Starter quiz
- A ______ is a military tactic where soldiers stood in a long line overlapping their shields to form a wall of shields.
- 'shield wall ' ✓
- A ______ is when soldiers pretend to draw back in order to lure the enemy into a more vulnerable position.
- 'feigned retreat ' ✓
- What had prevented Duke William of Normandy and his army from invading England since the beginning of August?
- They were not yet equipped.
- Bad weather prevented his ships from sailing. ✓
- There was unrest in the Norman army.
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- Where was Harold Godwin when Duke William of Normandy and his army set sail across the English Channel?
- York ✓
- London
- Wessex
- Pevensey
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- Who was at the centre of the Norman army formation?
- knights
- archers
- infantry
- soldiers
- William, Duke of Normandy ✓
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- Starting with the earliest, sort these events into the order in which they happened.
- 1⇔Harold occupied the hilltop with a shield wall.
- 2⇔Norman archers and knights’ charges are ineffective.
- 3⇔A section of the Norman army feigned retreat.
- 4⇔The English shield wall is broken and Harold is killed.
Exit quiz
- The time at which a situation starts to change in an important way is known as a ______.
- 'turning point' ✓
- A planned way of doing something, or a specific action intended to achieve a wider strategy/plan, is known as a ______.
- tactic ✓
- Tactic ✓
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- How might a possible lack of discipline in the fyrd have contributed to William's victory?
- It may have improved their cavalry tactics.
- It may have led to a breakdown of the shield wall.
- It enhanced the accuracy of their archers.
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- What tactic requiring a high level of skill did the Norman troops use to break the English shield wall?
- a surprise attack from behind
- feigned retreat
- siege warfare
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- How did William demonstrate his patience and strategic leadership in the summer of 1066?
- He made sure his soldiers had enough to eat and drink. ✓
- He plundered the area around the port of Dives.
- He united troops from traditionally opposing French regions. ✓
- He waited long enough for Harold’s army to be sent home. ✓
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- Which of the following were strengths of the Norman army?
- They were innovators in their use of cavalry. ✓
- They had taken the high ground.
- They had a wider mix of troops: archers, foot soldiers and cavalry. ✓
- They used the feigned retreat tactic. ✓
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Worksheet
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- William was an experienced and organised military leader who held his army together in the summer of 1066.
- Harold was an experienced military leader who was weakened by fighting at Stamford Bridge.
- The English troops had a varied skill level which held an effective shield wall that eventually broke.
- The Norman troops had a mix of professional skills which used a retreat tactic to break the English line.
- Historians recognise there were multiple reasons for William's victory at Hastings.
Common misconception
Sending the fyrd defences home in September is evidence of Harold's poor decision making.
In fact, Anglo-Saxon leaders had always struggled with the 60-day limit for the fyrd. Harold had actually kept the fyrd out for twice as long as usual: evidence of his impressive influence as a leader.
Keywords
Turning point - a turning point is the time at which a situation starts to change in an important way
Logistically - the term logistically is used to describe the effective organisation of a complicated activity or event
Strategic - being strategic is doing things which help to achieve a wider plan, for example, in war or politics
Tactic - a tactic is a planned way of doing something, or a specific action intended to achieve a wider strategy/plan
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