10 things you need to know about The Battle of Hastings

1. In 1066 there were three different kings on the English throne in just one year

In those days, almost every succession to the throne was contested, power was prized and violence was celebrated. When King Edward The Confessor died on 5th January 1066 he left no children, so it was open season for rival claimants. The question on everyone’s lips: “Who will take his place?” The only living blood relative was Edward’s great nephew, Edward The Ethling. At just 13, he was far from the mighty, warrior king England needed to protect its vast wealth. High-ranking aristocrat Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, believed he was the man for the job. As well as being the brother of the recently widowed queen, he was supported by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. Audaciously, he claimed that Edward had anointed him as his successor on his deathbed.

The Bayeux tapestry, UNESCO World Heritage Site. © Hans Georg Roth / Getty Images

2. Actually, King Edward The Confessor probably preferred someone else

It is likely he would have chosen his cousin, Duke William of Normandy. Exiled as a child, Edward grew up with William in Normandy and was fond of him. When William learned that Harold was the new King of England, outrage ensued. The Normans declared that Edward had sworn an oath on holy relics to uphold William’s claim to the throne. With the Pope’s backing, William assembled an army of mercenaries and volunteers from nearby European countries. Meanwhile, Harold gathered his own troops in southern England to await the invasion.

3. The Normans were French Vikings

The word “Norman” comes from “Norsemen” or “Northmen”. The Normans were essentially Vikings, who settled in northern France in the late ninth or early tenth century in an area which later became Normandy. Their striking names included William Longsword, Richard The Fearless and Robert The Magnificent, father of William The Conqueror. Over time the Normans embraced French culture and Christianity, but they never lost their war-loving, Viking nature.

4. With eerie timing, Halley’s Comet arrived

By the end of summer, the Normans had yet to arrive. After a whole lot of sitting around, the army eventually disbanded mere days before the Norman fleet set sail. Watching Halley’s Comet blaze through the skies over England, superstitious folk felt nervous about what this might foreshadow. The death of a king, perhaps?

5. William went to extreme lengths to reach England

Bad weather left William stranded on French soil in Saint-Valerie. For two weeks he prayed for the rain to stop and the wind to change direction. He went to extraordinary lengths, exhuming the body of Saint-Valerie and parading it around the army’s camp, urging his soldiers to pray for the weather they needed. When the right conditions finally came, the Norman army set sail across the channel.

6. The Normans were on the move, but the Battle of Hastings wasn’t the next battle Harold faced

There was another invasion first, this time in northern England, led by legendary super Viking, Harold Hardrada and none other than King Harold of England’s own brother, Tostig Godwinson. Talk about family drama! In the brutal Battle of Fulford Hardrada took the city of York, so King Harold of England made a bold move. In just four days, he and his troops marched 185 miles from London to York to snuff out the Viking invasion. Overconfident, Hardrada left his camp and some of his men and armour with his ships. At Stamford Bridge, suddenly the English Royal Army appeared. Most of Hardrada’s troops were massacred, including Hardrada and Tostig.

Section of the Bayeux Tapestry, showing the death of King Harold from an arrow in the eye. © bpperry / Getty Images

7. Harold had defeated his enemy, but little did he know the worst was yet to come

Around one week later, Harold received word that the Normans had landed at Pevensey on the Sussex coast. Hoping to pull his signature move again, he rushed south with an army smaller and more battle-weary than he would have liked. Hearing about Harold’s approach, William led his own troops north from Hastings to meet him.

8. The Anglo-Saxon shield wall held off the invaders for hours

Battle commenced at around 9am on 14th October 1066. Trumpets blasted. Officers bellowed. Men prayed to God and grasped their weapons. The unusually long battle lasted from morning until dusk. The English army stood on Sennlack Hill behind a wall of shields with only swords and spears poking out. The Norman army repeatedly scaled the hill, attempting to penetrate the enemy line to no avail. While the armies were probably of similar sizes, the English troops were on foot while the Normans had heavily armoured knights on horseback. This gave them a crucial advantage: they could stand up on stirrups, hurl spears or slash swords, then gallop away.

9. Mid-battle, a rumour spread that William was dead

To rally his troops, William ripped off his helmet and galloped the length of his army. He bellowed, “I’m alive! I’m alive and with God’s help, I’ll be victorious!” Seeing the Normans retreating, some of the English soldiers broke away from the shield wall. William’s troops seized the opportunity to start picking them off, with the men on foot no match for knights on horseback. Gaps began to appear in the shield wall. The Normans were wearing the English army down.

10. Despite what The Bayeaux Tapestry shows, Harold may not have died by an arrow in the eye after all

In The Song of The Battle of Hastings, it is said that William gathered his most elite troops, identified Harold’s banner and decapitated the monarch. William of Normandy was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey on Christmas day 1066, marking the end of the Anglo-Saxon era and the beginning of Norman rule. The course of English history was changed forever.

To find out more, listen to The Battle of Hastings episode from Dan Snow's History Hit now.