Start thinking activities1) Here are some answers. Can you provide the

questions?

KingBattle of HastingsMedievalMonarchyLeadership Example:

Q: What do you call a man who leads a country?

A: King

It is 1066Edward the Confessor has died, but there is no clear heir to the throne. 3 men think they should be king:

1. Harold Hardrada2. Harold Godwinson3. William Duke of Normandy

You are King Harold Godwinson who has been crowned King of England.

But you have a problem as Duke William of Normandy is getting ready to invade the south coast of England.

Meanwhile Harald Hardraada is getting ready to attack in the north, from Norway.

How will you beat both armies and keep your crown?

How was the Battle of Hastings won and lost?Event Decision

& ReasonVisio

n Poin

ts

What really happened…?

Evaluation

1) Where to put your army?2) What to do with Harald Hardraada?3) Rush or Rest?4) The Battle of Hastings Begins5) The Battle - Continued

William is ready in Normandy to invade England, with 5000 foot-soldiers and 2000 Knights on horseback, but is waiting for the wind to change so he can sail across the channel. Meanwhile Harald Hardrada is getting ready to invade in the North, from Norway, with 10,000 soldiers.

What do you do now?a) I will take my army to the North and wait for Hardraadab) I will take my army to the Midlands and wait to see who attacks firstc) I will take my army to the South Coast and wait for William 

Where to put your army

a) You march north as quickly as possible. Your Saxon army

picks up new supporters on the way, and you soon hear that

the Vikings have landed on the north coast, so you have

chosen well.

SCORE 10 POINTS!

b) You lead your troops to the Midlands and wait to see whether Hardrada or

William invades first.

All is well for a few weeks and you sit and enjoy

feasting to take your mind off the coming battle,

confident that your troops will have had a great deal of time to prepare. However,

after a month or so a messenger tells you how

Hardraada has arrived in the north-east

SCORE 5 POINTS                                                                                

                                                                    

c) You take your troops to the South Coast, expecting William to invade at any moment. All is well for a few weeks and you sit and enjoy feasting to take your mind off the coming battle.However, one morning a messenger tells you that Hardraada has arrived on the north-east coast.YOU SCORE 0 POINTS

What really happened…?Harold chose (A) and marched his men upto the north of England.He guessed correctly, which was proved when Harald Hardrada landed on the east coast in September 1066, three weeks before William of Normandy landed in the south.As a result Harold Godwinson was able to respond quickly to this threat.Evaluate this event:

What can historians learn about how the Battle of Hastings was won and lost??

Upon arriving in the North, a messenger tells you that

Harald Hardraada is demanding half of your

Kingdom, because he is a descendant from King Canute of England himself! In return, he is offering to support you

against Duke William of Normandy.Do you:

a) Reject the offer, and attack the Viking forces without delayb) Ignore the offer, and wait to

see what Hardraada doesc) Accept the offer

What to do with Harald Hardraada?

a) You decide to attack the Vikings as soon as you can. When you tell your troops they cheer in excitement - you have obviously made a wise decision! With great determination your army speeds towards York and, on 25th September, you surprise the Viking army at Stamford Bridge.  With much bloodshed you kill both Tosti (the brother who betrayed you) and Hardraada (a great warrior), and then chase the fleeing survivors to their ships and drown or burn them.

YOU SCORE 10 POINTS

b) You decide to ignore Hardraada's offer and wait to see what he does. However, Hardrada feels insulted by your behaviour and to destroy crops and murder innocent women and children (see picture).                                      

                               You score 0 POINTS

c) You decide to accept Hardraada's offer, and tell your men that you are giving half of your kingdom to the Viking invader. Your men are shocked and start calling you a traitor and a coward. You explain that with William about to invade you don't need two enemies to fight, but they remain unconvinced, especially when he starts burning houses, destroying crops and terrorising innocent women and children, in the north.YOU SCORE -10 POINTS

What really happened…??Harold chose (A), he rejected Hardrada’s offer and attacked them straight away.Godwinson attacked Hardraada taking him by surprise, unarmoured and unprepared.

Both sides suffered from heavy losses, but finally both Harald Hardraada and Tostig (Harold’s brother) were killed and the Viking’s surrendered.

Evaluate this event: What can historians learn about how the Battle of

Hastings was won and lost??

a) Rest your troops before heading south, so that they will be reasonably refreshed when they meet William's army?b) March south immediately - this is not the time to take a break!

Although you are pleased that Hardraada has been defeated, almost straight away news comes that Duke William's ships have arrived at Pevensey on the south coast. His soldiers have taken the Roman castle in the town and they are busy reinforcing it as they await your attack!

Rush or rest?

A) Despite William already in England, you decide that it is important for your troops to have a rest before facing another major battle. So you keep the news of William's landing a secret for 2 days, allowing your troops to celebrate with great feasting and drinking - which is exactly what William is doing! You score 10 POINTS

B) Although your troops are exhausted you gather them together and tell them that they must now march back southwards to face William, who is relaxing in the south with his troops.

The march is long and tiring, but within three days you have managed to reach your destination. Your men, exhausted but brave, take up a position on Senlac Hill.

You score 5 points

What really happened?Harold chose (B), and decided to march his army the length of the country to Kent.This meant that his army had fought a bloody and tiring battle and then had to march the length of the country shortly afterwards, having lost many of his best men killed in battle.

Evaluate this event: What can historians learn about how the Battle of

Hastings was won and lost??

The Battle of Hastings Begins!!

The Normans start by charging forward up the hill. There is much screaming and confusion but your shield wall holds firm and eventually your enemies retreat in great panic down the hill. Your troops cheer, but you have to keep a level head and make a quick decision.

Do you:

A) Chase them down the hill?

B) Order your troops to hold firm?

a)Your army charges down the hill after the invaders. However, within seconds it becomes clear that this was a terrible mistake! The Normans were only pretending to retreat, they turn and encircle your troops.

You score -10 points

b) You order your men to stand firm.

The majority stand firm, but a few break away and charge after the retreating Normans. They are surrounded and cut down. But most stand firm and so you are ready for another wave of attack.SCORE 5

What really happened…??Harold held his line and did not allow his men to chase the Normans back down the hill.

The Saxon shield was proving too strong for both the Norman archers and cavalry.

Evaluate this event: What can historians learn about how the Battle of

Hastings was won and lost??

After a few hours, the Normans charge for a second time up the hill. Your army is more tired than the first time, but manages to beat the attackers off. In fact, the Normans retreat in a complete shambles, apparently convinced that Duke William has been killed in battle!

Do you...

a) Chase them down the hill?b) Order your troops to hold firm?

The Battle continues…

a) With a great cry your army charges down the hill after the invaders. However, the Normans were only pretending to be scared and as soon as your men are towards the bottom of the hill the Normans turn around, encircle your troops and hack many of them down. YOU SCORE - 5 points

b) You order your men to stand firm.

The majority stand firm, but a few break away and charge after the retreating Normans. They are surrounded and cut down. Most stand firm and so you are ready for another wave of attack, but a bit weaker than before .SCORE 0

The battle continues to drag on with no side clearly winning. As sunset starts to fall, the Normans lead a desperate attack on your exhausted army.

a) Chase them down the hill?b) Order your troops to hold firm?

The Normans eventually fall back. You are very tempted to chase them down the hill and hack them to pieces!You have to make a quick decision. Do you...

a) Your army charges down the hill after the invaders, and your men storm towards the retreating Normans. However, within seconds it becomes clear that this was a terrible mistake! The Normans were only pretending to be scared and as soon as your men are towards the bottom of the hill the Normans turn around, encircle your troops and hack them downYOU SCORE -10 POINTS

b) You order your men to stand firm.YOU SCORE 5 POINTSHowever, your men are by now so tired and fed up that they cannot hold back any further. Some of your army breaks away and charges down the hill after the invaders, and your men storm towards the retreating Normans.

The Saxon soldiers believed that they had nearly won so they decided to charge after the Norman’s and finish them off.

However, this was just a trick and the Norman’s turned and attacked them. The Saxon’s having broken their strong position were eventually defeated.

Harold was killed, some say with an arrow being shot in his eye and William became King of England and the period known asThe medieval period (middle ages) began.

What really happened?

How was the Battle of Hastings won and lost?Event Decision &

ReasonVision Points

What really happened?

Evaluation

1) Where to put your army?

2) What to do with Harald Hardraada?3) Rush or Rest?

4) The Battle of Hastings Begins5) The Battle - Continued

But did YOU do any better than Harold??