BattlefieldsHastings -- Shield-wall Collapse Moment 1066
Early Medieval

Hastings -- Shield-wall Collapse Moment 1066

1066
England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
English
Forces
English fyrdmen who broke ranks
VS
Victor
Normans
Forces
Norman cavalry exploiting gaps in English shieldwall
Outcome
English right flank broken; shieldwall integrity compromised; battle turned decisively toward Norman victory
The Battle

History & Significance

At a critical moment in the Battle of Hastings, sections of the English shieldwall on the right flank broke and pursued what appeared to be a Norman retreat. The Normans wheeled on the pursuing English in the open ground below the ridge and cut them down. This breach fatally compromised the integrity of the English defensive position and began the progressive collapse that ended with Harold's death. The Bayeux Tapestry depicts this moment with dramatic clarity.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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