The Battle of Hastings - The Afternoon
As the battle resumed around 12:30 PM, neither side had gained a clear advantage. The English continued to hold their strong defensive position atop Senlac Hill, while the Normans persisted in their attacks. However, at approximately 3:30 PM, William devised a strategy that would turn the tide of battle.
Definition: Feigned retreat - A military tactic where troops pretend to flee from the battlefield to lure the enemy out of a strong defensive position.
William's ingenious plan involved a feigned retreat by his cavalry. This tactic successfully drew the English soldiers away from their advantageous position on the hill, making them vulnerable to Norman counterattacks. The Norman knights, with their superior mobility on horseback, easily outmaneuvered and decimated the English foot soldiers who had fallen for the ruse.
Example: The effectiveness of the feigned retreat was demonstrated multiple times throughout the afternoon, gradually weakening the English shield wall as more defenders were lured down the hill.
As the English defenses weakened, William ordered his archers to concentrate their fire on the remaining defenders, including King Harold. This relentless barrage culminated in Harold's death around 6 PM, possibly from an arrow to the eye, though the exact manner of his demise remains a subject of historical debate.
Highlight: The death of King Harold marked the decisive moment in the Battle of Hastings key events 1066, effectively ending English resistance and securing Norman victory.
In the aftermath of the battle, William ordered Harold's body to be buried near the seashore, a symbolic act marking the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England. The following day, William began his march towards London, systematically securing the surrender of towns along the way. This strategic approach, combined with reinforcements from Normandy, allowed William to consolidate his control over England.
Vocabulary: Coronation - The ceremony of crowning a sovereign or their consort.
William's coronation as King of England on Christmas Day 1066 in London marked the formal beginning of Norman rule, a transformative event that would profoundly shape English society, language, and culture for centuries to come. The Battle of Hastings key events 1066 not only decided the immediate fate of the English throne but also set in motion a new era in English history under William the Conqueror's leadership.
