Battle of Hastings

• The Battle of Hastings took place

  October 1066
• The Battle of Hastings


  One of the most famous battles in English history, marking the end of the Anglo-Saxon period in England
• The Norman invasion


  1. The Normans landed at Bevensey on 28th September

  2. The Normans started pillaging, raiding and stealing from Harold's lands

  3. Harold hurried south to try to drive the Normans out

  4. Harold's army was weakened and exhausted, while the Norman army was much fresher
• The Battle of Hastings


  • Harold chose a strong defensive position for his army at the top of a ridge
  • The Anglo-Saxon tactic of using the housecars' shields to make a defensive wall was initially successful
  • The Normans' tactics eventually broke the Anglo-Saxon shield wall
  • Part of the Norman army used a tactic called feigned flight
  • The Norman cavalry could ride through and kill many of the Anglo-Saxon fighters
  • Harold was killed (possibly by a Norman arrow), his brothers and allies Gyrth and Leofwine were also killed
  • The Anglo-Saxon army was defeated
• The Norman army was strong and well equipped, made up of a mixture of foot-soldiers, archers and cavalry
• The archers were particularly effective, able to attack from a distance and weaken the Anglo-Saxon shield wall
• The cavalry was an important part of the Norman army, the riders were highly skilled and disciplined, and fighting on horseback allowed them to attack with greater speed and strength
• Harold had a traditional Anglo-Saxon army where all the troops fought on foot, and many of his skilled fighters (the housecarls) had been killed at Stamford Bridge
• Chance was also a factor in the Normans' victory - William was able to cross the Channel soon after Hardrada's invasion
• William and Harold were both experienced military leaders, but Harold's decision to rush into battle probably contributed to his defeat
• If Harold had waited, his troops would have been able to rest and his allies would have brought reinforcements, and he may have been able to keep better control of his troops during the battle
• The Norman army was strong and well equipped, while Harold's army contained the less experienced and disciplined fyrd