By the time Harold Godwinson began making his way south, William of Normandy was already establishing himself in Sussex.
William had landed at Pevensey on the 28th of September 1066, just three days after Harold’s victory at Stamford Bridge. His men established a temporary fortification within the old Roman defences there before William moved east towards Hastings.
At Hastings, another castle was established and the town became William’s base. From there, his army began taking provisions from the surrounding countryside. An invading force needed huge amounts of food. Thousands of men had to be fed, horses needed fodder and supplies brought across the sea could only last for so long.
The countryside around Hastings suffered badly. Farms were plundered and property was destroyed as William’s army secured what it needed. Historians have suggested that this destruction may also have helped provoke Harold into coming south and confronting the invaders.
William certainly had good reason to want a battle sooner rather than later. Remaining in Sussex for weeks would have brought its own dangers. Supplies could begin to run short, and sickness might spread through the army.
Harold was in a very different position. He was fighting in his own kingdom and had the possibility of gathering more troops if he waited.
After defeating Harald Hardrada and his own brother Tostig at Stamford Bridge, Harold returned south and paused in London, where more men joined him. English accounts suggest that Harold had not assembled all the forces potentially available to him before confronting William.
By the evening of the 13th of October, the two armies were close to one another.
Less than three weeks earlier, Harold had defeated another invading army in Yorkshire. Now another claimant to the English throne was waiting for him in Sussex.
On the morning of the 14th of October 1066, the Battle of Hastings was about to begin.
Do you think Harold should have waited longer for more men, or was confronting William quickly the right decision?
Image: Detail from the Bayeux Tapestry, 11th century. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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