How did William the Conqueror and the Normans win at the Battle of Hastings in 1066

The Battle of Hastings (1066) is perhaps the most famous in Medieval Britain, if not Europe. This bloody day changed British history and had a profound impact on the development of the modern world. It led not only to a change of dynasty in England but also indirectly to the development of the English language, law, and political institutions, which have had an immense impact far beyond the British Isles.

In reality, the surviving accounts of the Battle of Hastings are all suspect. They were either written by Anglo-Saxon writers who hated the Normans as foreign overlords, or they were authored by Normans who had an interest in misrepresenting events. This article will disentangle fact from fiction and truth from myth about the Battle of Hastings.

Why did the Normans Invade Britain?

William and his Normans were the descendants of Norse Vikings who had been given land in northern France and were largely independent of the French King. The Anglo-Saxon had been the brother-in-law of Edmund the Confessor. It is widely reported from sources that the dying king made Harold his heir and left his widow and Kingdom in his care. However, there is a different Norman account, and it holds that Edward the Confessor during a period of exile made Duke William his heir if he died without an heir. Historians have long debated which claim was the strongest, and most believe that Harold was the legal heir of Edward the Successor.

The story that Duke William was the legitimate successor of Edward is unlikely and was Norman propaganda. Even if Edward had made him his heir, he had almost certainly changed his mind before his death. Indeed, Harold had even been legitimately elected by the Witan, the assembly of the Anglo-Saxons, and they viewed him as their rightful ruler. King Harold II was defending his realm at the battle, and William the Conqueror was an invader who had no real support in the wider country. The Battle of Hastings was the result of William's naked ambitions. [2]

Why were the Anglo-Saxons defeated at the Battle of Hastings?

The Anglo-Saxons were forced to march south at speed in the wake of their victory over the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada and his Anglo-Saxon allies at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. This was a bloody clash, and the forces of Harold suffered numerous casualties even though he decisively defeated the Viking army. The victors at Stamford Bridge then had to make a forced march from the north of England to the south coast, and it is widely argued that this was a contributory factor in the Anglo-Saxon defeat.

However, not all historians agree with this, and they point out that the army of Harold fought very well during the battle. Indeed, even in the Norman accounts, the Anglo-Saxons are fighting fiercely, from early morning until the evening. Based on the distance between the two battles, it would seem that the Anglo-Saxon army marched 27 miles (39 km) a day but that they had a day’s rest before the fight. [3] Indeed, Harold was able to seize the high ground and establish a strong defensive position on the battlefield. It is not correct to state that the Anglo-Saxons were tired after their forced march and earlier battle and that this led to their defeat at the hands of the Normans.

What happened at the Battle of Hastings?

The Normans had to inflict a defeat on the English as they were in enemy territory and had only a limited supply. [4] This meant that William the Conqueror’s army was forced to go on the offensive, and it was essential that he broke the massed ranks of the heavy infantry of Harold. The Normans knew that if they broke the formation of the Anglo-Saxons that they would be victorious. From the early morning of the 18th of October, William attacked the Anglo-Saxon shield wall. They had numerical superiority in cavalry, and the Norman knights were among the finest in Europe. They still failed to break the shield-wall. Then William ordered his archers to unleash volleys of arrows at the enemy’s line. They were mostly Bretons and acknowledged to be great archers, but they could not break the English lines.

Did the death of Harold changed the tide of battle?

However, while it is known for certain that Harold was killed during the battle, his death did not doom the Anglo-Saxons to defeat. [7] The last Anglo-Saxon king was killed after the tide of battle had shifted decisively in favor of the invaders from France. The feigned retreat ordered by William had worked brilliantly, and his counterattack had effectively won the day. One of the greatest myths about the battle was that Harold’s death doomed the Anglo-Saxons to defeat and to their eventual domination by the Normans.

How did Harold die at the Battle?

One of the apparently undisputed facts about the battle was that King Harold II was killed after an arrow in the eye struck him. This is based on one account and a scene from the Bayeux Tapestry. This tapestry is a 70-foot-long (200 meters) work of embroidery that depicts the Battle of Hastings. It was created in the 1070s and is one of the most significant accounts for the events of 1066. It shows a man being hit by an arrow to the eye, which is widely believed to have been a visualization of the death of the last Anglo-Saxon king. However, there are different accounts of Harold's death, but they all agree that he died in battle. [8]

In one Norman chronicle, the Anglo-Saxon monarch was slain as he ran away, but this was probably an invention to discredit the memory of a man still revered by many people in England for decades after 1066. There is another account of Harold’s death that states he was hit by several arrows, and as he lay wounded, he was hacked to pieces by some foot soldiers. How Harold died on that fateful day in October 1066 will never be fully established, and even the burial place of the last Anglo-Saxon king has not been identified. [9]

Did the Anglo-Saxons continue to fight the Normans after the Battle of Hastings?

In most historical accounts, the Battle of Hastings is so decisive that it ended all resistance against the Norman invaders and the Normans were able to impose their will on England. The reality is more complicated. While the Battle was decisive, resistance to the invaders remained. While the English nobles had submitted to William before his coronation as King in Westminster Abbey in 1066, Norman control was somewhat challenged. The Harold's repeatedly raided the coast of England from Ireland, and there were sporadic revolts against William I.

In 1069 the Danes landed in northern England to support a rebellion by the Northern Anglo-Saxon Earls. The Norman king was forced to pay the Danes to leave England. When the rebels refused to do battle, William the Conqueror launched a scorched earth policy, which caused a famine. This came to be known as the Harrying of the North, and some modern writers claim that it was tantamount to an act of genocide against the local population. The facts do not bear out the myth that the Battle of Hastings was the conquest's end. [10] Indeed, it was only in 1070 with the complete suppression of the Northern Earls.

There are many myths around the Battle of Hastings. Instead of being a contest for the English crown, it was an illegitimate bid for power by William, who had a weak claim to the English throne. Next, Harold's army did not lose the battle because of a forced march, nor did Harold's death turn the tide of war because he died after the Normans had taken advantage. William's feigned retreat was brilliant, which led to a decisive victory. Finally, William’s victory in 1066 did not resistance to the Norman invaders. English rebels fought for another four years before William consolidated control over England.

Further Reading

Palliser, D. M. (1993). Domesday Book and the ‘Harrying of the North.' Northern History, 29(1), 1-23.

Brown, R. Allen. The Normans and the Norman conquest (Leeds, Boydell & Brewer Ltd, 1985).

Chibnall, Marjorie. The debate on the Norman Conquest (Manchester, Manchester University Press, 1999).

Bradbury, Jim. Battle of Hastings. (London, The History Press, 2010).

The Battle of Hastings (1066)

You can describe what happened during the Battle of Hastings and how historians have made use of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Lesson details

Key learning points.

  • William of Normandy made thorough preparations for the Battle of Hastings
  • William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings
  • The Bayeux Tapestry is an important source for the study of the Battle of Hastings
  • Historians have to use the Bayeux Tapestry carefully when establishing what happened during the Battle of Hastings

Common misconception

That the Bayeux Tapestry is a 'biased' source and therefore not useful to historians.

Although all sources were produced in a particular context, historians can ask careful questions of them to learn about the past.

Fyrd - The fyrd was the group of local, untrained soldiers called up to fight in Anglo-Saxon England.

Shield wall - The defensive line of shields used by the Anglo-Saxon army was known as the shield wall.

Infantry - Infantry are foot soldiers.

Cavalry - Cavalry are soldiers on horseback.

Siege - The act of surrounding a town and refusing to let people out or goods in is a siege.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited ( 2024 ), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Starter quiz

6 questions.

Harold Godwinson -  

Harald Hardrada -  

William the Conqueror -  

Succession crisis -  

A situation in which there is no clear heir to the throne

A person who expects to inherit something

A male ruler of a country who inherits his position by birth

A seat used by a king or queen

local, untrained Anglo-Saxons who were called up to fight

shield wall -  

the defensive line of shields used by Anglo-Saxon armies

infantry -  

foot soldiers

cavalry -  

soldiers on horseback

An image in a quiz

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Battle of Hastings

Introduction.

A scene from the Bayeux Tapestry shows English soldiers with axes fighting the Norman cavalry…

Rivals for the Crown

When King Edward the Confessor died on January 5, 1066, three men claimed the right to be the next king of England. They were Harald Hardrada (the king of Norway), William (the duke of Normandy, a region of France), and Harold (the earl of Wessex in England).

King Harold II

On his deathbed, Edward the Confessor named Harold as his successor. The day after Edward died, Harold was crowned King Harold II.

William of Normandy and Harald of Norway both said that the throne had been promised to them. They each began making plans to invade England and fight King Harold. Within weeks of Harold’s coronation, he found himself threatened by two different armies. Harald Hardrada had invaded in the north of England, and William planned to invade from the south.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge

The Norwegian army had landed first, so Harold marched northward with his soldiers to fight them. He met Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge, near York, on September 25, 1066. The English won, and Harald Hardrada was killed in the battle.

Harold did not have time to enjoy his victory, however. He had to march back south to deal with William of Normandy.

William the Conqueror

On September 28 William landed at Pevensey, on the south coast of England, with about 5,000 men. He had planned to march on London , where he would seize the throne. However, Harold had returned swiftly from the north with his own army. The two armies met at Hastings, about 55 miles (90 kilometers) from London.

Battle Tactics

On October 14, 1066, William’s archers fired the first shots in the Battle of Hastings. Harold’s army had an advantage because they were in position on the top of a ridge. However, Harold did not have the archers and cavalry (horsemen) that William did. Also, the English soldiers were exhausted from their long march and the battle they had fought in the north.

The Death of King Harold

In the fighting that followed, King Harold was killed. According to some accounts he was struck in the eye by an arrow. With their leader dead, the English began to leave the battlefield. William of Normandy had won.

A few days after the Battle of Hastings William marched to London. On Christmas Day, 1066, he was crowned William I of England.

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1066: a new perspective on why William won

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Bayeux Tapestry: Battle of Hastings

Why was the Battle of Hastings fought?

Who was the battle of hastings between, how was the battle of hastings fought, how did the battle of hastings change the course of english history.

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Battle of Hastings

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  • Ancient Origins - A Red Dawn Rises - The Battle of Hastings, 1066
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Bayeux Tapestry: Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings was fought for the English crown. In 1051 Edward the Confessor probably designated William , duke of Normandy, a cousin, as his heir. According to  Norman  accounts, Edward sent Harold , earl of Wessex , to Normandy in 1064 to confirm his promise to William, and Harold swore to defend William’s claim. Nevertheless, on his deathbed Edward granted the kingdom to Harold, who was crowned the next day. In response, William gathered an army.

The Battle of Hastings was between William , duke of Normandy, and Harold II of England . William assembled a force of 4,000–7,000, composed of archers and crossbowmen , heavy infantry , and knights on horseback , on the Continent before sailing for England. Harold’s army numbered about 7,000 men, many of whom were half-armed untrained peasants. He lacked archers and cavalry and had mobilized barely half of England’s trained soldiers.

The Battle of Hastings began at dawn on October 14, 1066, when William ’s army moved toward Harold ’s army, which was occupying a ridge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Hastings . As the day progressed, the defense was worn down and slowly outnumbered. According to the Bayeux Tapestry , Harold was killed late in the afternoon. As darkness fell, the English scattered, leaving William the winner of one of the most daring gambles in history.

William ’s victory at the Battle of Hastings brought England into close contact with the Continent, especially  France . It led to the almost total replacement of the English aristocracy with a Norman one, which was paralleled by similar changes of personnel among the upper clergy and administrative officers. English  was superseded in official documents and other records by Latin and then increasingly in all areas by Anglo-Norman ; written English hardly reappeared until the 13th century.

Battle of Hastings , battle on October 14, 1066, that ended in the defeat of Harold II of England by William , duke of Normandy , and established the Normans as the rulers of England .

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

Throughout his reign, the childless Edward the Confessor had used the absence of a clear successor to the throne as a bargaining tool. In 1051, after a breach with Godwine , the earl of Wessex and the most powerful man in England, Edward probably designated William, a cousin, as his heir. Upon Godwine’s death in 1053, his son Harold became earl of Wessex, and Harold spent the next decade consolidating his power and winning favour among the nobles and clergy. According to Norman accounts, among them the Bayeux Tapestry , Harold subsequently swore an oath of fealty to William and promised to uphold William’s claim to the English throne. Nevertheless, on his deathbed (January 5, 1066) Edward granted the kingdom to Harold, who, with the backing of the English nobility, was crowned king the next day.

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

By this time, however, William controlled, directly or by alliance, every harbour from the Schelde to Brest . His father-in-law, Baldwin V of Flanders , was regent of France, and Geoffrey III, the count of Anjou and his only dangerous neighbour, was distracted by rebellion. With a solemn blessing from Pope Alexander II and the emperor’s approval, William prepared to enforce his claim to the English crown. He persuaded the Norman barons to promise support and recruited thousands of volunteers from Brittany , Maine , France, Flanders, Spain , and Italy . The organization of supplies and transport for this miscellaneous host and the imposition of disciplined Norman cohesion upon them were probably William’s supreme military achievements.

Harold mobilized his fleet and army in May, repelled his outlawed brother Tostig ’s raids on the south and east coasts, and concentrated his large fleet off Spithead and his militia along the Hampshire , Sussex , and Kentish coasts. Ready to move early in August, William’s transports were kept in port by north winds for eight weeks, first in the Dives estuary until September 12, then at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. Meanwhile, the English militia, short of supplies after four months’ fruitless waiting, lost morale and were dismissed on September 8. Harold’s ships were brought back to the Thames , with many being lost en route. The English Channel was thus left open, and the best chance of destroying William’s army was lost. About that time Harald III Sigurdson , king of Norway and another claimant of the English crown , allied himself with Tostig and entered the Humber with 300 ships. There he defeated the forces of Edwin, earl of Mercia , and his brother Morcar, earl of Northumbria , in a heavy battle at Gate Fulford, outside York (September 20). This battle not only crippled Harald’s forces, but also left the two earls incapable of raising another army that year. King Harold, hearing of this invasion, left London immediately with his housecarls and such thanes and shire militia as he could muster, and by forced marches surprised the invaders at Stamford Bridge on September 25, utterly destroying them and killing Harald and Tostig.

On September 27 the wind changed, and William crossed to England unopposed, with an army of 4,000 to 7,000 cavalry and infantry , disembarking at Pevensey in Sussex. He quickly moved his forces eastward along the coast to Hastings , fortified his position, and began to explore and ravage the area, determined not to lose touch with his ships until he had defeated Harold’s main army. Harold, at York , learned of William’s landing on or about October 2 and hurried southward, gathering reinforcements as he went. By October 13 Harold was approaching Hastings with about 7,000 men, many of whom were half-armed, untrained peasants. He had mobilized barely half of England’s trained soldiers, yet he advanced against William instead of making William come to meet him in a chosen defensive position. The bold yet ultimately unsuccessful strategy is probably explained by Harold’s eagerness to defend his own men and lands, which William was harrying, and to thrust the Normans back into the sea.

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

William, warned of Harold’s approach, determined to force battle immediately. At dawn on October 14 William moved toward Harold’s army, which was occupying a ridge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Hastings. William disposed his army for attack—archers and crossbowmen in the front line, his heavy infantry in the second, his knights in three divisions in the rear, Normans in the centre, Bretons and French on left and right, respectively. Harold’s English army, lacking archers and cavalry, prepared for defense on the protected summit of the ridge. Their position was not wholly favourable; William’s advance was unexpected, and Harold had to fight where he stood or retreat. He placed himself, his housecarls, and his other trained troops around his standard at the summit of the ridge (where the high altar of Battle Abbey was later placed), grouping his other troops along the crest for about 400 yards (365 metres) westward and about 200 yards (about 180 metres) eastward, at which points the slope became steep enough to protect both flanks. The front was too small: some men, finding no fighting room, withdrew; the rest, in too close order, made a perfect target for arrows.

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

The easy slope allowed William’s knights an open approach, against which Harold relied on the close “shield wall” formation of his trained troops to hurl back and dishearten the enemy. The heavily armoured knight, riding a powerful charger and holding couched a heavy thrusting lance, was still 100 years away. Norman armour was flimsy, the horses light and unprotected, and the knights, using javelins, maces , and swords, had to engage the English infantry hand-to-hand. Harold’s hopes depended on keeping his line unbroken and his casualties light, thus exhausting and demoralizing the Normans.

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

William’s archers opened at close range, inflicting many casualties but suffering heavily from the English slings and spears. William therefore threw in his cavalry, which was so badly mauled by English infantry wielding two-handed battle-axes that it panicked and fled. William himself checked and turned them, counterattacking a large body of Englishmen who had broken ranks in pursuit. William pressed his cavalry charges throughout the day, interspersing them with flights of arrows, and annihilating considerable numbers of Englishmen whom he drew from their positions by feigning retreat twice. The defense, hard-pressed, depleted, and tiring, was worn down and slowly outnumbered. Harold’s brothers, Gyrth and Leofwine, fell, and, according to the Bayeux Tapestry , Harold himself was killed late in the afternoon when he was struck in the eye by an arrow. The leaderless English fought on until dusk, then broke; a last rally in the gloom caused the Normans further casualties and endangered William himself. As darkness fell, the English scattered, leaving William the winner of one of the most daring gambles in history. After the battle his army moved to isolate London, where William I was crowned king on December 25.

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Why did William win at Hastings? Suitable for AQA 8145 Normans and KS3

Why did William win at Hastings? Suitable for AQA 8145 Normans and KS3

Subject: History

Age range: 11-14

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

New Focus Education

Last updated

28 August 2019

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Lesson exploring the factors that enabled William to win the battle of Hastings. True or false starter recaps the key points of the battle and claimants, whilst the video explores some of the reasons for William’s successes. The card sort categorisation allows thematic understanding of why William won building to an explanation of the significance of different factors. A voting plenary allows assessment of the understanding of the factors. Optional essay plan homework assessment included.

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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

Britain before the Normans

Lessons exploring Britain pre-1066 and how the Normans gained power in the Battle of Hastings. Lessons include how Britain was ruled before 1066, the influence of the Godwin family; who the Normans were, Stamford Bridge and the Battle of Hastings. Lessons include AQA 8145 skills and question styles.

How did the Normans take and keep control of England?

An 18 lesson series exploring how the Normans gained and maintained power in England. The bundle covers how England was ruled before 1066 and who the Normans were, leading to an exploration of the claimants to the throne and the events and outcome of the Battle of Hastings. It also includes a murder mystery of the death of Harold Godwinson, leading to an exploration of how William gained power. The lessons then explore how land, law and order, castles, villages and religion was used to keep control over England. The bundle includes fully resourced lessons with a variety of differentiated activities and assessments built in to the lessons.

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Extended Writing in History (Part 1)

Christine Counsell gave out an essay written by a pupil she taught in a year 7 class. She asked the group to read the essay and then discuss it in pairs. The questions to be discussed were:

1. What is good about this piece of writing?

2. What is challenging about it?

Why did the Normans Win the Battle of Hastings?

‘The Battle of Hastings took place in 1066 when Edward the Confessor died, leaving no heir. Harold Godwinson took his place, but he had two rivals, Harald Hadraada, the King of Norway, and William, Duke of Normandy. William eventually won, and this piece of writing explores the reasons why.

William was a very determined and ambitious leader. He claimed that Harold had promised to help him to become king, and so, when Harold claimed the throne, he did all he could to conquer England. He left Normandy undefended, and took 3000 ships with horses and soldiers across the English channel. He must have been very determined to do this, as the channel was very dangerous. His bravery is shown again during the battle, when he took off his helmet and said to his soldiers,

" Look at me well. I am still alive and, by the grace of God, I shall yet prove victor "

William also had a strong army, and a good strategy. For example, he put the archers in the front, then infantry, and behind them the men on horse-back. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle says, " All the English were on foot. The Normans had foot-soldiers, archers and cavalry with horses " This would have been a great advantage. He also pretended to retreat, and then the English broke the shield wall, so when the Normans turned back, the English were not very well protected. William chose a good time to invade, before Harold had established his position as king.

Harold's bad luck also helped William to win. Harold Godwinson was fighting Harald Hadraada at Stamford Bridge when William invaded in the south. Harold had to march 300km, having lost many of his best men in the previous battle. If the wind had not changed just then, Harold would have had more men, and he would have had more time to set his army up. There is a picture in the Bayeux Tapestry of Harold being killed with an arrow through his eye. When he died, the English were frightened, and deserted.

William won the battle for many reasons. It was a mixture of good leadership, planning and luck. If the wind hadn't changed, or if Harald Hadraada hadn't invaded, I think that Harold could have won, and England would be a different place.'

During the discussion it was noted that the essay was tightly written; everything was relevant to the question; it was not a ‘telling of the story', nor was it a chronological tract. The child knew that analytical writing required a thematic not a narrative or a chronological framework. To support her case, the child had marshalled evidential information (factual information originally drawn from sources contemporary with 1066); and she had made use of appropriate language. Like good historical writing, the child's essay crossed several literary genres or text types, e.g. analytical, persuasive, discursive. Christine stressed the importance of pupils' understanding the contextual knowledge of events before they attempted essay writing.

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She said that pupils find it difficult to move their thoughts from the concrete to the abstract, that is from a mass of historical detail to a more general, abstract idea. However, this process can be explicitly taught. As a young teacher, Christine had chanted a mantra to her classes that: "In essay writing,, the first sentence of each paragraph should indicate the role of that paragraph within the overall argument". This mantra was readily understood by only a minority of pupils. In order for all pupils to understand the process she developed the concept of ‘Big Points and Little Points'. The first sentence in a paragraph becomes the topic starter or the ‘Big Point'. The rest of the paragraph is made up of ‘Little Points', the details which support the big point. The child who can see that the opening sentences of paragraphs are working on a different level of generality than the rest of the paragraph, is a child who is capable of academic analysis. Pupils can test the opening sentences of each paragraph in their essays by asking: ‘Does it answer the question?':

Christine Counsell gave each group a set of causation cards about the Great Fire of London in 1666, and a large sheet of paper, or Zone of Relevance, on which to put the cards. The cards were produced when she was an advisory teacher in Gloucestershire in 1991, working with Kate Thompson, a former primary history co-ordinator.

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The question card - Why Did The Fire Get Out of Control and Destroy So Much of London? - was put in the upper left-hand corner of the sheet. The first task was to arrange the cards in order of importance, with the card most relevant to answering the question placed nearest to the question. Any cards over which there was disagreement could be placed on the edge of the paper. Cards that were not relevant to the question were placed outside the Zone of Relevance:

Download Christine_resource_2 (attached below)

It is important that the teacher uses a pre-planned intervention strategy to keep the pupils on task and to ensure that their work and their thinking stays relevant to the question. The teacher should enable the pupils to ‘see the heart of the challege'. They should challenge high-flyers and quick finishers by questioning their choices and arrangements:

When the groups have placed the cards in line and have almost reached a consensus on the order of importance or relevance, the teacher intervenes by telling the class to ‘Test The Line', an activity which really challenges the brightest pupils and which provides a confidence-building scaffold for those who need one. The groups will have to ‘defend their line' against a whole class onslaught. In preparation for this, each person in the group, starting with the most important card, takes it in turn to explain why it is more important than the card which follows:

After discussion in groups, it was discovered that each group had placed the cards in a different order. Groups always place the cards in a different order, and this always gives much scope for whole class debate. As an example of how this debate could be managed, Christine Counsell asked each group in turn to explain the reasoning behind their choice of the most important factor. The class discussion becomes an invigorating mix of competition and collaboration:

Christine Counsell has observed that most children put the ‘irrelevant' Pudding Lane card high up in the Zone of Relevance because they are prone to carrying a proxy question in their head (such as When did the Fire start ? or How did the Fire of London start?). It is essential to keep the pupils focused on the question under investigation - Why did the Fire get out of control and destroy so much of London?. The class dicussion will have made the pupils aware that they need more information to write a satisfactory essay, but they need to be prepared for the information gathering stage. Get the pupils to write down a ‘shopping list' of four things they would like to find out about each of the causation cards:

A second activity using the same causation cards assists in framing the question conceptually. In the middle of the piece of paper, one person in each group draws a small box and, in it, writes ‘Great Fire' ("Tell the children to write this quickly, so they don't waste time drawing flames"). The cards are then re-arranged into short-term, middle-term and long-term causes, with short term causes placed nearest the ‘Great Fire'; long term causes furthest away and medium term causes in between. As before, each group's pattern of cards were laid out in a different way. Again, the teacher can lead a fruitful debate where groups challenge each other's reasoning and lines of argument.

Attached files:

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why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

Mr Anderson History

Year 7 history exam revision (i) the battle of hastings 1066 – causes, events & significance, the battle of hastings – http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/history/middle_ages/1066_norman_conquest/revision/5/, the rivals for the throne.

Edward the Confessor died on 5 January 1066. He had no children. Three men wanted to be king of England. Each man thought he had the best claim to the throne. The next king of England would have to win it in a war. Who do you think had the best claim to the throne?

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

  • Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, a powerful and rich English nobleman. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , Edward named Godwinson as his successor on his deathbed. The next day, the royal council, known as the Witan , met and declared Godwinson king. An English king was proclaimed by the Witan – this gives Harold Godwinson the only claim to the throne by right.
  • William, Duke of Normandy. The Norman chroniclers reported that Edward had promised his distant relative, William, the throne in 1051. William was the only blood relative of Edward, but the English throne was not hereditary anyway. Claims that Edward promised the throne were probably made up by the rival sides after the event. The Bayeux Tapestry, which was made after the Conquest, shows Godwinson swearing an oath of support to William in a visit to Normandy in 1064. William was supported by the Pope.
  • Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, a Viking warrior. Hardrada based his claim on the fact that his ancestor, King Cnut, had once ruled England (1016‒1035). He was helped by Godwinson’s brother, Tostig.

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

William’s army had been ready since August, but strong winds stopped him sailing until late September. There have been many accounts of the Battle of Hastings. It is difficult to be sure of what happened, but there are some good guesses. In the end William won, but can you think of any reasons why?

  • William gathered an invasion fleet of 700 ships and a large army.
  • William landed at Pevensey on 29 September, built a castle and raided the surrounding area.
  • Harold II marched quickly south from Stamford Bridge. He left many of his footsoldiers behind and exhausted the others.
  • The two sides met at Senlac Hill, near Hastings.
  • Harold II’s army were at the top of Senlac Hill. They formed a shield wall to protect themselves. The Norman knights could not charge uphill.
  • Some of the Norman soldiers began to flee because they thought William had been killed. William took off his helmet to show them he was still alive.
  • The Normans pretended to run away, then turned and cut down the Saxons when the inexperienced fyrd chased them.
  • William had a well-equipped army. He had knights on horseback and archers with crossbows. Harold II had a traditional Saxon army – his housecarls fought on foot with axes, the fyrd were just farmers with any weapons they could get.
  • William used archers to break up the Saxon shield wall.
  • The housecarls formed a ring round their king.
  • Harold was killed. It is impossible to know how Harold II died. Most people believe that he was killed by an arrow in the eye. This theory is based on a scene in the Bayeux Tapestry. The tapestry has the words ‘Harold is killed’ next to a man with an arrow in his eye, but it is impossible to know which soldier is Harold II because all the Saxon soldiers are dressed identically.

Significance

The Harrying of the North

why did william win the battle of hastings ks3 essay

Some English people rebelled against the new ruler including Hereward the Wake in East Anglia and Eadric the Wild in Shropshire.

The biggest rebellion was in the north of England in 1069. It was led by Edgar the Atheling, who had a blood-claim to the throne. He was joined by Danish and Scottish armies.

William defeated the rebellion. In the north-east of England, he ordered villages to be destroyed and people to be killed. Herds of animals and crops were burnt. Most people who survived starved to death and there were even stories of people turning to cannibalism. This is called the Harrying of the North.

Even by the standards of the time, the Harrying was seen as excessively cruel.

Consequences

The Norman Conquest changed the face of England and western Europe forever.

  • The Norman Conquest broke England’s links with Denmark and Norway, and connected the country to Normandy and Europe.
  • William got rid of all the Saxon nobles and imposed the feudal system on England.
  • The new Norman landowners built castles to defend themselves against the Saxons they had conquered. This gave them great power, and enabled them to rebel against the king.
  • William reorganised the church in England. He brought men from France to be bishops and abbots. Great cathedrals and huge monasteries were built.
  • The Normans treated women much worse than the Saxons had.
  • Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon words make up the English language we use today. For example, royal, law and pork come from Norman-French words, but king, rules and pig come from Saxon ones.
  • Tensions between the English and their new French rulers lasted for at least three centuries.

The Norman Conquest: Good or bad thing for England

Interpretations

Most historians agree that ‘the Norman Conquest’ is the most important event in the history of England. Sellar and Yeatman (1930) wrote 1066 and All That . This comedic history book joked that 1066 was the only date everybody could remember.

The debate about the Norman Conquest has always been, basically, about whether it was a ‘good thing’ or a ‘bad thing’.

Even at the time, Anglo-Saxon writers saw it as a disaster and a punishment. The Norman chroniclers , by contrast, portrayed it as a glorious victory by the great and godly Normans.

In the 1800s, the great historian EA Freeman saw Harold II as an English nationalist, fighting for our freedom. His rival JH Round portrayed the English as corrupt and out-of-date, and William as the king who brought modern, European ways to England.

Generally, popular culture has supported the Saxons. Even recently, the Channel 4 docu-drama Battle for Middle Earth (2009) portrayed the Conquest as the struggle of plucky English underdogs against the nasty Normans.

However the BBC series The Normans (2010) stressed how the Normans were great builders, brilliant warriors and tip-top administrators who changed the world.

What is your interpretation of the Norman Conquest? Who did you want to win – Harold or William – and why? Was it a ‘good thing’ or a ‘bad thing’? Why do you think Hollywood has not made a film about it?

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Battle of Hastings Timeline

Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings was the final victory in William's invasion.

Illustrative background for Timeline

  • 27 September 1066: William of Normandy sets sail with his fleet.
  • 28 September 1066: the Norman fleet lands at Pevensey.
  • 2 October 1066: Harold sets off from York after Battle of Stamford Bridge.
  • 12 October 1066: Harold leaves London to meet William's troops.
  • 14 October 1066: Battle of Hastings takes place.

Illustrative background for Overview of the battle

Overview of the battle

  • Harold Godwinson tried a surprise attack but was spotted by William’s scouts.
  • Harold Godwinson’s army held a strategic position at the top of a hill.
  • The battle lasted about nine hours, which was extraordinary for this period. The two sides were evenly matched.
  • Harold was killed at the end of the battle. William was victorious.

1 The Medieval World: 450-1450 AD

1.1 Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.1 Vikings & Anglo-Saxons

1.1.2 Reasons for Viking Invasions

1.1.3 Alfred the Great

1.1.4 England's Revival

1.1.5 Anglo-Saxon Towns

1.2 The Contest for the English Throne

1.2.1 Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.2 The Contenders

1.2.3 Battle of Stamford Bridge

1.2.4 Battle of Hastings

1.2.5 Battle of Hastings Timeline

1.2.6 End of Topic Test - Edward's Death to Hastings

1.2.7 The Feudal System

1.2.8 Castles

1.2.9 The Domesday Book

1.2.10 End of Topic Test - Feudal System & Domesday Book

1.3 Conquering the Holy Land, 10-96-1396 AD

1.3.1 Origins of the Crusades

1.3.2 Early Disputes Over the Holy Land

1.3.3 The First Crusade

1.3.4 Course of the Crusades

1.3.5 Reasons for the Crusades

1.3.6 Military Impact of the Crusades

1.3.7 Scientific Impact of the Crusades

1.3.8 Domestic Impact of the Crusades

1.3.9 Christian Interpretation of the Crusades

1.3.10 Muslim Interpretation of the Crusades

1.3.11 End of Topic Test - The Crusades

1.3.12 End of Topic Test - The Crusades 2

1.4 King John

1.4.1 King John

1.4.2 King John's Power

1.4.3 King John & the Church

1.4.4 The Battle of Bouvines

1.4.5 The Barons' Rebellion

1.4.6 End of Topic Test - King John

1.4.7 End of Topic Test - The Battle of Bouvines

1.4.8 End of Topic Test - The BArons' Rebellion

1.5 The Magna Carta & Parliament

1.5.1 The Magna Carta

1.5.2 Lasting Impact of the Magna Carta

1.5.3 The Magna Carta & the Monarchy

1.5.4 The Magna Carta & Democracy

1.5.5 Contemporary Interpretations of King John

1.5.6 Later Interpretations of King John

1.5.7 Modern Interpretations of King John

1.5.8 End of Topic Test - The Magna Carta

1.5.9 End of Topic Test - Lasting Impact of Magna Carta

1.5.10 End of Topic Test - Interpretations of King John

1.6 The Black Death

1.6.1 The Black Death

1.6.2 The Impact of the Black Death

2 Worldviews

2.1 Time & History

2.1.1 Measuring Time

2.2 The Christian World

2.2.1 Constantinople & the World in 1000

2.2.2 Who was St Foy?

2.2.3 The Significance of St Foy

2.3 The Muslim World

2.3.1 Location & Building of Baghdad

2.3.2 House of Wisdom

2.3.3 Development of Knowledge

2.3.4 Madrasas

2.3.5 Translating Knowledge & Key Scholars

2.3.6 Science & Medicine

2.3.7 What does Medieval Baghdad Reveal?

3 The Empire of Mali

3.1 Geography

3.1.1 Geography of the Mali Empire

3.1.2 Medieval West Africa

3.1.3 Foundation of the Malian Empire

3.1.4 Sunjata Keita

3.1.5 Cities of the Mali Empire

3.2 Key Figures

3.2.1 Mansa Musa

3.3 The Hajj to Mecca

3.3.1 The Hajj to Mecca

3.3.2 The Impact of the Hajj

3.3.3 The Impact in Mali

4 The Renaissance & Reformations, 1500-1598 AD

4.1 The Renaissance

4.1.1 Birth of the Renaissance

4.1.2 Renaissance Ideas

4.1.3 Renaissance Art

4.1.4 Key Renaissance Artists

4.1.5 The Renaissance in Europe

4.1.6 The Difference Between Italy & Europe

4.1.7 Key Figures in the Renaissance

4.1.8 End of Topic Test - Black Death

4.1.9 End of Topic Test - The Renaissance

4.2 The Reformation

4.2.1 The Reformation

4.2.2 Martin Luther

4.2.3 Spread of the Reformation

4.2.4 The Reformation in England

4.2.5 Impact of Henry VIII's Reformation

4.2.6 Edward VI's Reformation

4.2.7 The Act of Supremacy

4.2.8 The Break with Rome

4.2.9 Returning to Catholicism

4.2.10 Returning to Protestantism

4.3 The Counter-Reformation

4.3.1 The Counter-Reformation in Europe

4.3.2 The Impact of the Counter-Reformation

4.3.3 End of Topic Test - The Reformation

5 The British Empire, 1583-1960 AD

5.1 The British Empire

5.1.1 The British Empire

5.2 North America

5.2.1 Early Settlement

5.2.2 Jamestown, Virginia

5.2.3 The Pilgrim Fathers

5.2.4 Native Americans

5.2.5 Independence

5.3 The Caribbean

5.3.1 The Slave Trade

5.3.2 Impact of the Slave Trade

5.4.1 The East India Company

5.4.2 Expansion of the East India Company

5.4.3 Bengal

5.4.4 Significance of India

5.5 Australia

5.5.1 A Penal Colony

5.5.2 The Native Population

5.6.1 Cape Colony

5.6.2 Egypt

5.6.3 West Africa

5.7 The Outcomes of the British Empire

5.7.1 Impacts of the British Empire

5.7.2 The Brutality of Empire

5.7.3 The Fall of the British Empire

5.7.4 End of Topic Test - The British Empire 1

5.7.5 End of Topic Test - The British Empire 2

6 The Peasants' Revolt

6.1 Causes of the Peasants' Revolt

6.1.1 Why Did the Peasants Revolt?

6.1.2 Poll Tax

6.1.3 Black Death

6.1.4 John of Gaunt

6.1.5 Other Reasons for the Peasants' Revolt

6.1.6 The Trigger for the Peasants' Revolt

6.2 Course of the Revolt

6.2.1 Rebellion Starts in Essex & Kent

6.2.2 March to London

6.2.3 Events in London

6.2.4 Crushing the Revolt

6.2.5 End of the Revolt

6.3 Consequences of the Peasants Revolt

6.3.1 Immediate Consequences

6.3.2 Short Term Consequences

6.3.3 Long Term Consequences

6.4 Peasants' Revolt's Threat to Monarchy

6.4.1 What is Monarchic Power?

6.4.2 Was the Revolt a Threat to the King's Power?

6.4.3 Was the Revolt a Threat to the Lords?

6.4.4 Was the Revolt a Threat to the Feudal System?

7 Religion in the Middle Ages

7.1 Religion in the Middle Ages

7.1.1 How Powerful was the Church?

7.1.2 The Church

7.1.3 Where did People Worship?

7.1.4 What was the Role of the Church in Everyday Life?

7.1.5 How did the Church use the Afterlife?

7.1.6 What was the Role of Monasteries?

7.1.7 How Significant was the Church?

8 Slavery, 1619-1833 AD

8.1 Slavery

8.1.1 Beginnings of the Slave Trade

8.1.2 The Triangular Slave Trade

8.1.3 Impact of the Slave Trade on Britain

8.1.4 Slave Trade & World Impacts

8.1.5 Reasons Attitudes to the Slave Trade Changed

8.1.6 The Committee for the Abolition

8.1.7 The Abolition of Slavery: Key Events

8.1.8 Interpretations of the Slave Trade

8.1.9 Interpretations of Abolition

8.1.10 End of Topic Test - Slavery

9 The English Civil War, 1642-1660

9.1 Charles I

9.1.1 Charles I

9.1.2 Charles I & Parliament

9.1.3 Charles I's 'Eleven Years' Tyranny'

9.1.4 Charles I Calls Parliament

9.2 Why Did the Civil War Break Out?

9.2.1 Political

9.2.2 Religious

9.2.3 Catholic Plots

9.2.4 Economic

9.3 The Civil War

9.3.1 Sides in the Civil War

9.3.2 Course of the Civil War

9.3.3 Cromwell and the Civil War

9.3.4 Outcome of the Civil War

9.4 The Commonwealth

9.4.1 The Commonwealth

9.4.2 The Protectorate

9.4.3 Politics of the People

9.4.4 The Restoration of the Monarchy

9.5 Interpretations

9.5.1 Traditional Interpretation of the Civil War

9.5.2 Marxist & Revisionist Interpretations

9.5.3 End of Topic Test - The Civil War

10 The Industrial Revolution, 1750-1840

10.1 The Industrial Revolution

10.1.1 Life in Britain 1750

10.1.2 New Inventions

10.1.3 What was the Significance of these Inventions?

10.1.4 The Factory System

10.1.5 Factory Life

10.1.6 Coal

10.1.7 Steam Trains

10.1.8 Canals

10.1.9 Towns & Cities

10.1.10 Living Conditions in Towns & Cities

11 US Independence, 1775-1783

11.1 US Independence

11.1.1 Conquering America

11.1.2 Fighting France

11.1.3 Causes of the War of Independence

11.1.4 Causes of the War of Independence 2

11.1.5 The American War of Independence

11.1.6 Outcome of the War

11.1.7 End of Topic Test - US Independence

12 The French Revolution, 1789-1815

12.1 The Revolution

12.1.1 The Ancien Regime

12.1.2 The Estates-General

12.1.3 The Storming of the Bastille

12.1.4 Political Reform

12.1.5 The Fall of the King

12.1.6 The Terror

12.2 The Restoration of Order

12.2.1 Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?

12.2.2 Napoleon’s Rise to Power

12.2.3 Napoleon in Power

12.2.4 Military Success

12.2.5 The Fall of Napoleon

13 The British Empire, 1857–1930

13.1 The British Empire

13.1.1 Empires over Time

13.1.2 Expansion into Africa

13.1.3 Motives for Expansion into Africa

13.1.4 History of Egypt

13.1.5 The British Empire & India

13.1.6 The Bengal Famine, Indian Mutiny & Indian Economy

13.1.7 International Relations with other Powers

13.1.8 Scramble for Africa

13.1.9 The Berlin Conference & Assessment

13.1.10 Native Policy in Colonies

13.1.11 Relations & Business with Iran

13.1.12 Iran After WW2

13.1.13 Impact of WW1

13.1.14 Indian & African Support for the British in WW1

13.1.15 Palestine & the Middle East

13.1.16 Britain & its African & Middle Eastern Colonies

14 Suffrage

14.1 Suffrage

14.1.1 The 1832 Great Reform Act

14.1.2 Women & Work in the 19th Century

14.1.3 Women’s Education in the 19th Century

14.1.4 The Rise of Revolutionaries

14.2 The Campaign for Women’s Suffrage

14.2.1 The Suffragists (NUWSS)

14.2.2 The Suffragettes (WSPU)

14.2.3 The Escalation of the Suffragettes (WSPU)

14.2.4 The Effect of WW1 on the Suffragettes

14.3 Women’s Enfranchisement

14.3.1 Women’s Enfranchisement

14.3.2 Political Representation

15 World War 1, 1914-1918

15.1 Causes of WW1

15.1.1 A United Germany

15.1.2 German Foreign Policy

15.1.3 The Triple Alliance

15.1.4 The 'Entente'

15.1.5 Impact of the Alliances on International Relations

15.1.6 German Rearmament

15.1.7 British Rearmament

15.2 Outbreak & Early War

15.2.1 Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

15.2.2 The July Crisis

15.2.3 The Schlieffen Plan

15.2.4 Failure of the Schlieffen Plan

15.2.5 The Crisis in the Balkans (1908-1909)

15.2.6 The Crisis in the Balkans (1908-1909) - Climax

15.2.7 The Balkan Wars (1912-13)

15.2.8 Summary of the Lead Up to War

15.3 The War of Attrition

15.3.1 Stalemate

15.3.2 Trench Warfare

15.3.3 Battle of Verdun

15.3.4 Battle of the Somme

15.3.5 Consequences of the Battle of the Somme

15.3.6 Battle of Passchendaele

15.3.7 New Weapons

15.3.8 The War at Sea

15.3.9 U-Boats

15.3.10 The War in the Air

15.4 Forgotten Armies of WWI

15.4.1 Forgotten Armies of WWI

15.4.2 The Story of Ganga Singh

15.4.3 The Story of Algerian Troops

15.4.4 The Story of Mike Mountain Horse

15.4.5 The Story of Chinese Labourers

15.5 The End of the War

15.5.1 Reasons for the Entry of the USA

15.5.2 The Impact of US Entry on the War

15.5.3 The German Spring Offensive

15.5.4 The Allied Advance

15.5.5 The Final Blockade

15.5.6 The Armistice

16 The Inter-War Years, 1919-1939

16.1 Increasing Support for Fascists

16.1.1 The Wall Street Crash

16.1.2 The Great Depression

16.2 Control of People in Totalitarian States

16.2.1 The German Police State

16.2.2 The Gestapo & SS

16.2.3 The Success of Repression

16.2.4 The USSR Police State

16.2.5 Employment in Germany

16.2.6 Economic Policies in Germany

16.2.7 Nazi Economic Policy - Costs & Benefits

16.2.8 Economic Policies in USSR

16.2.9 The Jews & Anti-Semitism

16.2.10 The Persecution of the Jews - The Holocaust

16.2.11 Cult of Personality in the USSR

16.3 The Rise of Dictators

16.3.1 The Rise of Mussolini

16.3.2 Mussolini in Power

16.3.3 The Rise of Hitler

16.3.4 Hitler in Power

16.3.5 The Buildup to WW2

16.3.6 The Rise of Stalin

16.3.7 Stalin in Power

16.4 The League of Nations

16.4.1 Structure of the League of Nations

16.4.2 Successes of the League of Nations

16.4.3 Failures of the League of Nations

17 World War 2, 1939-1945

17.1 World War 2

17.1.1 Long Term Factors of WW2

17.1.2 Hitler & the Nazis

17.1.3 Appeasement

17.1.4 The Phoney War

17.1.5 The Blitzkrieg

17.1.6 The Battle of Britain

17.1.7 German Invasion of the USSR

17.1.8 US Entrance into WW2

17.1.9 Allied Victory

17.1.10 Churchill

17.1.11 Anti-Semitism

17.1.12 The Holocaust

17.1.13 Outcome of WW2

17.1.14 Interpretations of the Causes of WW2

17.1.15 Interpretation of US Entrance

17.1.16 Interpretation of USSR Entrance

18 The Cold War, 1947-1962

18.1 The Cold War

18.1.1 Introduction to Key Terms of the Cold War

18.1.2 Ideological Differences Between the Superpowers

18.1.3 The Yalta & Potsdam Conferences - 1945 AD

18.1.4 Satellite States

18.1.5 The Atomic Bomb

18.1.6 NATO

18.1.7 Containment

18.1.8 The Marshall Plan

18.1.9 The Berlin Crisis

18.1.10 The Berlin Airlift

18.1.11 The Refugee Problem in Berlin

18.1.12 The Berlin Wall

18.1.13 The Arms Race

18.1.14 The Space Race

18.1.15 Relations with Cuba

18.1.16 The Cuban Missile Crisis

18.1.17 Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis

19 Civil Rights in the USA, 1954-1975

19.1 Segregation in the USA

19.1.1 Segregation & Discrimination

19.1.2 Voting

19.1.3 Brown v. Topeka

19.1.4 Little Rock High School

19.1.5 Rosa Parks

19.1.6 Martin Luther King Jr.

19.1.7 Opposition to the Civil Rights Movement

19.1.8 The Murder of Emmett Till

19.1.9 The James Meredith Case

19.1.10 Peaceful Protests in the 1960s

19.1.11 Freedom Summer & Mississippi Murders

19.1.12 Civil & Voting Rights Acts

19.1.13 Presidents Kennedy & Johnson

19.1.14 The Riots of 1965–67

19.1.15 The Kerner Report

19.1.16 Martin Luther King's Campaign

19.1.17 Assassination of Martin Luther King

19.1.18 Consequences of Assassination of MLK

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End of Topic Test - Edward's Death to Hastings

COMMENTS

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    Key learning points. William of Normandy made thorough preparations for the Battle of Hastings. William of Normandy defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. The Bayeux Tapestry is an important source for the study of the Battle of Hastings. Historians have to use the Bayeux Tapestry carefully when establishing what happened during ...

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    This complete lesson includes tasks and cards to help students create a more sophisticated account of why William won the Battle of Hastings.

  13. Battle of Hastings

    Battle of Hastings, battle on October 14, 1066, that ended in the defeat of Harold II of England by William, duke of Normandy, and established the Normans as the rulers of England. Learn more about the background and details of the Battle of Hastings in this article.

  14. The Battle of Hastings

    On the 14th of October 1066, Duke William of Normandy defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. His win could be summed up by the fact that William was a better leader. Other factors that contributed to William's victory include: William was better prepared, the English army was severely weakened as Harold had just fought off an ...

  15. Why did William win at Hastings? Suitable for AQA 8145 Normans and KS3

    Suitable for AQA 8145 Normans and KS3. Lesson exploring the factors that enabled William to win the battle of Hastings. True or false starter recaps the key points of the battle and claimants, whilst the video explores some of the reasons for William's successes. The card sort categorisation allows thematic understanding of why William won ...

  16. Extended Writing in History (Part 1)

    Why did the Normans Win the Battle of Hastings? 'The Battle of Hastings took place in 1066 when Edward the Confessor died, leaving no heir. Harold Godwinson took his place, but he had two rivals, Harald Hadraada, the King of Norway, and William, Duke of Normandy. William eventually won, and this piece of writing explores the reasons why.

  17. DOC Year 7 Assessment 1

    Year 9 Ancient Middle East Assessment - "The Assyrian Kings were the most successful of the Ancient Middle Eastern dynasties". How far do you agree with this statement? Essay Guide Sheet Introduction The Assyrian kings were one of 4 main dynasties during the period 2000-500s BCE, the other main dynasties were….

  18. Essay on Why William Won the Battle of Hastings

    The Battle of Hastings in 1066 saw Harold the king of England defeated by William, Duke of Normandy. It was a great victory for William, he became King of England and was called 'William the Conqueror.'. There were many reasons for William's victory such as religious support, a well-prepared army, weather, more effective weapons and most ...

  19. Year 7 History exam revision (i) The Battle of Hastings 1066

    William's army had been ready since August, but strong winds stopped him sailing until late September. There have been many accounts of the Battle of Hastings. It is difficult to be sure of what happened, but there are some good guesses. In the end William won, but can you think of any reasons why?

  20. PDF Why did William win the Battle of Hastings?

    Task - PINS Assessment You are now going to write an essay on Why did William with the Battle of Hastings. You need to complete the essay sheet in DETAIL using your work from last lesson Make sure you explain each reason in DETAIL. Say as much as you can about it You also need to fill in the last paragraph explaining which reason you think is the most important and why.

  21. Battle of Hastings Timeline

    Timeline. 27 September 1066: William of Normandy sets sail with his fleet. 28 September 1066: the Norman fleet lands at Pevensey. 2 October 1066: Harold sets off from York after Battle of Stamford Bridge. 12 October 1066: Harold leaves London to meet William's troops. 14 October 1066: Battle of Hastings takes place.

  22. PDF PowerPoint Presentation

    Describe two features of the Battle of Gate Fulford. Learning Objectives -Describe the tactics used by William and Harold in the Battle of Hastings. When was the Battle of Hastings? 14th October 1066 Who won the Battle of Hastings? William Name the main soldiers of each side in the Battle of Hastings. William: knights, cavalry, infantry, foot ...

  23. Why Did William Win the Battle of Hastings

    Explain to your students why William won the Battle of Hastings with this brilliant print out providing an account of the 1066 battle. A great KS2 resource.