Battle of Hastings

Battle of Hastings

Battle of Hastings
The Middle Ages encompass one of the most exciting periods in English History.
One of the most important historical events of the Medieval era is the Battle of Hastings.  What were the key dates of this famous historical event - the great Battle of Hastings in 1066?

What were the names of the Medieval people who were involved in the Battle of Hastings? The leaders in the Battle of Hastings - William the Conqueror and King Harold. Interesting facts and information about the Battle of Hastings are detailed below together with a timeline of the Battle of Hastings. For a fully comprehensive website please visit 1066 - The Battle of Hastings

   
  

Important Facts about the Battle of Hastings
Interesting information and important facts about the Battle of Hastings:

  • Key Dates relating to the event: The Battle of Hastings took place on Saturday 14th of October 1066
  • Key People relating to the event: Battle of Hastings leaders: Duke William of Normandy and King Harold of England
  • Surprising Facts about the Battle of Hastings:
    • The English King Edward the Confessor was brought up in Normandy and had many Norman friends. Duke William claimed that Edward the Confessor named him as his successor
    • Duke William claimed that Harold Godwinson agreed that William should become King of England on the death of  Edward the Confessor
    • Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England and Duke William receives support from the Pope to mount a Crusade against England
    • King Harold positions his army on the South coast of England and waits for the Norman Invasion
    • The Vikings then invade the North of England
    • King Harold has to force march his army from the South of England to York to defend England against the Viking Invasion
    • King Harold defeats the Vikings but immediately has to march back to the South of England because the Normans invade the country
    • The English are winning the Battle of Hastings so the Normans changed their strategy and fire arrows upward into the air aiming at the faces rather than the bodies of the English. King Harold is shot in the eye
    • The English are still winning the Battle of Hastings but foolishly believe the Normans are retreating. They chase the Normans giving up their superior higher battle position and consequently lose the Battle of Hastings
  • Why the Battle of Hastings was famous and important to the history of England: The Battle of Hastings resulted in all lands of England being claimed by the Normans who introduce Feudalism to England

Battle of Hastings

  • Middle Ages era, period, life, age and times when the Battle of Hastings was fought
  • Battle of Hastings
  • Middle Ages History, Facts and Info about the Battle of Hastings
  • Important Historical events of the Battle of Hastings
  • Interesting information about Battle of Hastings
  • Important Medieval History
  • Battle of Hastings during the Middle Ages
The Battle of Hastings Timeline
January 4th 1066: The Death of King Edward the Confessor

January 6th 1066: Harold the Earl of Wessex is crowned King of England

July 1066: King Harold gathers the English army at the South Coast of England in Preparation for the Norman Invasion

July 1066: Duke William prepares his fleet for the English invasion at the River Dives in Normandy

September 1066: The Vikings! Harald Hadrada, King of Norway, launches a Viking invasion against King Harold and England

20th September 1066: The Battle of Gate Fulford - The Vikings defeat the English led by Morcar

21st September 1066: Harold marches his army from the South Coast of England to York to defend England against the Viking Invasion

September 25th 1066: The Stamford Bridge Battle - King Harold defeats Harald Hadrada and the Vikings at York

September 27th 1066: Duke William sets sail for England - The Norman Invasion begins and the Battle of Hastings beckons

September 28th 1066: Duke William lands at Pevensey in England just outside the district of Hastings

September 29th 1066: Duke William occupies Hastings, on the South coast of England preparing for the Battle of Hastings

October 1st 1066: King Harold , celebrating his victory over the Vikings at York, receives news of the Norman invasion

October 1st 1066: King Harold marches his army back from the North of England to the South of England to defend against the Norman Invasion when he would fight against the Normans at the Battle of Hastings

October 6th 1066: King Harold arrives in London

The Battle of Hastings Timeline

October 1066: The English Army prepare their defences at Senlac - which is where the actual Battle of Hastings was situated

Friday 13th of October 1066: Negotiations between the Normans and Saxons - William demands that King Harold either resigns his royalty in favor of William, refers it to the arbitration of the Pope or let it be determined by the issue of a single combat. King Harold of England declines

Saturday 14th of October 1066: The Normans and the Saxons prepare for battle - the Battle of Hastings

Saturday 14th of October 1066: William Raises the Papal Standard and issues battle orders to the Norman army

Saturday 14th of October 1066: Norman Foot soldiers led the way, the archers follow and finally the Norman knights on horseback.

Timeline Saturday 14th of October 1066: Battle Plans at the Battle of Hastings - A fence and a fosse were built as a part of the Saxon defences. The Saxon army had no cavalry but stood in close ranks

Saturday 14th of October 1066: Normans moved on to the assault, and the English defended themselves well

Saturday 14th of October 1066: The Two Armies met at the Battle of Hastings. Each side taunted the other. The armies exchanged blows and many Normans die in the fosse (ditch).

Timeline Saturday 14th of October 1066: The Battle rages for hours. A new scheme was adopted by the Norman archers. Arrows were shot in upward in the air striking the faces of the English soldiers. Many had their eyes put out.

Saturday 14th of October 1066: An arrow strikes Harold above his right eye, and puts it out. Many other English soldiers have suffered a similar fate due to the strategy of the Norman archers.

Saturday 14th of October 1066: The Saxons still continue to defend well. The Normans then adopts another strategy which deceives the Saxons

Saturday 14th of October 1066: The English believes that the Normans are in retreat. The English pursue the Normans and foolishly break their ranks.

Timeline Saturday 14th of October 1066: The English are unable to compete against the knights on horseback. The Saxon barricades are broken. The living marched over heaps of the dead and many were crushed in the throng.

Saturday 14th of October 1066: The wounded King Harold is killed and his body mutilated by the Normans.

Timeline Saturday 14th of October 1066: Duke William had won the Battle of Hastings - he was the Conqueror

Saturday 14th of October 1066: The great Battle of Hastings had raged between 9am and 3pm

Timeline Sunday 15th of October: Both the Normans and the Saxons bury their dead. William the Conqueror had defeated the Saxons at the Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings Timeline

Battle of Hastings
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Battle of Hastings

  • Middle Ages era, period, life, age and times when the Battle of Hastings was fought
  • Battle of Hastings
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  • Important Historical events of the Battle of Hastings
  • Interesting information about Battle of Hastings in the Middle Ages
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  • Middle Ages Historical events in England
  • Battle of Hastings during the Middle Ages

Battle of Hastings

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