Did Harold Godwinson have shields

Answer 1

King Harold would have used a round-topped kite shield exactly the same as his Norman opponents and those used by his own husceorls (housecarls) - his best-equipped men. The bulk of the Saxon army used their traditional round shields.

It is thought that a change in Norman Archery tactics led to Harold being wounded; in the first half of the battle the Norman archers shot directly at te Saxon shield-wall, with very little result. But later William directed his archers to shoot very high, like mortar fire, so the arrows would descend almost vertically on their targets. This would have made the shield-wall virtually useless and resulted in huge numbers of casualties on the saxon side, including Harold himself.