46
1000–1500
When the English learned that their king had
met his death, they… sought refuge in ight
WILLIAM OF JUMIÈGES, GESTA NORMANORUM DUCUM [DEEDS OF THE NORMAN DUKES], C.1070
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47
HASTINGS
◼
1066
When King Edward the Confessor died
on January 5, 1066, the nobility of Anglo-Saxon
England chose Harold Godwinson as his successor.
Harold’s ascent to the throne was strongly disputed,
however, and his rivals launched invasions to pursue
their claims. In September, an army led by King
Harald Hardrada of Norway landed near York,
accompanied by Harold’s estranged brother Tostig, and routed the northern
Anglo-Saxon earls. After initial victories, Hardrada was defeated and killed
at Stamford Bridge by Harold, who had advanced rapidly north to meet him.
By then, Harold had also received news that Duke William of Normandy had
landed in Sussex. Harold force-marched his weary troops south to face the
new invaders, arriving at London less than a week later. On the evening of
October 13, he occupied a hill near Hastings, close to the Norman camp.
The battle began the following morning. Arrayed with their shields
interlocking to form a wall, the 7,000 Anglo-Saxons presented a formidable
obstacle to the 8,000 Normans. Successive Norman charges failed, but William
astutely lured sections of Harold’s army downhill, where they were cut to
pieces. Harold was killed at the height of the battle, and by dusk the English
army was in ight. William’s army approached London and, after further clashes
with English forces, he received the submission of the chief Anglo-Saxon
nobles on December 10. A fortnight later, he was crowned king. The reign
of the Anglo-Saxon kings of England was at an end.
Hastings
1066
◼
SOUTHERN ENGLAND
◼
NORMANS VS. ANGLO-SAXONS
NORMAN CONQUEST OF ENGLAND
3
SAXON INFANTRY, NORMAN CAVALRY
Norman
cavalrymen charge at the Anglo-Saxon shield wall in a
scene from the Bayeux Tapestry, a 230-ft (70-m)-long
embroidery created in the 1070s to commemorate
the battle of Hastings. The Normans’ use of cavalry
and the deployment of large numbers of archers
played key roles in William’s victory.
William claimed to have been promised the
English throne by both Edward the Confessor
and Harold Godwinson himself, who had visited
William in Normandy in 1065 (Edward had also
cultivated Norman inuence in England during
his time as king, based on his family ties there).
Harald Hardrada based his claim on a pact made
between King Harthacnut of Denmark (also known
as Canute III) and Magnus, Harald’s predecessor as
Norwegian king: they had agreed that each would
inherit the other’s kingdom in the event of either
of their deaths. Since Harthacnut had already
ruled England in 1040–42, Harald maintained that
the English crown should naturally come to him.
CLAIMANTS TO THE ENGLISH THRONE
4 Edward the Confessor sends Harold Godwinson
to visit Duke William in Normandy, depicted in the
Bayeux Tapestry.
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48
1000–1500
In detail
The battle began around 9 am, with William’s force
arrayed at the foot of the hill and Harold’s army occupying a
1
/2-mile (1,000-m)-long ridge, their shields locked together
and their spears protruding to form an almost impenetrable
barrier. After the Normans released an initial volley of
arrows, their infantry tried to charge up the hill, but were
impeded by the marshy ground and the rain of spears that
came from the Anglo-Saxon shield wall. Under this attack the
Bretons on William’s left ank broke and retreated down the
hill and were followed by a pursuing party of Anglo-Saxons.
Despite being unhorsed, William rallied the Normans and
ordered a series of feigned retreats to try to entice more of
Harold’s men to leave the safety of the ridge, thus making
themselves vulnerable to his cavalry. The tactic was of
limited success, but William’s archers eventually secured
his victory when one of their arrows is thought to have
struck Harold in the face.
The English king suered a mortal wound, and, with
Harold’s brothers also dead, the leaderless Anglo-Saxon
army wavered, broke, and ed. Hundreds were cut down by
the Norman cavalry as they tried to escape, and by nightfall
all organized Anglo-Saxon resistance ended. Some 6,000
men in total had been killed or injured.
1
SIGNS AND OMENS
Here, the Bayeaux Tapestry depicts Harold being crowned
king of England on January 6, 1066, the day after Edward the Confessor’s death.
Nervousness at possible foreign intervention, or mischief-making by Harold’s
exiled brother Tostig, was compounded by signs such as the appearance of
Halley’s comet in late April, which was considered a portent of doom.
4
ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND
Here the Norman eet is
shown arriving at Pevensey
on the south coast. The
crossing was fraught with
danger, and William was
delayed by bad weather
for several weeks—indeed,
this almost prevented the
invasion from taking
place. Once he reached
England, he could expect
no reinforcements, so
he crammed his ships
with horses, equipment,
and men.
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49
HASTINGS
◼
1066
to Norman base at Hastings
to London
Initial
attack
B
r
e
t
o
ns
F
r
e
n
c
h
W
i
l
l
i
a
m
a
n
d
N
o
r
m
a
n
s
Senlac Hill
A
s
t
o
n
B
r
o
o
k
R
i
v
e
r
T
i
l
l
i
n
g
h
a
m
1
MAP OF THE BATTLE
William placed the Bretons, Angevins,
and Poitevins on his left ank, led by his son-in-law, Alan Fergant.
He himself commanded the center, with units from Picardy and
Flanders to his right (William’s forces shown in blue). The English
forces consisted mainly of the fyrd—untrained levies raised for
temporary military service—and the huscarls, the permanent
household retainers of the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy.
1
ARMOR AND WEAPONS IN ACTION
The Bayeux Tapestry portrays both
the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans wearing three-quarter-length coats of
mail armor. The mounted Normans carried thrusting javelins, while the
Anglo-Saxons used kite-shaped shields and large, Danish-style axes that
would have been cumbersome in the conned space of the shield wall.
3
THE DEATH OF HAROLD
The gure with an arrow protruding from his eye
(above left) is traditionally believed to be King Harold. This has been disputed,
but several early chroniclers also describe the story of the fatal arrow-shot.
Whatever the cause of Harold’s death, the loss of royal leadership at the height
of the battle proved devastating to the morale of the Anglo-Saxon army.
Early am Oct 14,
1066: Norman
advance
Early am Oct 14,
1066: English
advance
0 m
200
200
0 yds
N
English line
Norman spearmen
Norman archers
Norman cavalry
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