battle of hastings – the outcome

At around 9.00, William’s three divisions began their slow advance up the ridge towards the Saxon line. As the thin line of archers came within range, they loosed their volleys of arrows until their supply was exhausted. This attack was ineffectual in thinning the Saxon line as hoped as firing uphill, most arrows were expended on the shield wall or sailed harmlessly overhead. This attack may have been over quicker than William had intended. There would have been few arrows to be reused as the Saxons had few archers with which to reply. Once their quivers were emptied, the Norman archers would have to wait for new supplies to be brought up from the rear.
The Saxon shield wall. The sole Saxon archer depicted on the tappestry is shown here.

As they fell to the rear, the infantry began their struggle up the slope. Coming within range, they were met by a murderous assault of spears, axes and stones tied to sticks causing numerous casualties. Due to the shallower slope they faced, the Bretons arrived at the Saxon line before the other divisions, unsupported on their flanks and closely followed by an uncoordinated attack by their cavalry. As they came against the intact shield wall, the Saxons threw themselves forward and broke the Breton attack, routing them. As they fled, the Norman center division was attacked on its now open flank forcing a disorderly retreat.

A section of the Saxon line pursued the Bretons, probably against Harold’s orders. It is likely that the less disciplined fyrdsmen did so, the Beaux tapestry showing them as unarmored. It is often said that if Harold had ordered an all out attack at this stage, he may have routed the Normans from the field entirely but this is unlikely. His only advantage was in static defense behind his shield wall. Attacking cavalry was forced to turn the unprotected flanks of their horses towards the wall in order for the riders to bring their swords to bear. This in turn opened them up to the Saxon axe men. If the slow moving infantry were caught on open by cavalry with room to maneuver, particularly on the marshy ground at the base of the ridge, they would throw away all their advantages. As it was, William was able to rally his cavalry to counter the partial Saxon advance. Forced to form a defensive cluster on a small mound at the base of the ridge, the unarmored fyrdsmen were defenseless and were quickly dispatched with no survivors.
Fyrdsmen caught at the base of the ridge defend themselves from Norman cavalry

A small break in the fighting followed as William rallied his army’s flagging morale and the dead and wounded were seen to. The Beaux Tapestry shows hauberks being removed from the dead for reuse in the next attack.
Chainmail hauberks being removed from the dead for reuse
The Saxons meanwhile, plugged up any gaps in their defenses, moved their dead and wounded to the rear and piled up any dead horses in front as an added obstacle.

The second phase of the battle, beginning around 10:30 to 11:001., was slower and much better coordinated. Again, it began with an ineffectual archery barrage. Lasting up to two hours, attack after attack was repulsed by the Saxons with the dead of both sides piling up before them causing a further obstacle to the attackers. As casualties mounted, gaps began to appear in the shield wall but were quickly filled. At around 1:00pm, the Franco-Flemish division began to falter. William and Eustace of Boulogne holding the papal banner managed to halt a rout and the flank division was reinforced with Norman knights from the center. William, having been dehorsed, removed his helmet to show his face in order to counter the rumor that he had been killed. During the battle, he had three horses cut from under him.
William showing his face and Eustace holding the Papal banner rally their troops

William of Poitiers, chronicling the battle has described William as ordering two feigned retreats to encourage the Saxons to break ranks. Given the difficulty in coordinating such a tactic without causing a wholesale rout, this is highly unlikely. It is more likely that as each attack was repulsed, William’s army broke ranks to be rallied by their leaders. A feigned retreat was the victor’s way of favorably describing the fact that their army ran away! It was only the strength and ability of their leaders who were able to rally them to counterattack any Saxons foolish to break ranks that prevented a wholesale rout. At this point, William ordered another withdrawal, covered by cavalry.

Another lull followed as William and his commanders discussed a change in tactics that might bring success. At this point, they would have been getting desperate with up to one quarter of their force either killed or wounded. After five hours of fighting, with losses mounting and the Saxon line still intact, the Norman position was looking precarious. If the next attack failed, it was likely to be the last. In a foreign land, defeat would mean almost certain death for the invaders.

Changes were also being made in the Saxon position. Due to their casualties, the line was now too thin to adequately defend the entire ridgeline. As a result, it was concentrated to the slightly higher positions to the center and east. While this allowed the Normans to attack from even ground from the west, it would still be no easy task.

Norman archers firing upwards Forming a single group of infantry interspersed with cavalry and the archers placed to the rear, they slowly approached the Saxon line for a third time. Just before contact, the archers let loose volleys of arrows angled upwards as to fall on the middle and rear ranks of the Saxon line from above. Earlier volleys had hit the shield wall or simply sailed overhead. This provided the distraction and confusion desired just as the two forces met.

This wave of assaults was the fiercest of the day, each preceded by arrows. At around 4:00pm, weaknesses began to appear in the Saxon line, which the Normans began to exploit. In a final assault on the weakened left flank, they broke through and possibly did so on the other flank, It may have been at this point that Harold’s brothers, Leofwin and Gyrth were killed, defending their brother. The Saxon line broke and became a series of isolated groups fighting for survival. As the light faded, fyrdsmen and some housecarls made off to escape while others fought to the death.

The death of Harold Tradition has it that an arrow through the eye killed Harold but this is more a misinterpretation of the Beaux Tapestry than fact.2. A group of 20 knights broke through in an attempt to kill Harold, four reaching him: Hugh of Montford, Walter Giffard, Eustace of Boulogne and Ivo, the heir to the Count of Ponthieu. Ivo was later sent home by William for mutilating Harold’s body after his death.

With the news of Harold’s death, the Saxon army disintegrated. After a day of fierce fighting, the Normans showed no mercy to the dying and wounded, slaughtering them were they lay. Those unable to escape and hide in the forests were pursued and cut down by cavalry.

One group fled towards Malhosse pursued by Eustace of Boulogne and 50 cavalry in the fading light. In near darkness and unfamiliar with the terrain, they rode straight into a steep gully and Saxon ambush. Eustace, uninjured in the initial attack, was about to order a retreat when struck by an axe between the shoulder blades, unable to see his attacker. He died shortly after being taken back to the battlefield. William himself arrived to take command of the situation and beat off the attack before returning to the battlefield. This action, however, took place too late to change the course of the battle, which had already been won.

Sunrise on the 15th was to find Senlac Ridge littered with broken and discarded weapons together with the bodies of around 2000 Normans, up to 4000 Saxons and 6-700 horses. The battle had been of a length and ferocity unheard of in medieval warfare. Normally battles were over quickly as morale and discipline failed on one side or the other. The evenness of the battle was shown by its duration, fought on a knifes edge all day.

With around 30 percent losses, William was unable to march directly on London. After withdrawing to Hastings for five days, William set about subduing the surrounding countryside. As the significance of Hastings began to be appreciated, other areas submitted to his rule without resistance. By November, he had subdued south eastern England and was eventually crowned king on Christmas Day, 1066.