Battle of Hastings

Battle of Hastings

William Duke of Normandy’s historic victory over the Saxon army of King Harold, leading to the conquest of England and the eventual replacement of the Anglo-Saxon dominated society by a Norman French.

Battle: Hastings. War: The Norman Conquest of England. Date: 14th October 1066. Place: On the Sussex coast of England. Combatants: The Norman, Breton, Burgundian, Flemish and French army of Duke William of Normandy against the Saxon army of King Harold of England. Generals: Duke William of Normandy against King Harold Godwinsson of England. Size of the armies: The armies probably numbered around 5,000 to 7,000 on each side, although some traditional accounts give the numbers as much higher. Uniforms, arms and equipment: The Battle of Hastings saw the clash of two military systems. The Saxon army, centred on the King’s personal bodyguard of “housecarles”, comprised the universal levy, the “Fyrd”, led by the local leaders of each shire with their households.

The Normans and the other Frankish contingents in William’s army fought in the manner developing across mainland Europe, a mix of archers, dismounted soldiers and above all mounted knights.

The significant features of the battle were the manoeuvrability of the Norman mounted knights, the terrible power of the Saxon battle axe and the impact of the Norman arrow barrage.

Winner: The Normans, overwhelmingly.