The Battle of Hastings 1066 - The Normans - BBC Two

Summary

On October 14, 1066, a pivotal battle unfolded on a hillside in England, dramatically altering the nation's history. The English forces, led by King Harold, formed a formidable shield wall, but they were met with a novel and formidable Norman force. The Normans, under William the Conqueror, deployed archers, infantry, and mounted knights in a strategic formation. Despite initial setbacks and rumors of William's death, the Normans rallied, exploiting a momentary English break in ranks. The battle's turning point came with the death of King Harold, reportedly from an arrow to the eye, leading to the Norman victory. The aftermath was grim, with the English nobility and youth lying lifeless on the battlefield. William, showing no immediate remorse, later built an Abbey as penance for the bloodshed. The battle marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule and the beginning of the Norman era in England, with William ascending to the throne as King.

Takeaways

• 🏺 The Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066, was a pivotal moment that changed the course of English history.
• 🛡️ The English forces, led by King Harold, used a traditional shield wall formation to defend against the Normans.
• 🏰 The Norman forces, commanded by William the Conqueror, employed a three-line formation with archers, infantry, and mounted knights.
• 🎗️ William carried relics that Harold had sworn an oath on, symbolizing divine support for his claim to the English throne.
• 🗡️ The battle was marked by fierce combat, with both sides showing great valor and suffering heavy casualties.
• 🏃‍♂️ A rumor of William's death caused panic among the Normans, but he quickly dispelled it, rallying his troops.
• 🛡️ The English line was eventually broken, leading to the Normans' decisive victory.
• 📜 The Bayeux Tapestry captures the chaos and desperation of the battle, providing a visual record of the event.
• 👑 The death of King Harold, possibly by an arrow to the eye, signified the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England.
• 🕊️ Edith the Swan-Neck, Harold's mistress, is said to have identified his body by secret marks known only to them.
• ⛪️ William later built an Abbey as penance for the battle, with its altar on the spot where Harold fell, marking a new era under Norman rule.

Q & A

On which date did the battle that changed the course of history in England take place?

The battle took place on Saturday the 14th of October 1066.

What was the site of the battle later known as?

The site of the battle is now simply known as 'Battle'.

How did the English soldiers protect themselves during the battle?

The English soldiers protected themselves by overlapping their shields to form a shield wall.

What was the traditional fighting formation of the English soldiers?

The traditional fighting formation of the English soldiers was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a shield wall.

What was the new element in English warfare that confronted the English soldiers?

The new element in English warfare was the Norman army, which was organized in three lines: archers, infantry, and mounted knights.

What significant item did William wear around his neck during the battle?

William wore around his neck the very saints relics on which Harold had sworn his oath.

What was the condition of Harold's army before the battle?

Harold's army was weary and exhausted from the long march south.

What caused a moment of panic among the Normans during the battle?

A rumor spread amongst the Normans that William had been killed, causing the men on the left flank to panic.

How did William reassure his troops that he was not killed?

William pushed back his helmet to reveal his face and called out that he was alive and, with God's help, would conquer yet.

What is depicted in the Bayeux tapestry regarding the battle?

The Bayeux tapestry shows the confusion and desperation of the battle.

How did Bishop Odo participate in the battle without shedding blood?

Bishop Odo carried a huge club, which allowed him to break arms or heads without causing bloodshed.

What was the fate of King Harold and how was his body eventually recognized?

King Harold was killed, possibly by an arrow to the eye, and his body was so mutilated that it was initially unrecognizable. It was eventually recognized by his mistress, Edith the Swan-Neck, who identified it by certain secret marks known only to her and Harold.

Outlines

00:00

🏺 The Battle of Hastings: Clash of the Ages

The Battle of Hastings, fought on October 14, 1066, was a pivotal moment in history that reshaped England and its future. The English forces, led by King Harold, formed a traditional shield wall on a hillside, using axes and overlapping shields as their primary defense. They faced the innovative Norman tactics, which included archers, infantry, and mounted knights. William the Conqueror, the Norman leader, was said to have worn holy relics and carried a papal banner, symbolizing divine support. Despite initial setbacks, including a rumor of William's death that caused panic, the Normans rallied and eventually broke the English line. The Bayeux tapestry captures the chaos and desperation of the battle, while the non-combatant bishops, like William's half-brother Bishop Odo, participated in non-lethal ways. The battle's turning point was the death of King Harold, which led to the end of Anglo-Saxon rule and the rise of the Normans in England.

05:11

🏰 Aftermath of the Battle: A New Era Begins

Following the Battle of Hastings, there were various accounts of King Harold's death, with some suggesting he was killed by an arrow to the eye. His body was so disfigured that it was only later identified by his mistress, Edith the Swan-Neck, through secret marks known only to them. The aftermath of the battle saw the decline of Anglo-Saxon England and the rise of Norman dominance. William, initially showing no remorse, allowed the English dead to lie unburied before eventually building an Abbey as penance. This marked the spot where Harold was believed to have fallen. In the immediate wake of victory, William, the bastard descendant of Viking pirates, began his march to London as the conqueror, soon to be crowned King of England, signaling a new epoch for the nation under Norman rule.

Keywords

💡Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings was a pivotal moment in English history that took place on October 14, 1066. It was a decisive battle between the Norman-French army, led by Duke William of Normandy, and the English army, led by King Harold II. The battle resulted in the Normans' victory and marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England. The script describes the battle as a 'single battle between a few thousand men' that 'permanently changed the course of history in England and beyond.'

💡Shield Wall

The shield wall was a traditional English fighting formation where soldiers stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their shields overlapping to form a protective barrier. This tactic was 'tried and tested over the centuries' and was used by the English forces at the Battle of Hastings to defend against the Norman attacks. The script illustrates this by stating that 'To protect themselves, they overlapped their shields forming the shield wall.'

💡Norman Tactics

The Norman tactics at the Battle of Hastings involved a multi-tiered approach with archers, infantry, and mounted knights. This was a 'startlingly new' development in English warfare at the time, contrasting with the traditional shield wall of the English. The script describes the Normans as being 'drawn up in three lines: First the archers, then the infantry, then the mounted knights.'

💡Relics and Papal Support

Relics and papal support were significant elements of the Norman strategy for the battle. Duke William is said to have worn around his neck the very relics on which King Harold had sworn his oath, and the papal banner was present during the battle. This was a symbolic move to show divine approval and support for William's claim to the English throne. The script mentions 'William hung around his neck the very saints relics on which [Harold] had sworn his oath' and 'With the papal banner fluttering in the breeze.'

💡Exhaustion

Exhaustion played a crucial role in the outcome of the battle. King Harold's army was described as 'baffled weary and exhausted from the Long March South.' This physical state would have significantly impacted their ability to fight effectively against the fresh and well-prepared Norman forces. The script emphasizes the impact of this exhaustion on the English army's performance during the battle.

💡Rumor and Panic

Rumor and panic had a significant impact on the battle's dynamics. At one point, a rumor spread among the Normans that William had been killed, causing panic and a retreat. However, when William revealed he was alive, the Normans quickly rallied. This incident demonstrates the psychological warfare and the importance of morale in warfare. The script recounts 'The rumor spread amongst the Normans that William had been killed the men on the left flank panicked and began to Rush down the Hill.'

💡Death of King Harold

The death of King Harold was a decisive moment in the battle. According to the script, two early accounts say that an arrow struck the king in the eyes, leading to his death. This event marked a turning point as it demoralized the English forces and symbolized the end of their resistance. The script narrates, 'Then came the decisive moment the death of King Harold, [two] early accounts of the battle say that an arrow struck the king in the eyes.'

💡Bayeux Tapestry

The Bayeux Tapestry is a historical artifact that provides a visual representation of the events of the Battle of Hastings. It depicts the confusion and desperation of the battle, offering a unique perspective on the conflict. The script refers to the tapestry as showing 'all the confusion and desperation of the battle.'

💡Bishops and Non-Violence

The role of bishops in warfare during the 11th century is highlighted by the script, noting that they were forbidden to shed blood but still participated in battles. Bishop Odo, William's half-brother, is mentioned as carrying a huge club to inflict harm without shedding blood. This reflects the complex relationship between religious figures and warfare at the time. The script describes Bishop Odo as 'carrying a huge [club], that way he could break a few arms or heads without any bloodshed.'

💡Carnage and Penance

The aftermath of the battle was marked by a significant loss of life and the eventual act of penance by William. The script describes the scene as 'the flower of English Youth the flower of English nobility, covered the ground far and wide, filthy with Their own blood.' William initially refused to bury the English dead, but later relented and built an Abbey as penance for the battle's carnage.

💡William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror, originally Duke William of Normandy, is the title given to the leader who emerged victorious from the Battle of Hastings. The script describes him as 'now William the conqueror soon to be William King of England.' His victory marked the beginning of the Norman rule in England and had profound effects on the country's culture, language, and governance.

Highlights

On October 14th, 1066, a pivotal battle occurred on a hillside that would change the course of English history.

The battle is believed to have taken place near the Grey Apple Tree, now simply known as 'Battle'.

The English forces formed a traditional shield wall, a tried and tested method over centuries.

The Norman forces introduced a new tactical formation with archers, infantry, and mounted knights.

William the Conqueror wore saints' relics around his neck, symbolizing divine support.

Harold's army was weary from a long march, impacting their combat readiness.

The battle commenced at nine in the morning with a fierce clash of arms.

The English shield wall was so dense that the fallen could not fall to the ground.

A rumor of William's death caused panic among the Normans, but he revealed himself alive, rallying his troops.

The Normans retaliated against the pursuing English, breaking their line and gaining the upper hand.

The Bayeux Tapestry captures the chaos and desperation of the battle.

Bishops participated in the battle without shedding blood, using non-lethal weapons like clubs.

The battlefield was left saturated with blood after the brutal conflict.

King Harold's death was a turning point; he was reportedly killed by an arrow to the eye.

Harold's body was so disfigured that it was only identified by his mistress, Edith the Swan-Neck.

The aftermath of the battle saw the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England.

William refused to bury the English dead initially, leaving their bodies to rot, but later built an Abbey as penance.

William the Conqueror's victory led to his march to London and his crowning as King of England.

Transcripts

On this hillside, on Saturday the 14th of October 1066,

a single battle between a few thousand men

permanently changed the course of history in England and beyond.s

It was said to have taken place at the Grey Apddsdsdsdsdsdsdsdsdsdsple Tree

Nowadays, the site is known simply as "Battle".

The English occupied this ridge,

standing shoulder-to-shoulder, many armed with huge axes.

To protect themselves, they overlapped their shields forming the shield wall.

This was the traditional way of fighting; tried and tested over the centuries.

Confronting them was something startlingly new in English warfare.

The Normans were drawn up in three lines.

First the archers, then the infantry, then the mounted knights.

It said that william hung around his neck the very saints relics on which [Harold] had sworn his oath

With the papal banner fluttering in the breeze he must have been confident that God and the saints were backing him

Harold's Army was baffled weary and exhausted from the Long March South

Fighting began about nine o'clock in the morning

[Norman's] charged Uphill

The War cries on both sides were soon drowned out by the clash of arms and the shrieks and groans of the wounded

and the dying

Harold's men were packed so densely behind their solid shield wheel that the dead were unable to fall

Couldn't break the English line

The rumor spread amongst the Normans that William had been killed the men on the left flank panicked and began to Rush down the Hill

The English above broke ranks and followed them

But William had not been killed he pushed back his helmet to reveal his face and called out

I live and with God's help will conquer yet

The Normans immediately Rallied turned on the English who are pursuing them and cut them down?

the English Line was broken [Norman's] charged in

The Bayeux tapestry shows all the confusion and desperation of the battle

In the [11th] century it was customary for the bishops to join in though. They were forbidden to shed blood

Here's Bishop. Odo William's half-brother. He's carrying a huge [club]

That way he could break a few arms or heads without any bloodshed

bodies fall in a heap of twisted and broken limbs

The Hillside must have been saturated [with] blood

Then came the decisive moment the death of King Harold

[two] early accounts of the battle say that an arrow struck the king in the eyes

The King was Dead and the world was coming to an end

Harold's body was so mutilated that it couldn't even be found

It was recognized eventually legend has it by his mistress, Edith the swan --Neck

Who identified it by certain secret marks Known only to her and along with Harold?

Anglo-Saxon England died on this Battlefield

one of Williams Chaplains describes the scene the flower of English Youth the flower of English nobility

covered the ground far and wide

filthy with Their own blood

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It said the william refused to bury the English dead they lay rotting for days

He would later relent and build an Abbey here as penance for the carnage of the battle

[its] altar is said to have been built on the spot where harold fell

but in the immediate aftermath of the battle William felt no remorse [a]

Week after his victory this bastard descendant of viking pirates set off on the March to London

He was now William the conqueror soon to be William King of England

the future belonged to the Normans

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