2.2 the battle of hastings

Collins Medieval Britain history for Year 7

1. Unit 2.2 The Battle of Hastings By Ms.Farida

2. Words to learn Term Meaning Knights Soldiers on horseback Huscarls The professional bodyguard of Anglo-Saxon kings Bayeux Tapestry A 70 meter long embrodered cloth depicting William of Normandy’s conquest of England conquest Taking control of a place or ppl through military force disembowel To cut someone open and to remove their internal organs

3. Harold’s Victory at Stamford Bridge The victory was an astonishing success, However while Harold’s army was celebrating, a messenger arrived with dreadful news from the south On 28 th days after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, William , Duke of Normandy had landed on the south East coast of England w ith his invasion force.

4. Breaking through English Channel Since August , William had been camped on the French coast ready to invade, but the winds had not been in his favour . By the end of September it seemed he had missed his chance. Harold called his navy which had been guarding the English Channel thinking that a Norman invasion would be delayed until next year But all of the sudden, wind changed and William was able to sail across the Channel unchallenged

5. The ambitious king William’s Norman army number 10 000 men with 3000 heavily armoured Norman Knights on horseback: the tanks of medieval Europe As William stepped off his boat , he tripped and fell on the beach. His troops look worried at this bad omen. He stood back up with two fists full of sand while saying “Look how easily I could tale this land”

6. Harold’s Army marched south The Norman army marched 10 miles inland to H astings where they quickly built wooden castle, and prepared for H arold’s attack. With wounds still fresh from the Battle of Stamford bridge, Harold’s army began marching 200 miles south They took a stop at London, many of Harold’s advisers begged him to rest and rebuild his forces before attacking the Norman army. However , he wanted to surprise William like what he did to Hardraada . In just a week time he gathered reinforcement and continued marching south

7. Harolds soldiers At 9a.m. on 14 th October 1066, the two armies met 10 miles outside hastings Harold’s army consisted of 3000 fearsome hurcals and 5000 part time soldiers and fyrds (foot soldiers) with weapons no better than pikes Most of em were still not fully recovered from the wound battle and most are tired from the dreadful journey

8. The Battle begins – shield wall Arriving at the battlefield, Harold’s army took the high ground on top of Senlac Hill and formed a long defensive ‘shield wall’ of troops chanting out! o ut! Their strong shieldwalls are unpenetrable as Norman’s horses lost speed galloping uphill. Norman’s arrows were uneffective when they fired their arrows upwards Harolds army stood their defensive ground taking great swing at Norman army with their axes.

9. The lies After a long series of struggle, a rumour spread across the battlefield that William was dead. William removed his helmet proving the Norman was wrong, he’s still alive!! Some Harold’s soldiers broke their defense and charged downhill thinking that William was dead. This actions has weakened their shield wall defense

10. The false retreat Its difficult to defeat Harolds soldiers and Normans called a retreat (some who thought William had died). Harolds army was overjoyed and broke their shield wall entirely to chase those Normans downhill and to seek for war spoils. Anywway , it was just another Williams trick. Harolds army was scattered and no longer conquering the higher ground

11. The Harold’s death The Normans are now regrouped and picked off the disorganised Saxon soldiers King Harold was killed. Some historian said 4 Normans knights were sent to search and knocked him off to the floor before disembowelled him But according to the tapestry, he was struck by an arrow in his eye with the caption underneath “Harold Rex Interfectus Est ” (King Harold is killed)

12. The saxon’s defeat Without their king, most of the Saxon soldiers fled battlefield but the Harolds hurcals – swore oath to protect the king fought till they meet their death The brutal battle lasted for 6 hours and William was victorious Having defeat harold’s army, William could now spread throughout England.

13. The new beginning – William the Conquerer The Norman marched to London denouncing their dead King Harold II William is now known as William the Conquerer and the history of England had been changed forever.

14. Bayeux of Tapestry – Historical artifact The Bayeux Tapestry is 70 meter long and tells entire story of William of Normandy’s conquest of England It became one of the most important artefact . It was a gift from Bishop Odo (William’s half-brother) to him in 1070 after he conquered England.

15. Question What stroke of luck did Willaim , Duke of Normandy enjoy at the end of September? Why did Harold Godwinson hurry into fighting the Norman army? Who had the stronger army at the start of the Battle of hastings ? The Normans or the Saxons? How did the Norman army false retreat give them the chance to win the battle? What story does the Bayeux of Tapestry tell

16. The end