Battle of Hastings
Storyboard Text
- Battle of Hastings
- The Battle Begins
- King Harold The Saxons
- William The Normans
- Harold's Advantage
- William's army were well-trained, well fed and equipped with horses, archers and skilled infantry
- After travelling south for roughly 10 days Harold Godwinson arrived at Senlac hill prepared to fight William Duke of Normandy (7 miles from Hastings). His soldiers were already weary from their battle with the Viking King Harald Hardrada and their long march.
- The Shield Wall
- On Saturday 14th October 1066, Harold and William met at Senlac Hill prepared to fight each other.This gave the Saxons a significant height advantage, being positioned on top of a ridge. They were also on their home turf with high hopes having just beaten Harold Hardrada.
- Clever Norman Tactics
- The Saxons had an incredibly effective 'shield wall' formation that was able to repel opposing infantry, cavalry and ranged weapons.They were, however, exhausted after their previous battle and long march and were not in good physical shape.
- The Death of The King
- As soon as the Normans even got close to the shield wall the Saxons would stick out spears and weapons in their defence. A shield wall is difficult to break. Horses baulk at the sight of it. The Saxons used this to their advantage.
- The Normans pretended to flee the battlefield. The Saxons, being undisciplined, then broke ranks and chased after them. This allowed the Norman cavalry to attack the broken line. The Saxons had no defence against it.
- When King Harold was killed by a lucky arrow to the eye as the shield wall failed, Saxon morale was devastated. William's army was much better trained than the English , they were fresh and cunning in their battle strategy.The battle was lost, a moment which changed the history of England forever.
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