The Battle of Hastings
1066 has
already been a tumultuous year in England. On January 5, Edward the Confessor
died, leaving the English throne to Harold Gowinson. William of Normandy, also
known as William the Bastard, claimed that he had been designated as Edward’s
successor and that Harold had once promised him that he, Harold, disclaimed any
claim on the throne, leaving it instead to William. In addition, Harold
Hardrada asserted a claim to the English throne.
Sometime
in September, Harold Hardrada had landed his troops in the north of England.
After fast marching his troops north, the invading army of Harold Gowinson met
the army of Harold Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge (See my posting of
September 25). The invading army was defeated. Learning of William’s invasion
in the south, Harold had to turn his army around and fast march it south in
order to respond to this new threat. That forced march was some 240 miles each
way.
The Battle
of Hastings was largely a stalemate with the trend in favor of the English
defenders when, perhaps apocryphally, Harold was struck in the eye with an
arrow. Regardless, it is clear that Harold fell, that the battle went to
William, and that by Christmas William was accepting the homage of various
English nobles.
The famous
arrow in the eye may be a later invention. It is not mentioned in the earliest
accounts of the battle. In addition, in medieval iconography, an arrow in the
eye is the punishment afforded a perjurer. Having gone against his oath to
leave the throne to William, some might have felt it poetic justice, even if
not based in reality.
No comments:
Post a Comment