The Battle of Hastings

Harold took up a defensive position on a high ridge known as Senlac. The battle began with devastating volleys of stone missiles hurled into the Norman infantry by the Saxon ‘fyrd’ or irregular troops levied from the shires.

William himself led the centre of the Norman army, and it is said that he carried into battle some of the holy relics upon which Harold had sworn to cede the crown to him.

The Norman infantry made no dent in the Saxon lines, and the cavalry fared no better. But when some of the Norman horsemen turned and fled, a large group of Saxons left their position to chase them. It was a fatal mistake, as William rallied his men and routed the unprotected attackers. The Saxon lines quickly closed but they had not learnt their lesson and they repeated the same folly of chasing an apparently fleeing enemy twice more as the day wore on.

By late afternoon the Saxon lines were wavering under continued Norman attacks. It is then that the most famous arrow in English history was released by an anonymous Norman archer.

The arrow found King Harold in the eye and a final Norman onslaught killed him where he stood. The rest of the leaderless Saxons ceded Senlac ridge yard by grudging yard, but eventually they had no choice but to turn and flee. The day belonged to Duke William, soon to be dubbed, ‘the Conqueror’. The body of King Harold was eventually buried in Waltham Abbey.