ON THIS DAY : THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS
Posted on Friday 14th October 2016
ON THIS DAY
THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS, 1066
14 October 1066 marks the 950th anniversary of the infamous Battle of Hastings, fought on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings between the Norman-French army of William, the Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the last Anglo-Saxon King, Harold Godwinson.
A painting showing the events of Hastings, inspired by Tom Lovell
The Norman conquest of England was the 11th Century invasion and occupation of England by an army of Norman, Breton and French soldiers led by Duke William II of Normandy. King Harold II was defeated by the Norman forces of William the Conqueror on this day 950 years ago.
"William
achieved victory at Hastings after he had gouged out his eye with an
arrow"
It was a long, bloody, all-day battle that claimed the lives of many soldiers and amongst them was King Harold himself. The Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England, suggests that King Harold was killed by William the Conqueror and recorded that 'William achieved victory at Hastings after he had 'gouged out his eye with an arrow'. The Battle raged on until all of Harold's loyal bodyguards were slain. William was truly then known as 'The Conqueror'.
On Christmas day 1066 Archbishop Ealdred of York crowned William, the King of England.
The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth almost 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall. It's beautiful detail depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and is one of the supreme achievements of the Norman Romanesque. The tapestry still remains completely intact after more than nine centuries with it's exceptional colour and miraculous craftsmanship making it a very endlessly fascinating piece of history.
The first man recorded to be killed in battle was William the conqueror's jester, Taillefer!
Of further interest...
Nation in Conflict - the Battle of Hastings
Fri 5th OctoberAn article by Peter Marren on the Battle of Hastings, 1066. Extracted from 1066: The Battles of York, Stamford Bridge and Hastings, and reproduced by permission of Pen and Sword Books Ltd. Read article...
Salamanca - The Peninsula Series
Tue 24th JulyMarking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Salamanca during the Peninsular War, 22 July 1812. A look at the bestselling DVD from Pen & Sword Digital and BHTV. Read article...
The Battle of Falkirk, 1298
Thu 25th MayThe Battle of Falkirk, which took place on 22 July 1298, was one of the most important engagements of the Scottish Wars of Independence... Read article...
Unwelcome Guests in Portugal
Thu 9th JuneDavid Buttery writes for Warfare Magazine about his 'Wellington Against' series. Read article...