Battle Story: Hastings 1066

Battle Story

by Jonathan Trigg

In 1066 the most significant battle on English soil – and arguably the most important in British history – took place some six miles northwest of Hastings. A king would die on the battlefield and a new dynasty would be established. The fighting exemplified the superiority of an all-arms combined attack employing foot soldiers, cavalry and archers against massed infantry. To understand what happened and why – read Battle Story.Photographs of the battlefield today, artist’s interpretations and of course reproductions from the Bayeux tapestry place you in the centre of the action.Easy-to-read maps plot each development in the struggle.Descriptions of the weaponry, armour and tactics of the combatants help explain why the famous housecarls of England were obliterated for all time.Packed with fact boxes, this short introduction is the perfect way to explore a turning point in British and European history.

Genres: History, Medieval, Anglo Saxon, Nonfiction, Military History, Military Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2011

Reviews

[Ellen Ekstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this book as a quick, easy, primer on the Battle of Hastings and the lead up to October 14, 1066. The author uses the best resources of the time, Vitalis and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and refrains from being too partisan, though I did get the impression the author was leaning towards "Team William" a bit when describing the tactics used in the confrontation. There were a few historical issues that I thought were wrong, such as the child taken hostage by William after Hastings - the author gives parentage to Edith, the sister of Edwin and Morcar, Harold Godwinsson's Christian wife, whom he married after being elected king out of political expediency and to ensure the Northern earls' loyalty. I've read elsewhere that the child Ulf, was actually Harold's youngest child and son by his wife of 20 years, Edyth Swanhhaels, his 'handfasted' or common law wife. The author's picking apart of the actual battle was good and the illustrations in my e-reader copy came out crisp and clean so that the reader can see the battlefield and the surrounding terrain, as well as the illustrations from the Bayeux Tapestry. The author leaves out empurpled prose and sentimentality and just gives us the facts. He also includes the aftermath and the legacy of Hastings. Growing up, I was led to believe by what I read in my history books that William was the best thing to happen to England since St. Augustine, when in reality, his brutal suppression, arrogance, and seizure of England made him no less than a dictator of the worst kind. His "Harrying of the North" destroyed the north of England for generations. We didn't read about that in sixth grade, or even in high school history. His 20 years of rule were violent and unpopular and the author of this book doesn't hide the facts.

[Martin Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting potted history to the Battle of Hastings. As a relative novice with a workable knowledge of the Battle, I have to assume that the facts presented are accurate. It was done so with good pace with entertainment without feeling over-egged. The actual description of the battle was really well-written. The photograph reproductions were rather poor, but were visible and I really enjoyed the little boxed sections with additional info and excerpts from the Bayeux Tapestry. At 150 pages, I did not go into this thinking it a comprehensive account, but it was more than adequate to consolidate and enhance my knowledge.

[Declan Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Battle of Hastings is the last successful invasion of Britain and this book succiently and clearly describes the background to it, the reasons for the battle and the battle itself.

By the nature of the year it includes short mentions of the Battle of Fulford and the Battle of Stamford Bridge (both against the Norsemen), as well as the Battle of Hastings.

Trigg shows a clear understanding of the year, the battles and the impact and uses what little space he has to explain to the reader. The book is also filled with pictures of surviving features and lots from the Bayeux Tapestry.

[Andrew Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

For a short history of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings, the battle itself, and the aftermath, look no further. An excellent description of what transpired without sacrificing the impact of the monumental battle.

[Darren Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most people have a cursory awareness of 1066. The battle of Hastings where Harold took and arrow to the eye and William became the first King of England. But Hastings was the climax of a year that redefined Britain in ways that we can still see today.
Battle Story: Hastings 1066 starts earlier, hundreds of years earlier and brings the real impact of this battle to light. Social, cultural, financial impacts are all illustrated here in clear chapters that give the reader a real understanding of just how pivotal an event this was. It illustrates just how close a battle it was.
Cutting through much of the mythology and folklore around the battle, shining a light on a lot of the biases created by the Norman victors, this really is a fantastic book for the new reader and a great refresher for the experienced historian.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1066, a foreign invader won the throne of England in a single battle and changed not only the history of the British Isles but of Christendom forever. Harold Godwinson’s army, exhausted from their victory against an invading Norwegian Viking army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in the north, and his navy, scattered by storms, could not hold back William of Normandy. But would the invasion have succeeded if the two armies had met on equal terms.

I found the story to be intriguing, entertaining and very informative. If I studied this in school I sure didn't remember it!

[J.P. Harker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative. I had only a vague knowledge of the details of this battle before and I found this fascinating.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative and brilliantly written. The last bit gets a bit politicky which is a bit of a shame.

[Aaron Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy and fun read.

[Steph Bennion · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and well-researched overview of the historic events in England in 1066. I found this incredibly useful for my research.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid introduction to the events surrounding Hastings. Good reading for anyone interested in developing some baseline knowledge on the battle.