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fandomhigh2010-02-12 01:47 am
screwyoumarvel) wrote in fandomhigh2010-02-12 01:47 am
Entry tags:
Battles That Changed History, Second Period, Friday 2/12
Class was once again meeting in the Danger Shop this week, and found themselves standing atop a ridge in the English countryside. "Ladies, gentlemen," Steve said, "I'd like to welcome you to a year and a place many of you may have heard of. This is Senlac Hill, about six miles outside of Hastings, England, 1066 AD. There will be an abbey here, and eventually a town, both named Battle, because the one that happened here is...kind of a big deal.
"In January of 1066 Edward the Confessor, king of England, died. There were three contenders for the throne: a cousin, a nephew, and a powerful noble. The nephew was too young to hold a throne, so he's out. The cousin, William of Normandy was...well, of Normandy, so he was foreign, and of illegitimate birth, so even if Edward had verbally promised him the throne before, when Edward decided to make Harold--with an o--Godwinson his heir on his deathbed, everyone was pretty much fine with that. Except, of course, William. Additionally, Harald--that's Harald with an a--Hardrada, the king of Norway, saw in the transition of power an opportunity and wasn't about to waste it, so his army invaded in September of 1066. After the English pushed themselves in a hard march to meet the Norwegians, Harold and Harald's forces met twice, the first time at Gate Fulford, where the English were defeated, and then on September twenty-fifth at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where Harold Godwinson was victorious and Harald Hardrada wound up dead with an arrow through his eye."
Steve paused. "Then, Harold had to turn around and march his forces south, with little rest, because William was invading from Normandy. They met on October fourteenth, here. The English army had already fought two major battles and made two long marches less than three weeks prior. They were exhausted and not at full strength. The invasion force, on the other hand, had met no resistance thus far because the entire English army was off fighting the Norwegians, so they were fresh and rested. The English had the high ground, and William's tactics didn't work as well as he'd planned, but the state of the English army worked in William's favor. His plan had been to use his archers to soften up the English early in the battle, but their shield wall was too effective. Later in the battle, though, the housecarls who held the shield wall were exhausted and pulled back, and the fighters in the front ranks were less likely to have heavy shields. So he ordered his archers to attack, and even brought them in close enough to shoot over the shield wall at the back ranks. Harold Godwinson wound up dead." Steve paused, then said wryly, "Also with an arrow through the eye. William the Conqueror was crowned king of England on Christmas Day.
"Within three weeks, in an interesting twist of fate, the last Viking king of Norway and the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, both named Harold, were both killed by being shot in the eye, and the Normans came into power in England. The Norman Conquest is...huge. It turns the wheel on England's culture again, from one that had been dominated by waves of Scandinavian invasions to one heavily influenced by Europe, especially France. It solidifies the English system of government and brings new influences to the language."
Steve let that settle in for a little bit, then said, "While we enjoy this...lovely English fall weather," hey, it was better than home right now, "let's break up into pairs or groups and discuss fighting when you're not fresh. Was it a stupid risk, or one Harold couldn't afford not to take? When is it justified in your mind?"
"In January of 1066 Edward the Confessor, king of England, died. There were three contenders for the throne: a cousin, a nephew, and a powerful noble. The nephew was too young to hold a throne, so he's out. The cousin, William of Normandy was...well, of Normandy, so he was foreign, and of illegitimate birth, so even if Edward had verbally promised him the throne before, when Edward decided to make Harold--with an o--Godwinson his heir on his deathbed, everyone was pretty much fine with that. Except, of course, William. Additionally, Harald--that's Harald with an a--Hardrada, the king of Norway, saw in the transition of power an opportunity and wasn't about to waste it, so his army invaded in September of 1066. After the English pushed themselves in a hard march to meet the Norwegians, Harold and Harald's forces met twice, the first time at Gate Fulford, where the English were defeated, and then on September twenty-fifth at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where Harold Godwinson was victorious and Harald Hardrada wound up dead with an arrow through his eye."
Steve paused. "Then, Harold had to turn around and march his forces south, with little rest, because William was invading from Normandy. They met on October fourteenth, here. The English army had already fought two major battles and made two long marches less than three weeks prior. They were exhausted and not at full strength. The invasion force, on the other hand, had met no resistance thus far because the entire English army was off fighting the Norwegians, so they were fresh and rested. The English had the high ground, and William's tactics didn't work as well as he'd planned, but the state of the English army worked in William's favor. His plan had been to use his archers to soften up the English early in the battle, but their shield wall was too effective. Later in the battle, though, the housecarls who held the shield wall were exhausted and pulled back, and the fighters in the front ranks were less likely to have heavy shields. So he ordered his archers to attack, and even brought them in close enough to shoot over the shield wall at the back ranks. Harold Godwinson wound up dead." Steve paused, then said wryly, "Also with an arrow through the eye. William the Conqueror was crowned king of England on Christmas Day.
"Within three weeks, in an interesting twist of fate, the last Viking king of Norway and the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, both named Harold, were both killed by being shot in the eye, and the Normans came into power in England. The Norman Conquest is...huge. It turns the wheel on England's culture again, from one that had been dominated by waves of Scandinavian invasions to one heavily influenced by Europe, especially France. It solidifies the English system of government and brings new influences to the language."
Steve let that settle in for a little bit, then said, "While we enjoy this...lovely English fall weather," hey, it was better than home right now, "let's break up into pairs or groups and discuss fighting when you're not fresh. Was it a stupid risk, or one Harold couldn't afford not to take? When is it justified in your mind?"
Re: Discussion Time
Re: Discussion Time