Reasons For Williams Victory At The Battle Of Hastings

I agree that Williams victory at the battle of Hastings was certainly linked to the Norman army’s tacktics however there are many other factors that contributed to Williams victory at Hastings and overall victory over the Norman’s.

Perhaps one of the most crucial factors in Williams victory is the power vacuum and unusual political nature of England at the time. It was extremely rare that multiple successors emerge simultaneously. Especially ones of such magnitude with valid claims to the throne, as well they all fought violently to attempt to reach the English throne. This was central to William's victory as it allowed for the Norman’s to land unopposed in Normandy as his rivals fought hundreds of miles away exhausting their manpower. Whether

With the battle of stamford bridge being at york and the english having to march up to york from london fight a battle than march from york to hastings right after the english army was educated by the time they reached hastings they were exhausted and had to fight yet another battle.

There was also a psychological impact of the battle as Harold's victory at stamford bridge would have mentally fatigued due to the duration of the battle and the violence of it, leaving the soldiers who fought there both mentally and physically fatigued. However perhaps there could have been an element of over confidence in Harold's troops as he marched down to Hastings he gained more troops, most untrained presents who perhaps fueled by the victory of the last battle felt over confident about battle with william.

Another mistake harold made that undoubtedly lead to his defeat, was choosing to fight william head on rather than staying in the fortified city of london as two of harolds brothers pleaded him too, however with william burning down southern villages to taunt him, there was no other choice than to fight him head on this perhaps was one of his biggest

As the battle took place in early morning to day brake suggesting that tactically the armies where were quite evenly matched as the anglo saxon shield wall was more than a match for williams three dimensional army despite the infantry, arches and claveltry, all were ineffective as the shield wall was seated at the top of a hill. This suggests that even the modern army that William possessed could not penetrate the stubborn defence and terrain of his enemies.

Perhaps the biggest tactical reason for Williams victory was the formation break in the anglo saxon . shield wall, and perhaps if not for that mistake he might have lost. Whether the brake was created by a feigned reated (a favoured tactic of williams) or a genuine belief from his french menstrins that william was dead, a gap opened in the shield wall that was easily exploited by williams archers and cavalry. This was a tactical outcome that William had seemingly no control over ,meaning he did not achieve this victory by just his tactical abilities but the mistakes of his enemies.

It is however clear that both William and Harold were competent leaders shown through their ability to keep the battle going throught out the day. This makes the degradation of the shield wall an extremely vital part of the outcome of that day and the history of