Battle of Hastings - October 14, 1066

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In summary, the Battle of Hastings, which took place in 1066, was a significant event in English history as it marked the beginning of Norman rule in England. William of Normandy landed unopposed at Pevensey and declared his claim to the English crown. The Saxon King Harold, who had just defeated another invasion by Harald Hardråda of Norway, gathered his forces and marched south to face William's army. The two armies were of comparable size and were composed of infantry, cavalry, archers, and crossbowmen. Harold's army was raised through traditional Anglo-Saxon methods, but was somewhat disorganized and undisciplined due to the hasty gathering of forces. Despite this, the outcome of the
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Astronuc
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Another 61 years and it will be the 1000th 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 [Broken]

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

http://www.regia.org/hastings.htm
 
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  • #2
Did the people that composed Harolds army go into battle willingly? and how
effective is a part time army gathered in haste ?
 
  • #3
wolram said:
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.
 
  • #4
selfAdjoint said:
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..:grumpy:
 

1. What was the Battle of Hastings and when did it take place?

The Battle of Hastings was a significant event in English history that took place on October 14, 1066. It was a battle between the Norman-French army led by William, Duke of Normandy, and the English army led by King Harold Godwinson.

2. What caused the Battle of Hastings to occur?

The Battle of Hastings was caused by a dispute over the English throne. After the death of King Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwinson claimed the throne, but William of Normandy believed he was the rightful heir. This led to the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings.

3. How long did the Battle of Hastings last?

The Battle of Hastings lasted for about 9 hours. It began at around 9 am and ended at approximately 6 pm, with the Normans emerging as the victors.

4. What were the consequences of the Battle of Hastings?

The Battle of Hastings resulted in the Norman conquest of England and the end of Anglo-Saxon rule. William, Duke of Normandy, became King of England and brought significant changes to the country, including the introduction of feudalism and the French language.

5. What impact did the Battle of Hastings have on English society?

The Battle of Hastings had a significant impact on English society. The Norman conquest brought about changes in government, culture, and language, with French becoming the language of the ruling class. It also led to the construction of castles and the introduction of new architectural styles in England.

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