Battle Of hastings Flashcards
Harold Godwin strengths ⭐️ Shield wall Positions in field Previous experience Extra support
-used shield wall where soldiers would interlock arms
Position⭐️
-positioned at top is senlac hill housecarls forming shield in front then less experienced Fryd
Previous battle experience ⭐️
-king Harold was an experienced general and successfully fought against welsh and vikings
Extra Support ⭐️
-popular king amongst Anglo Saxons and had support of witan
Godwin Weaknesses 🥺 Types of army and size Weaponry Battle styles State of army
Type of army and size 🥺
-fryd around 7000 less experienced soldiers
-only had a small number of specialist housecarls
Weaponry 🥺
-peasants using farming tools pitchforks and armour for. Fallen soldiers
Battle styles 🥺
-only used horses for transportation of troops and equipment knights were on foot
State of army 🥺
-king Harold marched north to meet hardrada on the 25 th September and then marched south to London in the 6th and met William on 11th
William Weaknesses 🥺
Position on battlefield
-bottom oF senlac hill on old roman road with marshy land either side
William Strengths ⭐️
Type of army and size
Weaponry and armour
Type of armour and size ⭐️
-7000 well trained soldiers and mercenary and forces from Normandy and Western Europe
-knights trained form age of 3 riding horses trained to kick and bite in battle
Weaponry and armour ⭐️
-bows and large tear shaped shields covered form chin to knee
William strengths ⭐️
Battle styles
Previous experience
Battle style ⭐️
-Williams first line of attack were archers who were used to wear down enemy 2nd line were soldiers fully armed with haubert ( chain mail shirt) and 3rd line of cavalry
-organised divisions wig flags in order to communicate easily
Previous battle experience ⭐️
-experiences commander had conquered many areas around Normandy and as far as Sicily
William Strengths ⭐️
State of army
Extra support
State of army ⭐️
-William has landed at pevensey in the 28th September erected Norman castles across coasts and had time to train
Extra support ⭐️
-has support of King Phillip I of France and papal banner from Pope Alexander II
The battle of Hastings (4)
1- battle began at 9am Anglo Saxon formed shield wall and Norman’s were unable to get through // Norman’s were unable to shoot arrows accurately as too close to hill
2- after a number of failed attacks the Norman’s carried out a feigned retreat Anglo Saxon shield wall damaged and slaughtered on marshland
3- midday there was a break in fighting to remove dead and William changes tactics // moved archers to back so that they could shoot arrows causing chaos
4- William ordered cavalry to charge Anglo Saxon shield wall began to disintegrate and the fryd broke ranks and fled
What caused the outcome of the battle
👌Williams superior tactics
👌-William was on horseback so had more control of his troops
👌-William chose the site of battle in strategic road Harold would use to get to him and he would use to get to London
👌-William has time to rest his army and train them in battleground
👌-gained papal banner form Pope Alexander II so people believed they would go to heaven if died
👌-took time to ensure he was prepared
👌-system of highly organised troops flags
👌-changed tactics and moved archers behind infantry
👌-William chose to delay invasion + demoralised Harold soldiers
Factors for outcome
😖Harold’s mistakes
😖- rushes and did not get 20-30,000 extra troops form SW
😖-fought alongside Norman’s in 1064 and aware of tactics but still fell for it
😖-has to travel 300 miles to Hastings
😖-chose to fight in foot rather than horse
😖- did not warn men of feigned retreat
Factors that affected outcome
🤪luck
🤪- some say feigned retreat was not planned
🤪- both hardrada and William invades at same time at opposite ends
🤪-weather delayed Williams invasion however he diverted form mouth of dives to some which halve journey
when did harold meet William
march form York and met William on the 14th October
how long did the battle last
8hours
when did harold begin to march to meet William
2nd October
when did William land at pevensey
28th spetemeber
