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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
Q

What were Norman soldiers organised into?

A

Divisions

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26
Q

What did the cavalry (knights on horseback) carry?

A

Lances

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27
Q

Why were Norman soldiers incredibly professional?

A

Practised their manoeuvres frequently

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28
Q

Why were the Normans well rested?

A

Landed several days before

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29
Q

What had the Normans spent their time in England before the battle doing?

A

Burning villages and building the first motte and bailey castles

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30
Q

What tactic did the Normans use?

A

Feigned flight- pretended to run away which caused the poorly trained Saxon fyrds to run down the hill after them

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31
Q

Why was the feigned retreat a good tactic?

A

Broke sections of the Saxon shield walk and the fyrds were slaughtered at the bottom of the hill by the Norman hill

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32
Q

Where were the Normans stationed?

A

The base of Senlac Hill with marshy land either side

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33
Q

Why was William a highly experienced general?

A

Conquered areas around Normandy and as far away as Sicily

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34
Q

Who did William have the support of?

A

King Philip of France

Pope Alexander

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35
Q

Why did William move his archers to the front? Why was this successful?

A

They could fire at Saxons without hitting Norman soldiers

Saxons weren’t expecting it and many were killed

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36
Q

What did William order after the shield wall was broken? Why was this successful?

A

Cavalry charges

Power of these too much for the Saxons

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37
Q

Why did the hill lessen the impact of the cavalry?

A

Effort needed to ride to the top

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38
Q

How long did the battle last?

A

8 hours

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39
Q

How did the Normans get the height advantage over the Saxons?

A

They fought on horseback

40
Q

How far was the distance from Stamford Bridge to Hastings?

A

440km / 275 miles

41
Q

What axes did the Housecarls use?

A

Danish axes

42
Q

Where had Danish axes originated from?

A

Vikings

43
Q

How many archers did the Normans have?

A

Over 1,000

44
Q

How many Anglo Saxon archers are shown in the Bauer Tapestry?

A

1

45
Q

Why did Harold not have archers?

A

They were poor men who couldn’t afford horses so couldn’t keep up with Harold’s rapid move to the battlefield

46
Q

What did William have as well as archers?

A

Crossbow men

47
Q

Where were the crossbow men from?

A

Gascony

48
Q

Why were crossbows effective?

A

Bolts could penetrate shields

More precise and accurate

49
Q

What did Normans use to throw through gaps in the shield wall?

A

Lances

50
Q

How many knights did William have?

A

1000-2000

51
Q

What were Norman warhorses known as?

A

Destriers

52
Q

What was the shield wall also known as?

A

The War Hedge

53
Q

How many lines did William deploy his forces in?

A

3

54
Q

How did William arrange his army?

A

At the front were archers, crossbow men; infantry came behind them and then the knights on destriers

55
Q

Why were the knights on horseback at the rear of the Normans?

A

To deliver the final and decisive blow

56
Q

Who was William’s chaplain?

A

William of Poitiers

57
Q

What did William of Poiters write about the battle?

A

“It was a strange kind of battle: one side attacking with mobility, the other standing as though rooted to the soil”

58
Q

Why was the use of Norman cavalry important?

A

They were at the forefront of new developments

59
Q

What new developments were the cavalry showcasing?

A

Heavier lances with pennants attached, saddle bows and long stirrup leathers

60
Q

What did the pennants show about the lances?

A

They weren’t meant to be thrown away

61
Q

What did the saddle bows do?

A

Held cavalry riders more securely in their seats

62
Q

Why was the sword more prominent than the lance for the Normans?

A

Lances were more liable to break upon contact because they were larger at the base than at the end

63
Q

Why did the Norman cavalry and infantry begin to fall back?

A

A rumour spread that William was dead

64
Q

How did William instigate the feigned retreat?

A

Galloping in front of his retreating troops, lifting off his helmet to reveal his face and leading them in a counter attack

65
Q

Why do some historians think the feigned retreat did not happen?

A

It would have needed a high degree of discipline and training which feudal armies, and especially the knights, did not possess

66
Q

Why do some historians think that the feigned retreat did happen?

A

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
Q

What had given Norman knights the discipline and ability to carry out the feigned retreat?

A

They had been trained in small units which trained together over many years

68
Q

On what other occasion had the feigned flight been used?

A

St Aubin-le Cauf in 1053

69
Q

Who could the Normans have inherited archery traditions from?

A

The Franks and the Vikings

70
Q

Why was Harold more concerned about his elite troops than archers?

A

They came from wealthier social classes so possessed horses and could rise from Stamford Bridge to Hastings

71
Q

Where did the Saxon infantry come from?

A

Local levies

72
Q

Why were cavalry not an admired kind of soldiering for the Saxons?

A

They could ride off to safety

73
Q

Where were cavalry placed in the Saxon army?

A

At the rear

74
Q

What was thought to be a mark of courage for Saxons?

A

To abandon your horse and it’s promise of escape to stand alongside your men

75
Q

What did the Normans think was a noble pursuit?

A

Fighting on horseback

76
Q

How could Normans be part of a warrior elite?

A

Riding on horseback

77
Q

How many knights did William command in Normandy?

A

300

78
Q

What battle did the Normans win due to their cavalry charge?

A

The Battle of Varaville

79
Q

When was the Battle of Varaville?

A

1057

80
Q

Why were battles rare?

A

Victory may bring only limited rewards whereas defeat might be disastrous

81
Q

Who could the Normans have inherited archery traditions from?

A

The Franks and the Vikings

82
Q

Why was Harold more concerned about his elite troops than archers?

A

They came from wealthier social classes so possessed horses and could rise from Stamford Bridge to Hastings

83
Q

What was the surest way to win a battle?

A

Kill or capture the opposing commander

84
Q

How many horses did William have killed under him?

A

3

85
Q

What did Harold not share out Stamford Bridge which meant that some troops in his army left and he was left with mostly mercenaries?

A

The plunder (spoils from the battle)

86
Q

Where did the Saxon infantry come from?

A

Local levies

87
Q

Why were cavalry not an admired kind of soldiering for the Saxons?

A

They could ride off to safety

88
Q

Where were cavalry placed in the Saxon army?

A

At the rear

89
Q

What was thought to be a mark of courage for Saxons?

A

To abandon your horse and it’s promise of escape to stand alongside your men

90
Q

What did the Normans think was a noble pursuit?

A

Fighting on horseback

91
Q

How could Normans be part of a warrior elite?

A

Riding on horseback

92
Q

How many knights did William command in Normandy?

A

300

93
Q

What battle did the Normans win due to their cavalry charge?

A

The Battle of Varaville

94
Q

When was the Battle of Varaville?

A

1057

95
Q

Why were battles rare?

A

Victory may bring only limited rewards whereas defeat might be disastrous

Normans (17 decks)

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