1 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Why did William win the Battle of Hastings?

2 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Objectives In this activity you will: Describe some causes of William winning at Hastings. Explain some causes of William winning. Analyse if William won due to luck or skill.

3 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Battle of Hastings: the events Harold Godwinson is crowned King. A comet, a sign of bad luck is seen in the sky. Hardrada and William prepare to invade, and Harold sends half of his army north and the other half south. William couldn’t invade because the wind was blowing the wrong way.

4 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Hardrada landed in the north with 300 men. The Northern English army was defeated. Harold marched his army north to fight Hardrada. Battle of Hastings: the events

5 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Harold surprised Hardrada at Stamford Bridge and defeated him in a bloody battle. Hardrada was killed, but so were lots of the English army. William then set sail and landed in the south of England. Battle of Hastings: the events

6 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Harold’s tired army marched south, back to London. Harold decided to attack William straight away and so marched towards Hastings straight away. More soldiers joined Harold as he went. Battle of Hastings: the events

7 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Harold’s army arrived at Hastings and formed upon the top of a hill with a wall of shields and axes. William used his archers first to fire at the English. William then charged up the hill with his cavalry. Battle of Hastings: the events

8 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence The English stopped the charge and many Normans were cut down by the English axes. William’s troops thought he was killed but he took his helmet off and proved he was alive. The Normans then pretended to run away. Battle of Hastings: the events

9 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Some of the English chased the Normans down the hill. These men were killed. Harold was killed, probably shot in the head with an arrow and then cut down at the knees. Apart from the King’s body guard, the English army then began to run away. William had won. Battle of Hastings: the events

10 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? Why do you think William won the Battle? Can you sort what you have learned into these three categories? –Things Harold did –Things William did –Things Harald Hardrada did

11 © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Cause and Consequence Why did William win the Battle of Hastings? Why did William win at Hastings – what reasons can you remember? Was he lucky or skilful? Mark on the line below to show what you think. LuckySkilful