The Conquest - The Battle of Hastings - Tactics
History: KS3, topic 1.13.9
Military Tactics in the Battle of Hastings
Tactics played a very important role in the outcome of the Battle of Hastings.
Norman archers vs English shield wall
- William's archers fired arrows at the English from a very long distance. This meant that English troops could not throw javelins far enough to hurt the Norman soldiers. The range of archers is further than men can throw javelins.
- The English used shields, put one next to the other, to create a 'shield wall'. This helped to protect the English troops from the arrows but also defends well against 'infantry' who are troops on foot.
The poor discipline of the English troops
- Historians report that when the Normans retreated (backed away from the battle), English soldiers chased after them. This is called breaking rank.
- Imagine the English being well-organised in a long wall of shields, before then all running after the Normans.
- The shield wall would have been destroyed, exposing the English troops to the Norman arrows and the English soldiers would have then been in a 1-1 battle with Norman soldiers using things like swords.
- Chasing after the Normans showed a lack of strategy or discipline, which may have led the English to lose the battle.
High vs low ground
- Harold II's English army had the high ground. Usually being higher than an opponent is an advantage.
- Being higher, usually means that you can effectively fire arrows further, throw javelins further, and infantry are more tired if they have run uphill to attack you.
- The English army had the high ground, by standing on a hill, but still lost the battle.
Test yourself on The Conquest - The Battle of Hastings - Tactics
Key factors in the Battle of Hastings
Which tactics were used in the Battle of Hastings?
What did NOT happen during the battle?