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Normans > The Battle of Hastings > Flashcards

The Battle of Hastings Flashcards

1
Q

When did Harold leave York after the Battle of Stamford Bridge?

A

2nd October 1066

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2
Q

When did the Saxons reach London?

A

6th October

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3
Q

When did the Saxons reach Hastings?

A

11th October 1066

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4
Q

When did Harold leave Hasting to meet William’s troops?

A

12th October 1066

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5
Q

When was the Battle of Hastings?

A

14th October 1066

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6
Q

How many troops did Harold have?

A

Around 7000

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7
Q

What made up Harold’s army?

A

Mostly fyrd
Some thegns
Elite houscarls (many had been killed at Stamford Bridge)

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8
Q

What were the housecarls and thegns armed with? (3)

A

Double handed axes
Large circular shields
Housecarls had armour

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9
Q

What did the fyrd use?

A

Pitchforks
Farming equipment
Weapons and armour taken from fallen soldiers

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10
Q

Why were the Anglo Saxons exhausted?

A

They had marched 190 miles (300km) in 4 days to meet Hardrada and then had immediately marched south

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11
Q

Why was Harold an experienced general?

A

He had successfully fought the Welsh and the Vikings

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12
Q

Who were Harold’s supporters? (3)

A

Many in England
Most nobles
The Witan

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13
Q

How many more soldiers could Harold have recruited if he had waited to fight the Normans?

A

20,000-30,000 from the south west

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14
Q

Why was it harder for Harold to communicate with his troops or give orders?

A

He fought on foot rather than horseback (infantry)

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15
Q

Where were the Saxons positioned?

A

The top of Senlac Hill

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16
Q

Why did Harold have poor tactics?

A

He had fought with the Normans in 1064 and knew their tactics but he chose to use the old fashioned Anglo Saxon shield walk which William was prepared for

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17
Q

What tactic did Harold use?

A

Shield wall

Tried a surprise attack but was spotted by William’s scouts

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18
Q

Why did Harold have bad luck?

A

He had spilt his army in spring 1066- half sent north, half in south
Harald and William has launched their invasions at similar times dividing the army
Poor weather delayed William so Harold was up north
Invasions occurred during harvest so many men deserted to return home and help on farms

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19
Q

How many men did William have?

A

7000

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20
Q

What made up William’s army?

A

Combination of soldiers from Normandy and mercenaries from other parts of France and Western Europe
Skilled archers
Cavalry

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21
Q

What age did Norman knights train from?

A

3 riding horses that were trained to kick and bite in battle

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22
Q

What weapons did the Normans have?

A 
Bows 
Large tear shaped shields
Spears 
Armour 
Pikes
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23
Q

What were Norman archers used for?

A

To wear down the enemy

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24
Q

What did the Normans use to communicate and change tactics?

A

Flags called gonfanon which division commanders had

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25
What were Norman soldiers organised into?
Divisions
26
What did the cavalry (knights on horseback) carry?
Lances
27
Why were Norman soldiers incredibly professional?
Practised their manoeuvres frequently
28
Why were the Normans well rested?
Landed several days before
29
What had the Normans spent their time in England before the battle doing?
Burning villages and building the first motte and bailey castles
30
What tactic did the Normans use?
Feigned flight- pretended to run away which caused the poorly trained Saxon fyrds to run down the hill after them
31
Why was the feigned retreat a good tactic?
Broke sections of the Saxon shield walk and the fyrds were slaughtered at the bottom of the hill by the Norman hill
32
Where were the Normans stationed?
The base of Senlac Hill with marshy land either side
33
Why was William a highly experienced general?
Conquered areas around Normandy and as far away as Sicily
34
Who did William have the support of?
King Philip of France | Pope Alexander
35
Why did William move his archers to the front? Why was this successful?
They could fire at Saxons without hitting Norman soldiers | Saxons weren’t expecting it and many were killed
36
What did William order after the shield wall was broken? Why was this successful?
Cavalry charges | Power of these too much for the Saxons
37
Why did the hill lessen the impact of the cavalry?
Effort needed to ride to the top
38
How long did the battle last?
8 hours
39
How did the Normans get the height advantage over the Saxons?
They fought on horseback
40
How far was the distance from Stamford Bridge to Hastings?
440km / 275 miles
41
What axes did the Housecarls use?
Danish axes
42
Where had Danish axes originated from?
Vikings
43
How many archers did the Normans have?
Over 1,000
44
How many Anglo Saxon archers are shown in the Bauer Tapestry?
1
45
Why did Harold not have archers?
They were poor men who couldn’t afford horses so couldn’t keep up with Harold’s rapid move to the battlefield
46
What did William have as well as archers?
Crossbow men
47
Where were the crossbow men from?
Gascony
48
Why were crossbows effective?
Bolts could penetrate shields | More precise and accurate
49
What did Normans use to throw through gaps in the shield wall?
Lances
50
How many knights did William have?
1000-2000
51
What were Norman warhorses known as?
Destriers
52
What was the shield wall also known as?
The War Hedge
53
How many lines did William deploy his forces in?
3
54
How did William arrange his army?
At the front were archers, crossbow men; infantry came behind them and then the knights on destriers
55
Why were the knights on horseback at the rear of the Normans?
To deliver the final and decisive blow
56
Who was William's chaplain?
William of Poitiers
57
What did William of Poiters write about the battle?
"It was a strange kind of battle: one side attacking with mobility, the other standing as though rooted to the soil"
58
Why was the use of Norman cavalry important?
They were at the forefront of new developments
59
What new developments were the cavalry showcasing?
Heavier lances with pennants attached, saddle bows and long stirrup leathers
60
What did the pennants show about the lances?
They weren't meant to be thrown away
61
What did the saddle bows do?
Held cavalry riders more securely in their seats
62
Why was the sword more prominent than the lance for the Normans?
Lances were more liable to break upon contact because they were larger at the base than at the end
63
Why did the Norman cavalry and infantry begin to fall back?
A rumour spread that William was dead
64
How did William instigate the feigned retreat?
Galloping in front of his retreating troops, lifting off his helmet to reveal his face and leading them in a counter attack
65
Why do some historians think the feigned retreat did not happen?
It would have needed a high degree of discipline and training which feudal armies, and especially the knights, did not possess
66
Why do some historians think that the feigned retreat did happen?
Norman knights were elite, born and bred to war and trained from the age of 3 in the art and science of horsemanship and weaponry
67
What had given Norman knights the discipline and ability to carry out the feigned retreat?
They had been trained in small units which trained together over many years
68
On what other occasion had the feigned flight been used?
St Aubin-le Cauf in 1053
69
Who could the Normans have inherited archery traditions from?
The Franks and the Vikings
70
Why was Harold more concerned about his elite troops than archers?
They came from wealthier social classes so possessed horses and could rise from Stamford Bridge to Hastings
71
Where did the Saxon infantry come from?
Local levies
72
Why were cavalry not an admired kind of soldiering for the Saxons?
They could ride off to safety
73
Where were cavalry placed in the Saxon army?
At the rear
74
What was thought to be a mark of courage for Saxons?
To abandon your horse and it’s promise of escape to stand alongside your men
75
What did the Normans think was a noble pursuit?
Fighting on horseback
76
How could Normans be part of a warrior elite?
Riding on horseback
77
How many knights did William command in Normandy?
300
78
What battle did the Normans win due to their cavalry charge?
The Battle of Varaville
79
When was the Battle of Varaville?
1057
80
Why were battles rare?
Victory may bring only limited rewards whereas defeat might be disastrous
81
Who could the Normans have inherited archery traditions from?
The Franks and the Vikings
82
Why was Harold more concerned about his elite troops than archers?
They came from wealthier social classes so possessed horses and could rise from Stamford Bridge to Hastings
83
What was the surest way to win a battle?
Kill or capture the opposing commander
84
How many horses did William have killed under him?
3
85
What did Harold not share out Stamford Bridge which meant that some troops in his army left and he was left with mostly mercenaries?
The plunder (spoils from the battle)
86
Where did the Saxon infantry come from?
Local levies
87
Why were cavalry not an admired kind of soldiering for the Saxons?
They could ride off to safety
88
Where were cavalry placed in the Saxon army?
At the rear
89
What was thought to be a mark of courage for Saxons?
To abandon your horse and it’s promise of escape to stand alongside your men
90
What did the Normans think was a noble pursuit?
Fighting on horseback
91
How could Normans be part of a warrior elite?
Riding on horseback
92
How many knights did William command in Normandy?
300
93
What battle did the Normans win due to their cavalry charge?
The Battle of Varaville
94
When was the Battle of Varaville?
1057
95
Why were battles rare?
Victory may bring only limited rewards whereas defeat might be disastrous

Normans (17 decks)

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