harold was able to surprise attack on the Vikings at Stamford bridge- not able to do this at Hastings, he had planned to trap William
• Edward and Morcar won battle at Fulford gate as Harold was busy South
• William was lucky that Vikings attacked Harold first
• Arrow hit Harold

Question 20

How did preparations lead to the Normans winning the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 20

• Harold stationed troops on Isle of Wight to meet William- unprepared for Viking attack
• William’s army had knights which had been trained since they were 3
• Normans had support of Pope and King Philip- papal banner
• William set up at base at Senlac Hill
• Williams has a lot of supplies to refuel