Background of England
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 The Romans
 Julius Caesar invades Britannia 55-54 BC
 The Saxons
 Departure of Romans in A.D. 410
 Saxons, Angles, and Jutes
 Britain became England
 The Vikings
 Invasion begins in the
9th Century
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Background of Normandy
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 The Romans
 The Franks
 The Vikings
 The Duchy of Normandy
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Why the battle happened?
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 King Ethelred the Unready(978)
 Married Emma (1007)
 Alfred, Edward, and
Goodwife
 King Canute (1016)
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Also King of Denmark
King Hardecante (1035)
Alfred murdered (1036)
Edward became Heir
King Hardecante died (1042)
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The Godwins
Godwin
Edith married Edward (1045)
Eustace involved in a fracas
(1051)
Edward ordered the town be
burned
Godwin refused
William the Duke of Normandy
Godwin returned
Harold Godwinson became
King Harold II (1066)
Significance

 William the Conqueror was the first to completely
take over Britain
 Dramatically altered the history of Europe
 Demonstrates a successful Amphibious Operation
Leaders

King Harold II
 Defeated the Wales in a
series of campaigns
(1062-63)
William I
 Began fighting battles
at the age of 19
 Secured Normandy in
1047 after The Battle of
Val-ès-Dunes
Comparing Forces

English
 6000 Fyrd
 40 day militea
 Farming tools
 Kite shields
 1200 Housecarls
 Bill and Spears
 Kite Shields
 Possibly a few archers
 No Cavalry
Normans
 700 ships
 7500 Infantry
 Battleaxe or Lance
 Kite Shield
 3600 Knights
 Battleaxe, Spear, and Sword
 Kite Shield
 1000 Archers
 100 yard range
Norwegian Invasion
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 September 1066
 Harald Hardrada
 Tostig Godwinson
 Ended 25 September
Norman Invasion

 28 September – Landed near Pevensey
 Harold rushed south
 William set up camp
overlooking Hasting
 13 October Harold lead
his troop to Senlac Hill
7 miles NW of Hastings
 William went on the defense
14 October 1066
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The Aftermath
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 No statistics
 Reinforcement arrived
 Marched to London
 Saxon delegation surrender to William in
Berkhamstead
 William was crowned King of England on Christmas
Day, 1066
 Later defeated the Scots and Welsh
Levels of War

King Harold II
 Policy
 Protect England
 Strategic
 Destroy Enemy
 Operational
 Senlac Hill
 Tactical
 Ambush
William the Conqueror
 Policy
 Conquer England
 Strategic
 Take London
 Operational
 Land forces at Pevensey
 Tactical
 Offensive/Defense
Themes of Amphibious Operations

 The Landing Itself Is Rarely the Key Problem
 The Amphibious Invasion Is a Means to an End, Not
an End in Itself
 The Influence of Terrain and Geography
Offensive Fundamentals
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Good
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Orient on the enemy
Gain and maintain contact
Develop the situation
Concentrate superior firepower at the
decisive time and place
Exploit known enemy weaknesses
Gain and retain the initiative
Neutralize the enemy’s ability to react
Advance by fire and maneuver
Maintain momentum.
Act quickly
Exploit success
Be flexible
Be aggressive
Provide for the security of the force
Bad
 Achieve surprise
 Seize or control key
terrain