Before the Battle of Hastings (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Before the Battle of Hastings
The Norman landing in England
The Norman invasion faced significant delays due to poor weather conditions throughout September 1066. The winds that had been preventing William's crossing finally shifted in his favour near the end of the month. On 28 September 1066, the Norman fleet successfully landed at Pevensey on the Sussex coast.
William strategically chose Pevensey as his landing point because it offered natural advantages. The location featured an old Roman fort that provided some protection, and the bay offered shelter for his ships. William established his base here and began raiding the surrounding countryside, while Harold was still occupied fighting in the north.
The Normans constructed their first castle within the remains of the old Roman fort at Pevensey, with parts of this early Norman fortification still visible today. This demonstrates how the Normans immediately began establishing permanent defensive positions to secure their foothold in England.
Harold's reaction to the invasion
When news of the Norman landing reached Harold, he was still in northern England dealing with the aftermath of his victory at Stamford Bridge. The king faced a critical decision about how quickly to respond to this new southern threat.
Harold's journey south was remarkably swift - he covered approximately 200 miles in just one week, demonstrating both his determination and the efficiency of Anglo-Saxon communications. His housecarls (professional warriors) travelled with him as he gathered additional forces along the way.
Harold's advisors in London recommended that he should wait longer before engaging William, believing this would allow more soldiers to assemble and join the English army. However, Harold chose to march out immediately - a decision that would prove crucial to the battle's outcome.
On 13 October, despite his hasty arrival, William learned that Harold was approaching and that the Normans would face battle the next day.
By dawn on 14 October, the Normans had marched out to meet Harold's army, who had positioned themselves near Senlac Hill, close to Hastings. Some historians suggest Harold was motivated by anger over William's raids along the south coast, while others believe he hoped to catch the Normans by surprise, similar to his successful tactics against Hardrada.
Comparing the two armies
Both armies were surprisingly evenly matched in terms of numbers, with approximately 7,000 men each. However, their composition and fighting styles differed significantly.
Harold's forces
Harold's army consisted of his elite housecarls - professional warriors who formed the core of his fighting force. These were supplemented by the fyrd, which included both select fyrd (better-trained local forces) and general fyrd (ordinary citizens called to military service). Many of Harold's men were exhausted or wounded from the recent battle at Stamford Bridge, which had taken place just days earlier.
The fyrd was the Anglo-Saxon militia system where all free men could be called upon for military service. The select fyrd consisted of better-equipped local forces, while the general fyrd included ordinary citizens with basic weapons and minimal training.
The English forces positioned themselves defensively at the top of a hill, with a forest behind them that would make retreat difficult but also provided protection from cavalry attacks. Harold's men had no cavalry or archers, relying instead on foot soldiers armed with weapons like axes, clubs, scythes, and pitchforks alongside their more professional equipment.
William's forces
William's army was well-rested, having had time to recover from their sea voyage and prepare for battle. The Norman force included knights on horseback with chain-mail armour, archers, and infantry (foot soldiers). Their equipment was generally more advanced, with Norman soldiers wearing protective chain-mail and carrying swords.
Harold's army had no mounted warriors or archers, while William's forces could attack from a distance and had the mobility advantage of cavalry. However, the English held the higher ground, forcing William's men to attack uphill - a significant tactical disadvantage.
Timeline of key events
- Late September 1066: Norman invasion delayed by unfavourable winds
- 28 September 1066: Norman fleet lands at Pevensey on the Sussex coast
- 13 October 1066: Harold arrives near Hastings after his rapid march south
- 14 October 1066: The Battle of Hastings begins at dawn
Strategic considerations
The positioning chosen by each army reflected their different strengths and weaknesses. Harold selected a ridge near Hastings with a forest behind his forces, creating a strong defensive line that would be difficult for cavalry to break. This position forced William to attack uphill, which typically favoured the defenders.
However, Harold's decision to fight immediately rather than wait for reinforcements meant he was unable to maximise his potential army size. While others were still travelling to join him and could have brought his forces to around 14,000 men, Harold chose to engage with his current strength of approximately 7,000.
William had little choice but to take the offensive, as waiting would only allow Harold's army to grow stronger. The Norman position at the bottom of the hill was tactically disadvantageous, but William's mixed force of cavalry, archers, and infantry gave him more tactical options than Harold's purely defensive formation.
Key Points to Remember:
- Norman landing occurred on 28 September 1066 at Pevensey after weather delays
- Harold covered 200 miles in one week to reach the south, showing remarkable speed
- Both armies had approximately 7,000 men, making them evenly matched in numbers
- Harold chose a defensive hilltop position while William was forced to attack uphill
- The battle began on 14 October 1066 after Harold arrived just one day earlier