October 14 - The Battle of Hastings

This Day in History: 14 October 2020

 

14 October 1066

 

954 years ago, today, the Battle of Hastings began. William the Conqueror had landed in England a few weeks prior, at Pevensey, with around 7,000 troops and cavalry. After he seized Pevensey, he marched to Hastings, where he paused to organise his forces. On October 13, King Harold II, the new king of England, arrived near Hastings with his army, and the next day, William led his forces out to battle. Edward the Confessor had promised to make William his heir after his death, but on his death bed, Edward granted the kingdom to Harold Godwinson instead. The Battle of Hastings was initiated by William disputing his claim to the throne.

 

King Harold was eventually defeated by William's forces. At the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold was killed by an arrow to his eye. He was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. After his victory, William marched on London and received the city's submission. On Christmas Day, 1066, he was crowned as the first Norman king of England, ending the Anglo-Saxon phase of English history. William I proved to be an effective king, conceiving the 'Domesday Book', a census of the lands and people of England. Upon his death in 1087, his son, William Rufus, became William II, the second Norman king.

 

Want to find out more about the Battle of Hastings? Click here for more information, or here for more about William the Conqueror. 

September 28 - William the Conqueror Arrives in England

This Day in History: 28 September 2020

 

28 September 1066

 

954 years ago, today, William the Conqueror invaded England in an attempt to claim his right to the English throne. His subsequent defeat of King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings marked the start of a new era in British history. It is believed that William visited England in 1051 and met with his cousin Edward the Confessor, the childless king. Supposedly, Edward promised to make William his heir. However, on Edward's deathbed, he granted the kingdom to Harold Godwinson, the head of a leading noble family in England, that was more powerful than the King himself. He was proclaimed as King Harold II in January 1066, which William immediately disputed.

 

With around 7,000 troops and cavalry, William marched to Hastings with King Harald III of Norway, who had designs on England. In October, Harold arrived near Hastings with his own army, before the battle began the next day. At the end of the bloody, long-lasting fight, King Harold II was killed, shot in the eye with an arrow according to legend, and his forces were defeated. William the Conqueror was crowned as the first Norman king of England on Christmas Day, ending the Anglo-Saxon phase of English history. William proved to be an effective king, creating the Domesday Book as his biggest achievement.

 

Want to find out more about William the Conqueror? Click here for more information, or here for more about the Battle of Hastings.

January 6 - Harold II Crowned King of England

This Day in History: 6 January 2020

 

6 January 1066

 

954 years ago, today, Harold Godwinson, the head of the most powerful noble family in England, was crowned King Harold II, after the death of Edward the Confessor. On Edward's deathbed, he supposedly appointed Harold as the royal heir, however this claim was later disputed against by William, Duke of Normandy, and cousin of the King. The Witan, the political institution of the time, selected Harold to succeed the next day after the death of Edward, and his coronation followed on the 6^th January, on this day, most likely held at Westminster Abbey. Some Norman sources show this coronation as being rather sudden, perhaps due to the fact that all the nobles in the land were present at Westminster already for the feast of the Epiphany.

 

The new King, however, grew concerned with King Harald III, Hardraade of Norway, and Harold's brother, Tostig's, plans for England. In response, Harold rallied his forces for an invasion against William, but Tostig launched a series of raids instead, which forced King Harold to leave. Later, in September, Tostig joined forces with King Harald III and invaded England, with Harold meeting them at Stamford Bridge on the 25^th, where he defeated and killed them both. However, on October 14, Harold met William at the Battle of Hastings, and the king was killed, possibly having been shot through the eye with an arrow. William the Conqueror was crowned the first Norman king of England on Christmas Day.

 

Want to find out more about the life of King Harold II? Clickhere for more details.

 

Where was the Battle of Hastings?

Just after the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings (14 October) one historian, Nick Austin, has put the cat among the pigeons by suggesting that the Battle of Hastings was not fought next to Battle Abbey where there is a visitor's centre and tours about the battle, but 2 miles away in Crowhurst.  He bases this on the topography of both sites and how the battle is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.  Read the argument on both sides of the debate here.  In the end though, does it really matter?

Battle of Hastings Location?

A new article has suggested that the Battle of Hastings did not take place where it has been traditionally sited at Battle Abbey but in the village of Crowhurst two miles away.  The author has looked at evidence from the Bayeux Tapestry and other primary sources and believes the terrain around Crowhurst is more appropriate for the events that are described. English Heritage, which owns the battle site is not convinced, saying that it is unlikely that Battle Abbey would have been placed where it was (in a rather inaccessible location) if there hadn't been a significant event to site it there.

This is not the only battle that has had issues with its location - Bosworth had similar problems recently. Whatever the case it is unlikely that the visitor centre will move any time soon and this will allow people to imagine what it must have been like to fight in such a great confrontation - wherever it was!

For further info here are articles from the BBC and the Daily Mail, with more extensive details of the battle here.

The Battle of Hastings - Courtesy of the Sun

The Sun has got into History, with a sequence of mocked up front pages on its special website, "Hold Ye Front Page" about various significant historical events. These include:

• The birth of art, 20,000 years ago ("Makeover team wrecked my cave")
• The discoveries of Archimedes in 240 BC ("You streaker - Outrage as Archimedes leaps from bath in naked dash")
• The influence of Arab Scientists, from 776AD ("Arab swotter and the Philosopher's Stone")
• Darwin's Theory of Evolution, from 1859 ("Monkey Nutter")
• The victories of Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics ("This one's 4 you, Herr Hitler")

As you can see they cover quite a variety of topics! (Even the Crucifixion gets a headline...) The Battle of Hastings is also included ("Storming Normans") and there are several lively videos, including this computer animation of how the battle might have looked.

 

Please let us know if you find any other interesting subjects!

Battle of Hastings - Live!

The HP Society will be recreating The Battle of Hastings on Tuesday lunchtime. Come to Room 103 for a briefing and then we'll go out onto the field. Bring suitable clothing!

Battle of Hastings Game

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, which took place on 14 October 1066. We are hoping to recreate the battle at school on the field next Tuesday, so keep an eye out for notices! There is plenty of information about the battle available, including these websites this game from the BBC, where you can take on the role of either William or Harold! PS: For further posts on the battle from last year, click on the "Battle of Hastings" label below or on the right hand side of the blog.