Starter quiz
- Which word describes a new way of doing something, based on new ideas or developments?
- 'innovation' ✓
- What types of soldiers did the Norman infantry contain?
- foot soldiers ✓
- knighs
- mercenaries
- archers ✓
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- Why did Norman infantry have rounded or conical shaped helmets?
- to match the shape of their shields
- to deflect blows ✓
- the cone was a symbol of Normandy
- to use as a weapon
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- What is the name of a weapon used by the Normans that used bolts to punch through chainmail and shields?
- 'Crossbow' ✓
- Which of these best describes the role of the Norman archers in the Battle of Hastings?
- throw spears first, then fight the enemy hand to hand
- advance towards the enemy at William’s command
- weaken the enemy as soon as they were in range ✓
- hold the shield wall
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- Which one of these held the Norman knight up, so he could fight from the saddle?
- gonfanon
- destriers
- pommels ✓
- stirrups
- spurs
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Exit quiz
- Why can't historians say for certain that the Normans used a feigned retreat tactic at the Battle of Hastings?
- There are no sources about the Battle of Hastings.
- The Normans didn't want anyone to know for sure so they could reuse the tactic.
- The best sources historians have for the battle say different things. ✓
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- Which of the following were weapons used by the Normans at the Battle of Hastings?
- spears ✓
- swords ✓
- crossbows ✓
- shields
- chainmail armour
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- Match the keyword to the correct definition.
- strategy⇔a plan of the actions that are needed in order to achieve an aim ✓
- tactic⇔an action that helps to achieve something specific ✓
- feigned retreat⇔pretending to retreat and luring the enemy into a vulnerable position ✓
- Match the armour terms to their correct definitions.
- boss⇔metal covering at the centre of a shield ✓
- hauberk⇔a coat of chainmail ✓
- nasal⇔a strip of metal on a helmet to protect the face ✓
- coif⇔a chainmail cap or hood ✓
- Which tactic did Harold’s army need to use to defend until reinforcements arrived?
- 'shield wall' ✓
- Put the Norman tactics in order of how they were used in the Battle of Hastings, starting with the earliest.
- 1⇔direct attack by archers, foot soldiers and cavalry on the shield wall
- 2⇔Norman knights' feigned retreat
- 3⇔cavalry surrounded and killed Anglo-Saxons who ran after the fleeing Normans
- 4⇔archers further weakened the shield wall
- 5⇔knights sent to cut down scattered groups of Anglo-Saxons
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Normans used a range of weapons at the Battle of Hastings.
- Norman armour was effective but did have disadvantages.
- William used different tactics in the battle until he found ones that worked.
- One of the Norman tactics may have been a feigned retreat.
Common misconception
We know for sure that William used a feigned retreat tactic at the Battle of Hastings.
In fact, the best sources we have for the battle say different things, for example, that a real retreat gave William the idea of using feigned retreats, or that the 'real' retreat was planned all along.
Keywords
Strategy - a strategy is a plan of the actions that are needed in order to achieve an aim
Tactic - a tactic is an action that helps to achieve something specific
Feigned retreat - a feigned retreat is pretending to retreat in order to lure the enemy into a more vulnerable position
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