The Decisive Battles of World History

Lecture 10: 1066 Hastings—William Conquers England

o In the Bayeux Tapestry, men of both sides are shown wearing

conical helmets, usually augmented with a nasal bar extending

down from the helmet rim, although this style of helmet is

more often associated with the Normans.

x Although the size of the Norman army is uncertain, the best guess

is that there were about 2,000 horsemen, 4,000 infantry, and 1,500

archers and crossbowmen.

x A weapon popular among Anglo-Saxon warriors was the axe. It

came in two varieties: a small, hatchet-like design that was thrown

and a larger, heavy axe with an asymmetrical head whose bottom

edge was longer than the top, used with two hands.

x Harold’s force is estimated to have been slightly larger than

William’s and to have been composed of roughly one-third semi-

professional warriors and two-thirds fyrdmen.

The Battle

x On October 14, 1066, William moved out with his men, heading

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enemy had been sighted, and William deployed his men for battle.

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hill about 700 meters long whose sides were protected by gullies,

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x Harold placed his most heavily armored men in front, forming a

solid shield wall backed up by the lesser warriors and fyrdmen.

This formation, thought to have been perhaps 10 men deep,

stretched along the entire length of the ridge. Harold himself took

up a position in the center, just to the rear of the phalanx.