The Battle of Hastings?

Question

In the battle of Hastings, between Harold Godwin's and William the conqueror's army who had a better chance of winning strategicly? and why?

Answer 1

Harold because he held the strongest position on the high ground.

His soldiers were winning until they made a fatal error and chased the Normans down the hill.This broke their formation and the Normans were able to regroup and roll up the Saxon line from the flank.

Answer 2

The Saxons had just fought a battle and beaten Norwegian invaders led by another Harold (Hardrata). They had a long march in heavy armor to Senlac. In the 1950's, some re-enacters of the battle marched the same route as Harold's men did. They said they needed a good meal and some sleep before they could fight. In spite of being tired, the Saxons held the hill, until some Normans pretended to run, and they broke ranks to chase them. This resulted in many Saxons falling into a fatal trap. Harold was killed, and that was very demoralizing. It's a mistake to say Harold was hit in the eye by an arrow. That idea is derived from the Bayeaux Tapestry that says Harold was killed and shows a man with an arrow in the eye near the caption, but it also shows a man attacked by several men. Some scholars think Harold was surrounded and killed with swords, instead of an arrow.

Answer 3

Look here:

http://www.battle-of-hastings-1066.org.u...

Answer 4

Harold held the high ground with an inpenetrable shield wall. His undoing was caused by the old feign-retreat-and-turn-around-and-attack trick against Harold's right wing....

Also, Harold's army was tired from their forced march from the north after dealing with Hadrada....

Answer 5

Harold, most certainly. The Normandians got lucky hitting him with an arrow in a more or less desparate **last** attempt to break the shieldwall.

Had Harold not been mortally wounded, the ranks would have held and the history of England quite a bit different.

Answer 6

Arguable Harold's.  They held the top of Senlac hill.  They were disciplined and all they had to do was hold the line and repulse the Normans until the Normans either retreated or came to parley.

But, the Saxons were tired, they had just marched from York, and they were not as disciplined as Harold thought, as they chased after the Normans when the Normans feigned retreat.