military aspects

• what was the Viking invasion of 1066?

  September 1066

  Tostig and Hardrada launched invasion
• how many ships and soldiers did the Vikings bring?

  300 ships

  10000 soldiers
• where did the vikings land and march too?

  -landed at river Humber

  -marched to York
• what happened at gate Fulford outside York?

  -Vikings met army led by earls Morcar and Edwin

  -battle of gate Fulford began
• why did Anglo Saxons lose the battle of gate Fulford?

  -Harald Hardrada good tactician and experienced warrior

  -Edwin and morcar positioned army in front of marshland leaving nowhere to retreat

  -Might have been outnumbered only having around 6000 men
• how did Harold Godwinson react to the battle of gate Fulford?

  -brought housecarls north to meet Vikings

  -southern fyrd was recalled
• what was the condition of the Vikings after the battle of gate Fulford?

  -many suffered significant injuries and were weakened
• when was the battle of stamford bridge?

  25th September 1066
• who was the battle of Stamford bridge between?

  Harold Godwinson and Harald Hardrada
• why did Harold win the battle of Stamford bridge?

  -The Vikings had left their armour on their ships as it was a hot day, along with around a third of their men.

  
  

  -Harold took Hardrada and Tostig by surprise

  
  

  -Harold's housecarls showed endurance and skill in breaking the Viking shield wall.
• how did the Viking invasion help the Normans?

  The Viking invasion meant that Harold's army wasn't waiting on the south coast when the Normans landed in late September 1066.
• how tired were Harold's troops after the Viking invasion

  -exhausted after march north and back

  -however morale would have been high after Viking defeat
• why did Harold leave England unprotected against Norman threat in 1066?

  -Viking invasion more present threat

  -difficult to keep a standing army for long time

  -strong northerly wind that prevented Normans from sailing when planned

  -fyrd needed to return home and look after farms and families
• how did Harold respond to the Norman threat 1066?

  -gathered huge army and fleet on south coast
• why was the army on the south coast disbanded in September 1066?

  -Harold had to march north with army to deal with Vikings
• when did Harold receive word that William and the Normans had landed on the south coast?

  1st October 1066 less than a week after the battle of Stamford bridge
• when was the battle of Hastings?

  14th October 1066
• how did the battle of hasting's end?

  With the shield wall broken, the Norman cavalry charged the Anglo-Saxons. Harold Godwinson, his brothers Gyrth and Leofwine and most of their housecarls were killed. The remaining troops fled.
• how did the Anglo-Saxons use the shield wall at the beginning of the battle?

  -men at front overlapped shields and stuck spears through gaps

  -shield wall formed strong defensive position

  -relied on discipline of troops to hold line

  -had been used at battle of gate Fulford by Harald Hardrada
• how did the different sorts of soldiers help William in the battle of hastings?

  -Norman troops had variety of skills and tactics while Saxons fought in same way every time
• what was the feigned retreat tactic that William used?

  -Normans faked a retreat causing the fyrd to break the shield wall and run down hill to give chase

  -Williams cavalry then doubled back and cut them down
• luck factor at the battle of Hastings?

  -Harold was killed at battle of Hastings

  -Harold was unlucky that Vikings attacked shortly before Normans arrival

  -weather damaged English fleet and convinced Harold that William wouldn't strike but they still did
• what did the Normans army consist of ?

  -combination of soldiers from Normandy and mercenaries from France and other parts of western Europe

  -7000 men

  -men well rested and landed day before

  -had spent time burning villages and building first motte and bailey castles
• what did the Anglo Saxons army consist of?

  -7000 mostly fyrd

  with some thegns

  -survivors of fight against Vikings were exhausted after walking 300 km south following Harold's decision to march straight into battle rather than resting
• what weapons and armour did Norman soldiers have?

  - bows

  -large tear shaped shields that covered them head to knee

  -pikes

  -armour
• what weapons and armour did the Anglo Saxons have?

  -double handed axes

  -large circular shields

  -housecarls had armour

  -peasants used pitchforks, farming equipment and weapons and armour from dead soldiers
• what battle tactics did the Anglo Saxons use?

  -shield wall

  -all soldiers on foot including Harold
• what battle tactics did the Normans use?

  -infantry and cavalry

  -archers to wear down enemy

  -army organised into divisions

  -had flag system to communicate changes in tactics in battle

  -William on horse back
• what were Norman knights like?

  -shields kite shaped to protect left side

  -Armour chain mail and wore conical helmet with nose piece

  -Saddles held knights in place to free arms for fighting

  -skilled, well equipped elite troops

  -war horses especially bred to be strong enough to carry knight and trained to be vicious in battle
• what were Anglo Saxon housecarls like in the battle of hastings?

  -armed with swords, javelins and long heavy axes

  -carried round wooden shield

  -trained to open gaps in shield wall for axe blows then close it up again

  -skilled with axes and had great strength, discipline and endurance
• what were the Anglo Saxon fyrd like at the battle of Hastings?


  -some had not turned up in time

  -many only armed with farm tools

  -Harold had to call in fyrd quickly as he marched south
• where did the Anglo Saxons fight in the battle of Hastings?

  -top of Senlac hill
• where did the Normans fight in the battle of hastings?

  -base of Senlac hill with marshy land each side
• what was Harold like as a leader in the battle of Hastings?

  -experience general

  -successfully fought Welsh and Vikings

  -many English supporters including witan
• what was William like as a leader in the battle of Hastings?

  -highly experience general

  -conquered areas in Europe

  -had popes support and king of Frances