The Battle
The chroniclers of the time were not given to blow-by-blow accounts of the
battles that were fought, so most of what is told about the events that unfolded,
is made up from strategists, historians and speculation.
Both sides had contingents of approximately the same size. One critical difference
was the way the English fought on foot, even those who rode to battle, dismounted
once on the field. It was the custom of English armies of the time. Harold's
army was placed on Battle Hill facing southwards and with him were his two brothers
Gyrth and Leofwine. Surrounded by his Housecarls (bodyguards), crack troops
who used the deadly two-handed battle axes and were amongst the best troops
in Europe. The rest of his army used spears and swords, with a few archers amongst
them.
Duke Williams forces were positioned at the bottom of the south slope of the
ridge, with about 400 yards between the armies. Laid out in three lines, the
archers in front, then the heavy infantry (many with coats of mail), with the
cavalry consisting of the knights and squires at the back of the lines. The
lines were divided into three main blocks. On the west stood the Breton volunteers,
the east held the French (Aquitanians, etc), in the centre were the Normans
and the Duke himself.
The battle began around 9am with the sounding of many trumpets from both sides.
The Normans mounted an infantry assault with little effect, so the knights went
forward with lances couched, riding hard up the slope towards the English position.
They too were repulsed by the dense ranks of English foot soldiers and many
of the knights had to turn back and re-group. At this time a cry went up that
William had been slain, which caused his troops to pull back even further in
the western sector of the Bretons. Even the Norman centre became confused and
only when William charged ahead, raising his helmet, showing his men he was
still very much alive, did they stand fast.
The English took this opportunity to break their own front ranks and attack
the disarray amongst Duke William's troops. This caused William to lead a counter-attack
which was fought on difficult ground, and resulted in many of the English being
cut down. Having turned the tide, William followed up with a major assault,
thrusting uphill, into the solid wall of the English defence, but without breaking
through.
Williams next move was to try the feigned flight manoeuvre, which he had learned
early in his career. This called for a small group of knights to pull out, ride
away from the battle and entice the enemy to break ranks and pursue them. Once
this was achieved, the knights would then wheel around and cut down the pursuers.
Although this worked to some extent, still the English line held firm as evening
began to fall, though gaps began to appear in the English defence that could
not be filled.
The Normans attacked again, and again, with all-out assaults, cavalry and
infantry together, with archers firing over their heads into the English line.
The sound of metal reverberated over the battlefield as swords clashed and lances
met mail and armour, but it was probably the strategy of firing arrows upwards
into the air to fall on to the defenders from above, rendering their long Saxon
body-shields useless. One of these arrows hit Harold in or near the eye wounding
him, but not killing him. This scene is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry as shown
below.
Bayeux Tapestry: Harold trying to pull the arrow from his face
Many of Harold's bodyguard had already been killed along with both of his
brothers. As he tried to pull the arrow from his head he was seen by some Norman
knights and cut down with their swords. This was the end for the English ranks,
and as they heard of Harold's death they broke and fled the battlefield as best
they could being chased by the Normans including William himself.
The days events had vindicated William. His claim to the English throne and
Harold's 'usurpation' were proved. But even in victory William was benevolent
and ordered that Harold should be given an honourable burial. The dead King
was taken to Hastings for interment under an inscribed stone.
These then were the events that changed
history and set England on a new course and in particular, changed the character
and status of Sussex.
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