2a.2 The Battle Of Hastings

How is William described at 18?

• An impressive man,

• above average height (1.75m),

• strongly built

• with a strong, guttural voice

Where was William’s first major battle?

• Val-es-Dunes, 1047.

• Fought alongside French King Henry I against rebels in Western Normandy.

What evidence is there that William was a persistent leader?

• Almost two decades of combat followed his control as he dealt with repeated invasions

• e.g. when the rebel leader from 1047, Guy of Burgundy fled to Brionne, which he besieged for 3 years

What evidence is there that William could be a brutal leader?

• Realised the effectiveness of sudden violence

• When town of Alencon rebelled against him, in 1051, and mentioned his illegitimacy, he captured the fortress, took 32 prisoners and cut off their hands and feet.

Who was William of Jumieges?

• A Norman monk and chronicler

• From the influential and well connected monastery of Jumieges

Why do we have to be careful about William of Jumieges as a source?

• Wrote ‘Deeds of the dukes of the normans’ c1070

• Dedicated to William and a piece of Norman propaganda

• Main purpose was to legitimise William’s claim to the throne

Why is William of Jumieges still a valuable source?

• Many useful observations about events in England/ Normandy on either side of 1066

Who were William’s greatest enemies prior to 1066?

• Count of Anjou, Geoffrey Martel

• King of France, Henry I

• Invaded in 1054 but were defeated by William

• Returned in 1057 but defeated again

• Last time a French King invaded Normandy in William’s lifetime

What evidence is there from 1054 that William was a skilful tactician when being attacked?

• Reluctant of fighting directly, shadowed the enemy

• 1054: waited until Geoffrey’s forces were widely scattered, pillaging Mortemer, launched surprise attack with knights

• So devastating it ended the invasion

How did William’s situation in Normandy improve in 1060?

• Henry I and Geoffrey Martel died in 1060

• New French King, Philip I was a minor and country of Anjou fell into civil war

• Took Maine in 1063, Brittany subdued in 1064, securing borders of Normandy

• Formidable warrior with lots of combat experience

• Has a strong group of friends around him

What was the weakness that William still had by 1066?

• Apart from battle of Vas-es-Dunes in 1047, he still had little experience of set-piece battles

How did William win over the nobles of Normandy?

• Through force of personality and promise of great rewards

• Held a series of assemblies

What arguments were given to Pope Alexander about Harold becoming king of England?

• Lanfranc most likely stressed Harold’s perjury

• The moral corruption of the English Church (e.g. the pluralism of Archbishop Stigand)

How did the pope respond to these concerns and how was it important?

• Sent William his papal backing as blessing

• The conquest now had support from the head of the Church

What evidence is there that William had a huge force for invasion?

• Ship lists made by his magnates, had over 1,000 ships

• Army of at least 10,000 men

• To maintain this force for 1 month, 9,000 cartloads of food and fuel, 5,000 cartloads of waste, 2,000 war horses would’ve needed 13 tonnes of grain and hay per day

Why did William wait to invade England?

• Wind was in wrong direction

• William was aware of how risky a landing would be, so delayed until the Fyrd ran out of provisions

Why is William’s arrival in England described as ‘inauspicious’?

• William slipped and fell after first landing

• Proclaimed to aghast soldiers that he was seizing England with both hands

Why was it wise for William to fight Harold quickly after arriving?

• He could choose the place of the battle

• Prevent provisioning problems

• Maintain morale

How did Harold react to William’s provocation

• Raced his army down Ermine street, stopping at Waltham Abbey to pray for victory

• Covered 305km in eight days

• Spent 5 days in London gathering resources before 149km march south

What rationale is given in defence of Harold’s actions?

• He did not know if William was receiving reinforcements so growing stronger by the day

• As lord and king he felt morally bound to help his subjects

• He may wanted to try a surprise attack or bottling William up at Hastings peninsula

Why was it ‘ultimately a poor choice’?

• Harold arrived with exhausted troops and reinforcements still on the way (archers at Stamford bridge/ Edwin and Morcar’s housecarls)

• Harold was underprepared and understaffed

• Saxon arrival was spotted by Norman scouts

What did Norman sources claim about the Anglo-Saxon’s preparations?

• Claimed the Saxons spent the night drinking and feasting while the Norman’s silently prayed

• False - probably to further suggest Saxons were not worthy to rule England

What was the size and formation of Harold’s army?

• Between 7,000 and 8,000

• Infantry organised in 10 ranks, all on foot, with well armed housecarls and thegns forming protective shield wall.

• Fyrd at the back

What was Harold’s plan for the battle?

• Hold this strong position where the Norman cavalry would be least effective and take any opportunities that were offered

• Spoke to his men, stressing invincibility if they stood firm

How did the Norman army compare with the Anglo-Saxons and how did William divide his forces?

• Similar in size but contained higher proportion of professional fighting men

• Archers and crossbowmen on front line, then heavy infantry in hauberks (chain mail tunics), carrying spears and elite knights on war horses

• Bretons on the left, Normand in the centre and French on the right

How did William galvanise his army before the battle?

• Warned his men retreat was impossible and defeat would mean death

• Spoke of Harold’s broken oath

• Reminded them God was on their side and the Pope had blessed their crusade

• Papal banner flew alongside them

What were the disadvantages of the Anglo-Saxon method of fighting?

• Represented old guard