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| Battle of Hastings 1066AD - R - The Battle |
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| Timeline of the Battle |
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| The Battle of Hastings 1066AD |
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| My Introduction ▲ |
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Many years ago I used to be an Analytical Chemist, and over time I became a computer systems engineer and programmer. So not very interesting so far, it just shows I like logic. Then I retired and because I live in Battle in Sussex I joined Battle Museum as a volunteer, where there is an artifact, an axe head that dates to the Battle of Hastings period. So I started to investigate the Battle, and find out what evidence we have for the Battle being here.
I also play wargames, and wondered why the Saxons had a mythical defensive position called a 'Shield Wall', which provides additional defence over other troops, and is always evident in the wargames rules for the period.
So looking at the troops that were at Hastings, it seems that the majority of the Norman troops were either knights with horses and their retainers or were mercenaries, so mostly fairly heavily armed. They also had the 'new fangled' crossbows from the Southern Part of Italy that used to be part of Byzantium, but was taken over by Robert Guiscard a Norman in about 1042AD.
The Saxons on the other hand had the Huscarls, the mercenary retainers of the King and Earls, of which its believed there were about one thousand again very heavily armed and shielded. The remainder of the troops were the Fyrd (actually spelt Fyrð and pronounced fyrth) was the local militia from the Saxon shires in which all freemen had to serve when requested. The Thanes in charge of the troops were probably on horseback and had swords, shields and helmets, the remained of the Fyrð were probably armed with spears, possibly shields and maybe leather armour.
So we have a relatively unprotected Saxon force fighting a much more heavily armed and armoured mobile Norman force, hence we need this magical 'Shield Wall' to defend the Saxon Fyrd or they will be massacred very quickly.
Or do we ?? - may I suggest you read the following pages before continuing this page.
Battle of Hastings 1066AD - Observations - Saxon Shield Wall - did it really exist?
and
Battle of Hastings 1066AD Observations - Evidence for the Malfosse
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Norman Knights attacking the Saxon Shield Wall, closest I could get to my concept using ChatGPT
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| Timeline of the Battle ▲ |
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The following is my timeline for the Battle of Hastings 1066AD
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| Prior to the Battle ▲ |
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- Saxon farmers (greater Fyrd) create a wattle fence across the battlefield and round both sides of the Saxon lines.
- Saxon farmers (greater Fyrd) now dig a ditch about 1.5 metres from the wattle and throw the soil back against the wattle hence creating a ditch and soil embankment that the Saxons can hide behind, shields are incorporated into the top of the wattle to provide further defense.
- Saxon farmers (greater Fyrd) now cut stakes and plant them in the ditch to provide extra defense especially against horsemen.
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| Phase I – Initial Deployment (Morning) ▲ |
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- English shield wall forms atop a Hill (possibly called Senlac), hidden behind the wattle fence and soil embankment in front of a dug out ditch (possibly called the Malfosse).
- Housecarls and fyrd stand concealed, shields ready, with spears/billhooks poised over the fence.
- Norman army assembles at the base of the slope.
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| Phase II – Opening Engagement ▲ |
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- Sometime between 09:46 and 11:19(GMT) the Normans start firing
- Norman crossbowmen fire volleys directly at the shield wall and splinter shields,
but soon run out of limited ammunition.
- Norman archers fire uphill; most arrows blocked by wattle + shields.
These are mostly low or aimed shots; ineffective against the prepared defensive line.
- Taillefer rides ahead of the Norman army, singing, performing daring feats, and killing an English scout or soldier.
Normans rally behind him and begin the initial push toward the Saxon defensive works.
- Norman infantry and cavalry advance into the ditch and wattle line.
- Saxons strike over the wattle with spears and billhooks; spiked ditch slows cavalry.
- Early Norman casualties occur in the Malfosse.
- At this point, William realizes direct assault uphill into the wattle/ditch is failing.
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| Phase III – Breton/Norman Rout ▲ |
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- William sends in the Bretons and Norman infantry
- Left wing Bretons/Norman units break formation under heavy resistance.
- Panic threatens wider Norman cohesion.
- William lifts his helmet, showing his face to rally troops. Cohesion restored.
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| Phase IV – Norman Breakthrough ▲ |
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- Renewed, coordinated Norman assaults manage to break through part of the Saxon defensive line at the wattle/ditch.
- A wedge of Norman infantry manage to get over part of the embankment — Saxons temporarily lose control of that segment.
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| Phase V – Saxon Counter-Push the Normans into the fosse ▲ |
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- Saxons quickly regroup, pushing forward from their hidden positions behind the wattle.
- Using spears, billhooks, and pushing as per a rugby scrum, the weight of numbers forces the Normans back into the ditch.
- Norman cavalry and infantry trapped in the ditch take heavy casualties (hence Malfosse) — fits Wace and Huntingdon narratives
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| Phase VI – Feigned Retreats and Attritional Fighting ▲ |
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- William orders archers to fire high, creating plunging fire over the shield wall.
Goal: harass Saxons from above while Norman infantry and cavalry regroup for futher assaults.
- Normans attempt repeated feigned retreats to draw Saxons downhill.
- Some untrained English pursue, but the wattle/ditch still protects defenders.
- Any pursuers are quickly cut down by the Norman cavalry, gradually weakening the shield wall
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| Phase VII – Final Breakthrough and Harold’s Death ▲ |
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- Shield wall finally weakened by repeated attacks and attritional losses.
- Close combat around Harold’s standard.
- Harold is killed in melee by multiple knights probably about 17:00(GMT).
- Shield wall collapses; English line begins disintegration.
- Battle over - Saxons rout
- The Normans pursue but the weight of Saxon troops breaks bridge over a major river crossing, hence isolating the pursuers from the early escapers, and Saxons on the Norman side of the river are destroyed.
- William tells his troops to stop pursuing.
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| Key Tactical Notes ▲ |
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Including the Norman breakthrough followed by the Saxon counter-push demonstrates the defensive efficacy of the wattle + soil + ditch.
- Terrain allows Saxons to recover local initiative even after partial penetration.
- Malfosse acts as both defensive obstacle and counterattack trap, creating dual phases of disruption.
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![Saxon standard bearer](javascript:launch_resize("/images/1066AD/saxon_standard_bearer_lft.png",900,1000);)
![Norman Knights attacking the Saxon Shield Wall](javascript:launch_resize("/images/1066AD/normans_attacking_lg.png"))
