The Battle of Hastings is a battle that took place at Senlac Hill in England on the 14th of October, 1066. It features in Medieval II: Total War as a historical battle, and a different version is available as the battle tutorial. You take the role of the Norman army (or a part of it in the tutorial) as it tries to battle its way through the Saxon shield wall.
Tutorial[]
Duke William of Normandy
The Tutorial has you take the role of Duke William's son, Rufus, as you protect the Norman army's flank from a Saxon attack, then join William for the attack against the Saxon shield wall.
Historical Battle[]
The Historical Battle has the player command the entire Norman force, and has a different intro and terrain than the tutorial.
Units[]
Duke William of Normandy (Normans)[]
Duke William's army is composed mainly of spearmen, with many units of heavy cavalry, and several of archers.
- William of Normandy, and 32 of his bodyguards
- 6x32 (192) Mailed Knights
- 9x100 (900) Armored Sergeants
- 4x48 (192) Archer Militia
King Harold Godwinson (Saxons)[]
Harold's army is composed almost entirely of spearmen, with several units of heavy infantry and a few of peasants.
- Harold Godwinson, and 60 of his bodyguards
- 2x60 (120) Earl's Huscarls
- 2x60 (120) Huscarls
- 13x120 (1560) Theigns
- 2x105 (210) Peasants
Strategy[]
A common tactic (as it were guided by adviser) is using Archer Militias to attack the Earl's Huscarls (depicting Harold's brothers) at the left and right side of the Saxons' shield wall formation. When 5 of the Earl's Huscarls on each unit are killed, the adviser will notify you to attack the Saxon's troops then retreat to draw them out to fight against your Armored Sergeants. Set their stance to defense position, then using a single unit of Mailed Knights to attack the Earl's Huscarls. When some of the Knights you had sent is being killed, retreat to your spear line to lure the Saxons out.
When the Saxon's infantries get down from the hill to attack the Armoured Sergants' shield wall and leave King Harold and two units of Huscarls vulnerable, attack them using Mailed Knights (or also Duke William). After Harold is slain, his army would instantly surrender, expect the Huscarls. Finish them with the rest of your army.
In History[]
Shortly after the beginning of the year 1066, King Harold Godwinson sat uneasily on the throne of England. As well as political machinations of various powerful families within the realm, political leaders on the continent, particularly Denmark and Normandy, also had designs on the crown. Harold's predecessor, Edward the Confessor, had been a sympathizer of William Duke of Normandy. Harold himself had been rescued from captivity in France by the Duke, and had subsequently sworn fealty to him. These two factors, coupled with support from the papacy, gave William reason to believe that when the childless Edward died, the crown of England would be his. However, amidst the rumors of strong-arm tactics, Harold was crowned King on January 6th 1066, the day of Edward's death.
The Saxon shield wall
Outraged, William began to prepare an army and invasion fleet to take by force the kingdom he maintained was his by right. In the meantime, Harold was busy dealing with other threats to his realm. His brother Tostig joined with King Harald Hardrada of Norway in a concerted attack against York in early autumn of 1066. Harold marched the 190 miles from Wessex to York to defeat the invaders. Duke William's Norman fleet landed shortly afterwards on the south coast. Harold set off on another forced march southwards to challenge the new invaders. On the morning of the 14th of October the two armies clashed on the Santlache (sandy stream) ridge near the present day town of Battle in East Sussex. The subsequent battle and the seismic impact it was to have on the kingdom of England led the Normans to rechristen the site Senlac Ridge, or "Blood Lake".