King Harold made careful preparations against William of Normandy's invasion.
The invasion by Hardrada and Tostig had not been expected, but the north had defences.
Different factors contributed to Harold's defeat of the Viking invasion.
Norman plundering of Wessex may have been designed to provoke Harold to battle William.
Harold was advised to spend longer preparing for the Battle of Hastings than he did.

Common misconception

The English were unprepared for William's invasion.

Harold led detailed preparations for the invasion, with those preparations delivering an army for the Battle of Hastings despite the disbanding of the southern fyrd and the previous formation of two fyrd armies to combat the earlier Viking invasion.

Keywords

Invasion - an invasion is when an army or country uses force to go into and take control of another country
Fyrd - the Anglo-Saxon fyrd was a way of calling up men from the general population into an army for a set period of time

Interspersing explanations with clips from recent documentaries about the events of 1066 really help to bring the extraordinary nature of these events to life.

Teacher tip

Content guidance

Contains conflict or violence.

Supervision

Adult supervision suggested.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Identify which of the following are tactics and which are strategies.

Correct Answer:a direct attack on the shield wall,tactic

tactic

Correct Answer:to defend until reinforcements arrive,strategy

strategy

Correct Answer:a feigned retreat,tactic

tactic

Correct Answer:to take the offensive,strategy

strategy

Q2.

Identify the weapons used by Norman knights in this scene from the Bayeux Tapestry.

battle axe

crossbow

cudgel (or club)

Correct answer: lances

Correct answer: sword

Q3.

What is the technical term for the suit of chainmail worn by Norman knights and some Norman infantry?

couch

Correct answer: hauberk

onesie

nasal

Q4.

William's army at the Battle of Hastings was divided into three: match the divisions with the troops who were positioned there.

Correct Answer:left,French allies

French allies

Correct Answer:centre,Breton allies

Breton allies

Correct Answer:right,Normans

Normans

Q5.

Where had Normans previously used feigned retreat tactics in battle?

Constantinople

Spain

Correct answer: Sicily

Wales

Q6.

Which of these points best supports the argument that the Bayeux Tapestry underplays the importance of Norman archers in the Battle of Hastings?

The Tapestry shows Harold being killed or injured by an arrow.

Few of the Norman archers are shown wearing armour.

Norman archers are shown with bows instead of crossbows.

Correct answer: Norman archers are usually in the margins of the Tapestry.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Which of these is the best definition of the fyrd?

a group of trained warriors who protected their lord in battle

a place where an army could cross a river or area of marshy land

a tax on every five hides that was used to equip one soldier for battle

Correct answer: a way of calling up men from the general population into an army for a period

Q2.

When did Harold first call up the fyrd to defend the southern coast from an expected Norman invasion?

January 1066

Correct answer: May 1066

September 1066

October 1066

Q3.

Put these events in chronological order.

1 - Harold learns William is preparing an invasion fleet.

2 - Fyrd defences are set up along the southern coast.

3 - Harold is forced to disband the southern fyrd.

4 - Hardrada invades the northeast coast.

5 - Edwin and Morcar lead the English forces in the Battle of Gate Fulford.

Q4.

Which of the following suggest that Hardrada and Tostig's invasion might have found support in the north?

Edwin and Morcar survived the Battle of Gate Fulford.

People remembered Tostig's time as earl of Northumbria.

Correct answer: The city of York struck a deal with Hardrada and Tostig.

The Vikings returned to Norway after the Battle of Stamford Bridge

Q5.

Complete the missing number: Harold and his troops made the 185-mile journey to Tadcaster in just days.

Correct Answer: four, 4, Four

Q6.

Who advised Harold to wait in London until all fyrd troops had been assembled, according to Norman sources?

Archbishop Stigand

Edwin and Morcar

Correct answer: His mother and brothers

The Witan