Battle of Hastings - October 14, 1066

[Astronuc]

Another 61 years and it will be the 1000^th anniversary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hastings

On September 28, 1066, William of Normandy, bent on asserting by arms his claim to the English crown, landed unopposed at Pevensey. Upon setting foot on the beach, William tripped and fell on his face. Saving face, he rose, grabbing handfuls of sand and shouted "I now take hold of the land of England!" On hearing the news, the Saxon King Harold, who had just destroyed the Norwegian army under King Harald Hardråda at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, hurried southward, gathering what forces he could on the way.

On the morning of Saturday, October 14, Duke William gathered his army below the English position. The Norman army was of comparable size to the English force, and composed of William's Norman, Breton and Flemish vassals along with various Norman nobles and their retainers. The nobles had been promised English lands and titles in return for their material support. The army was deployed in the classic medieval fashion with the Normans taking the centre, the Bretons on the left wing and the Flemish on right wing. Each battle comprised infantry, cavalry and archers along with crossbowmen. The archers and crossbowmen stood to the front for the start of the battle.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/normans/hastings_01.shtml

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1066malmesbury.html

http://www.regia.org/hastings.htm

 

[wolram]

Did the people that composed Harolds army go into battle willingly? and how
effective is a part time army gathered in haste ?

 

[selfAdjoint]

Did the people that composed Harolds army go into battle willingly? and how
effective is a part time army gathered in haste ?

Harold has raised his army, by the usual methods of Anglo-Saxon culture, which means that at least the leaders were willing, in order to fight off the other invasion, by Harald Hardraade of Norway. He defeated that invader in the North of England, and then heard about William's invasion, so he marched the army South to Senlac ("Hastings"). The army was pretty frazzled and fractious by that time, which showed in some failures of discpline during the battle. But it was by no means foreordained that Wiliam would win. If Harold hadn't been killed by an arrow that struck him through the eye-slit of his helmet - a complete fluke - the battle could have gone either way.

 

[arildno]

Harold has raised his army, by the usual methods of Anglo-Saxon culture, which means that at least the leaders were willing, in order to fight off the other invasion, by Harald Hardraade of Norway. He defeated that invader in the North of England,

Only because Harald had only a fraction of his army with him when he spotted Harold's army.
The dumb Norwegian thought he would dishonour himself if he made a hasty retreat to his main forces and gave the signal for a suicidal assault instead..