→Harold's Mistakes
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== Essay Introduction == | |||
The Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked a '''crucial turning point in English history'''. The victory of William, Duke of Normandy, over Harold Godwinson of England had '''far-reaching consequences'''. This essay aims to assess the extent to which (William's skills/Harold's mistakes) contributed to his triumph in the Hastings campaign. While (William's skills/Harold's mistakes) such as... played a significant role, it is important to acknowledge that (Harold's mistakes/William's skills) and other factors also influenced the outcome of the battle. | |||
== William's Skills == | == William's Skills == | ||
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=== Preparation === | === Preparation === | ||
==== Harold fell into '''William's trap''' ==== | |||
* William ravaged land to gain Harold's attention and '''make him come to Hastings asap''' | |||
** So that Harold would have a '''tired and unprepared''' troop | |||
* Possibly the result of a '''personal desire to avenge''' the damage done to his ancestral land | |||
* Harold travelled '''350km down Ermine Street''' after the Battle of Stamford bridge | |||
** Left his troops exhausted | |||
* The decision to force an early confrontation can be seen as '''reckless''' in the extreme | |||
* Left his '''Archers and Edwin and Morcar''' at Stamford Bridge | * Left his '''Archers and Edwin and Morcar''' at Stamford Bridge | ||
==== Stopped to pray at '''Walton Abbey''' and wasted time ==== | |||
===== Allowed himself to become a '''victim of Norman propaganda''' ===== | |||
* '''Drinking and partying after defeating Tostig''' | |||
* Accoridng to the '''Bayeux Tapestry''' | |||
** During the '''1064 Campaign to Normandy''' | |||
** Harold travelled to Normandy | |||
** '''Swore an oath''' that he would support William’s claim to the English crown | |||
*** If Edward the Confessor die without an heir | |||
** When Harold enthroned himself | |||
*** William used this to justify his invasion | |||
** Harold '''allowed himself to become a victim of Norman propaganda''' | |||
** Did not defend himself against Norman allegations with Alexander II | |||
*** Damaged the morale of Harold's army and helped William recruit men | |||
=== Battle === | === Battle === | ||
==== Had to '''move south under conditions favourable to William''' due to the raiding of the surrounding area ==== | |||
* Waiting would have allowed Harold to assemble an overwhelming army | |||
** His army was '''already roughly the same size''' as William's army | |||
*** However they were '''underprepared, under strength and tired''' | |||
*** '''Untrained peasants''' were also behind '''huscarls''' in the shield war | |||
*** Not the same as William's trained force | |||
==== '''Lacked inspiration''' during the battle ==== | |||
* Stuck tactically with the '''shield wall''' | |||
* Just hoping to wait it out | |||
* eventually it broke and Harold lost the war | |||
=== However === | === However === | ||
==== It can be argued that Harold '''did not have a choice''' ==== | |||
* If he did not react fast enough '''William might have kept on ravaging land''' and the country would still fall to him | |||
* It can also be argued that it was to '''keep William trapped at Hastings''' and starve him of supplies or to try the element of surprise | |||
== Other Factors == | == Other Factors == | ||
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=== Unequal Armies === | === Unequal Armies === | ||
* Although roughly equal in size | |||
* The two armies were unequal in terms of | * The two armies were unequal in terms of | ||
** '''Type of soldier''' | ** '''Type of soldier''' | ||