It is thought King Harold had an army that, at the least in numbers, matched the army fielded by William, Duke of Normandy. Research indicates Williams army might have consisted of 3000 calvary, 1000 archers and the rest infantry. Harold had no cavalry, fewer archers thus his army was mostly infantry.
Harold had been waiting on the south English coast for William to make a move from Normandy, then amassing his multi-national army. William waited until Harold's army had almost depleted their food reserves, etc. But a huge Norwegian Viking army of '300 ships' (maybe 12-18,000 men?)under the fearsome King Harald Hardrada('hard ruler') invaded northern England, with Tostig(Harold's own brother, still irate that his brother didn't help him keep his earldom a year earlier), advanced to near York and routed a Saxon army in battle, at ''Fulford Gate''(20th Sept 1066) Harold agonised, but decided to speed-ride north 190miles to beat the Norse, then dash back hopefully in time to defend the realm against William, who might invade anytime. This Harold did- he surprised the Norsemen and in a bloody and costly victory at ''Stamford Bridge''(25th Sept), the English slaughtered the Norsemen, Hardrada & Tostig. Harold dashed back south again, having just got word of the Norman's landing on the south coast(29th Sept), and made for London to arrange for battle. His messengers had already ridden ahead to the western and southern shires to raise another fyrd(farmer/soldiers owing 2mnths annual war service). Crucially, he had had to leave his archers and many infantrymen- who were marching the hard slog on foot, and would be weary/late for battle. On the 13th October, Harold uncharacteristically ignored the wise advice of his brother Gyrth(who said he instead would lead the half-prepared army, then Harold could lead a second)ordered every available man to follow him, and again marched, this time the 58m south to Senlac hill- originally intending to meet the fyrdsmen there(still coming in from the north/shires) before a possible night attack on the Normans then in their wooden stockade at Hastings harbour, 7m south. But William's scouts found the gathering English there, and William marched north quickly. Now the two armies would fight here(Senlac, wrongly called the battle of Hastings), the Normans/French/Bretons on the low, marshy ground and the English/some Danes tightly packed atop the narrow, steep ridge above, half-mile wide. Harold's men were in a great position, guarded on their flanks by marshes/woods, and a steep incline ahead- but they were exhausted after their recent marches and previous battle. The English commanded by Harold II were positioned at the top of the hill called Senlac 8 miles northwest from Hastings. Nowadays there's a village named Battle. There, you can see the slope of the hill and the battlefield. There are direct trains from London every hour. At the very place William ordered the building of an abbey to remember this crucial battle.
It is thought King Harold had an army that, at the least in numbers, matched the army fielded by William, Duke of Normandy. Research indicates Williams army might have consisted of 3000 calvary, 1000 archers and the rest infantry. Harold had no cavalry, fewer archers thus his army was mostly infantry.
Conventional wisdom declares that the arrow went into his eye. This is because on the Bayeux tapestry, where it says that King Harold was killed, it shows one of the warriors being killed with an arrow in his eye. This warrior seems to be in a more prominent position than the others. However a more modern theory is that he was surrounded by Norman knights and repeatedly slashed and hacked at until he died. This is also shown on the Bayeux tapestry.
In a place called Pevensey, at the top of a hill called Senlac.
9 days prior king Harold was fighting off invaders king harald harada at the "battle of stamford bridge" before he heard news that duke William of Normandy had landed at pevensy
21000 i think
Harald Hardrada wasn't in the battle of Hastings. He was in the battle of Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge, he was defeated at Stamford Bridge by Harold Godwinsson; Harald Hardrada was hit in the neck with an arrow and then attacked by 3 English troops. Harold Godwinnson was defeated at the Battle of Hastings by possibly an arrow to the eye, or being hacked down by Norman Cavalry.
According to historical accounts, it is believed that King Harold II of England, also known as Harold Godwinson, was struck in the eye with an arrow during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This fatal injury allegedly led to his death and the victory of William the Conqueror. However, the specifics and exact details of Harold's death remain contested among historians.
Duke William the Second of Normandy defeated King Harold the Second of Wessex at the Battle of Hastings. The battle occurred in October 1066 and Harold was killed.
A Norman archer shot an arrow up into the sky and as Harold was running, he looked up and the arrow got him in the eye. That is how!!
At the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, England on 25 September 1066.
one of the oppositions archers fired an arrow at the enemy and hit Harold in the eye
He was lucky because Harold had not trained his men properly and someone hit him in the eye with an arrow.
Harald Hardrada wasn't in the battle of Hastings. He was in the battle of Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge, he was defeated at Stamford Bridge by Harold Godwinsson; Harald Hardrada was hit in the neck with an arrow and then attacked by 3 English troops. Harold Godwinnson was defeated at the Battle of Hastings by possibly an arrow to the eye, or being hacked down by Norman Cavalry.
According to historical accounts, it is believed that King Harold II of England, also known as Harold Godwinson, was struck in the eye with an arrow during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This fatal injury allegedly led to his death and the victory of William the Conqueror. However, the specifics and exact details of Harold's death remain contested among historians.
Harold Godwineson
Duke William the Second of Normandy defeated King Harold the Second of Wessex at the Battle of Hastings. The battle occurred in October 1066 and Harold was killed.
Because he didn't get hit by any arrows.
King Harold is supposed to have been killed by an arrow which hit his eye and entered his brain.
Yes, Harold was killed at Hastings. Allegedly, he was killed when a stray arrow hit him in the eye. He may have been captured and executed on the spot, because William was after the English Crown, and would not have wanted any other claimant live. No, not strictly accurate. Hastings (on the south coast of England) was the nearest town. The battle itself was fought about 7 miles away inland - an abbey was then built there, and the village that was then created was called Battle. The ruins of the abbey - and the village of Battle is still there, and part of the battlefield. So, the Battle of Hastings was actually killed at Battle! Harold was supposedly slain at the top of the hill, near where the high altar of the abbey was placed. There is a commemorative stone there now.
A Norman archer shot an arrow up into the sky and as Harold was running, he looked up and the arrow got him in the eye. That is how!!
There are differing stories about the Battle of Hastings. One story is that when the English line began to fail and breaks opened up in the wall of shields the English protected themselves with, William and some of his knights broke through and attacked and killed King Harold II. We cannot know whether this story is true, and indeed another story is that Harold died because he was hit by an arrow in his eye. I have not found any reference saying whether William was wounded. That being the case, I assume he was not.
At the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire, England on 25 September 1066.