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Anglo-Saxon England and the Anglo-Norman Kingdom, c1053–1106

William of Normandy’s invasion

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

Recall questions on William's military experience, the shield wall at Senlac, the feigned retreats, the part played by luck, and the Bayeux Tapestry as evidence.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Name the four main claimants to the English throne in 1066.

Key term

On what date was the Battle of Hastings fought?

Key term

What tactics won the battle for William?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Name the four main claimants to the English throne in 1066.

    Model answer

    Harold Godwinson, William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada of Norway and Edgar the Atheling.

  2. 2

    On what date was the Battle of Hastings fought?

    Model answer

    14 October 1066.

  3. 3

    Where and on what day was William crowned King of England?

    Model answer

    At Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 25 December 1066.

  4. 4

    What was William's military experience before 1066?

    Model answer

    Twenty years of warfare in Normandy and its borders, surviving rebellion as a minor and winning at Val-es-Dunes and Varaville, and conquering Maine in 1063.

  5. 5

    Why was Harold's position at Hastings initially strong?

    Model answer

    The shield wall held the ridge at Senlac, forcing the Normans to attack uphill against a solid infantry line that cavalry could not break.

  6. 6

    What tactics won the battle for William?

    Model answer

    Combined archers, infantry and cavalry, and feigned retreats that drew part of the English line off the ridge and allowed it to be cut down in the open.

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