1. What happened at the Battle of Hastings?
Starter: What do these two men have in common?
They both led men at Stamford Bridge!

5. Anglo - Saxons
7000 – 9000 soldiers
Mixture of thegns, housecarls and fyrd.
Thegns had good weapons
Fyrd fought with farming tools.
Very few archers (perhaps none)
Normans
800 knights
7000 – 9000 soldiers
Mixture of Normans and soldiers-fir-hire from Europe.
Archers and crossbowmen
Some with gambesons (padded jackets), others with chainmail.

6. What happened?
All
Watch this 15 minute clip from a 2017 BBC documentary on the Battle of Hastings. Make notes on the key moments of the battle.
Challenge
Whilst watching this, think of the factors that would have helped William win.
(28 – 46 minutes in)

7. During the chaos of charging the wall, some Norman soldiers on the left flank begin to retreat. Legends say they heard a rumour William had been killed.

8. Many of the Anglo-Saxons break ranks and pursue the fleeing Normans.

9. As King Harold is fighting on foot, he cannot get over to the flank to stop his men charging. He watches as his shield wall breaks on the left.

11. The Anglo-Saxons pursue the Normans down the hill into a marshy area
The Anglo-Saxons pursue the Normans down the hill into a marshy area. William then seizes the opportunity and orders his knights to charge in and cut them down.

12. With these men dead – both armies pause and regroup
With these men dead – both armies pause and regroup. William decides to use this tactic (feigned-retreat). He uses it time and time again over several hours to weaken the shield wall.

13. As day begins to fade – William plans his final big push
As day begins to fade – William plans his final big push. He orders his archers to fire up into the air in order to hit behind the shield wall.

14. King Harold is killed
At some point after the shield wall fell, King Harold was killed.
Some sources from much later claim that Harold was shot in the eye with an arrow.
Earlier sources discuss Harold being cut down by killing squad of 4-men.
This may explain why after the battle, his body was so badly mutilated that only his wife could identify it.
Regardless of how he died, Harold’s death signalled victory for William. Many of the Anglo-Saxon army would have fled the battlefield after this.

15. After hours of fighting, the Anglo-Saxon shield wall falls and William’s army cuts them down. Harold, his brothers and all their houscarls are killed.

16. Learning Tasks
All
Use the information on pp.32, as well as from the video and what your teacher has told you. Describe what happened during the Battle of Hastings in 6 steps.
Target 3-1
Draw two mind-maps; one for William’s knights and another for Harold’s housecarls. For each write down strengths and weaknesses for each.
Target 9-7
How would William’s knights and infantry have contributed so much to his victory?
Target 6-4
‘William by far had the better army at Hastings’ – draw a table to show evidence for and against this statement.

17. The Answers! What happened at Hastings?
William orders his archers to fire on the shield wall, but it makes little damage. He then orders his infantry and knights to charge but due to strength of Saxon shield wall he is unable to break through.
During the panic of the attack, some of William’s army retreats (potentially hearing that William was dead). Harold’s men break ranks and pursue them which opens up a gap in the shield wall.
William lifts up his helmet to show his face, encouraging his fleeing men to turn round and cut down the Saxons pursuing them.
William uses this tactic three times (feigned retreat) and manages to break the shield wall.
With the wall broken, the battle comes down to hand-to-hand combat. All Saxons and Normans fight to death. The Normans will have the advantage due to their heavy armour.
William orders his archers to finish the battle – Harold is killed at this point which signals the end.