Immediate Aftermath
Wars and conflicts have come to an end in very different ways throughout history - and the end of a conflict would often depend on what those fighting wanted…
The motivation of the leaders in this conflict was to prove they were the rightful ruler of England, which was similar to many medieval conflicts. To win, one person had to either surrender or be killed. In the Battle of Hastings, the Armies were fighting in support for one of these hopeful kings / rulers. This meant that when one of the leaders died - the news of their death would spread and the army would surrender.
It is thought that during the Battle of Hastings, a rumour spread that William the Conqueror had been killed. This caused the Normans to panic and run down the hill. The Anglos followed them - it was not until William was seen and heard to be alive by saying ‘I live and with God’s help I’ll conquer yet’, that the Normans reformed and began fighting against the attacking Anglos again.
The battle ended with King Harold being killed -There are a few different accounts of how King Harold was killed - some say it was by an arrow to the eye and others that he was beaten to death!
Harold Godwinson falls at Hastings. Harold was struck in the eye with an arrow (left), slain by a mounted Norman knight (right) or both.
The Normans marched to London and attempted to continue to win favour / force people to support him. On Christmas Day 1066, the Duke of Normandy was crowned William I, King of England.
After William was crowned king, to reward his loyal supporters, he took away land from the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy and nobles and gave it to those who had supported his war effort. This, of course, upset the Saxon Nobles, and some would have refused to give up their land and property, resulting in riots and rebellions!
William the conqueror, king of england 1066-1087
DID YOU KNOW...?
Immediately after the Battle ended, it is said that William refused to bury the dead Anglo Saxon soldiers.
In fact, supposedly King Harold’s mother asked to be able to bury Harold’s body and offered the sum of gold equal to the weight of the body, but William refused! He did not want the grave to become a shrine dedicated to Harold.