The reason behind the battle was a dispute over who was the rightful king of England after Edward’s death early in the year. The English witans chose Harold “who had carried most of the burden of government for the past ten years” (p. 45). Though he was not of direct royal birth he was still part of the family. There was also talk of Tostig, the exiled brother being given the crown. But this suggestion was quickly dismissed due to Tostig’s disgraceful actions in his Earldom leading to his exile. The only other person in England with any claim to the throne was young Edgar, “the only male survivor of the royal house… but could a boy of thirteen hold the country together against the rivals?” (p. 45

Before landing William had gone to the Pope to justify his purpose. William had the English church condemned and took on the mission invading to reform it. The pope also sided with William as the rightful heir of England seeing Harold as a usurper, though not allowed to represent himself or even told of the events in Rome. “To William, it [the papal decision] gave a chance of solving a problem of raising an army: he could promise land and booty to men who took part, but in a holy war the church could promise more - salvation” (p. 101). This allowed William to multiply his forces, greatly increasing his chances of success. Along with the Pope’s blessing William was also given the papal banner to carry into battle, and a ring to wear on the expedition which contained a relic of St Peter himself.

These gifts were probably on the most powerful things that William could possess for they destroyed Harold’s will to fight and self-confidence. The first news of the decision and knowledge of gifts bestowed on William came from a messenger the night before the battle. “It was now that he [Harold] learned the he had already been judged and found guilty by the papal court, in his absence, without his knowledge, and without a word in his defense” (p. 161). Harold was also told that he and his followers were excommunicated from the church. Though this is most likely not true it still greatly affected the moral of the king and his troops. The moral of the troops going in to the battle were mixed, though they had beaten the Norsemen they were greatly reduced in numbers. This gave William an advantage over the troops as well, the English force was already slightly deteriorated.

William’s success on October 14, 1066 can only be attributed to luck. The first stroke of luck was the wind. All summer it had blown in the invader’s faces but in early September all that changed. “In the English Channel there was not a breath of southerly wind for a month: extraordinary weather that no sailor in those seas, either then or now, would believe could ever happen… But on the morning of 12

Some topics in this essay:
St Peter, English Channel, William English, England Edward’s, Norman Duke, Church England, William Normandy, Battle Hastings, Tostig Hardrada, Hardrada Tostig, stroke luck, stroke luck wind, people chose, duke william, difference countries, william papal, luck wind, king troops, king england, troops battle,