Battles Behind the Songs Lady Ailith Bystoune The Saxon Migration through the Norman Conquest of England The migration of Saxon forces from Germany to England in the 5th century through the Battle of Hastings in 1066. First Verse of Song of the Shield Wall: Hengest was said to be a Germanic leader in the 5th century who, along with his brother Horsa, brought the Saxon, Angle, and Jutish armies to England. The 9th century manuscript, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, claims that Hengest was invited to England to aid Vortigern*, a British warlord, in his fight against the Picts and the Scots. The chronicle goes on to say that the German mercenaries turned on Vortigern and that Hengest’s son founded the Kingdom of Kent. Second Verse of Song of the Shield Wall: Not tied to a specific battle, rather to the regular onslaught of Danish raids (see Battle of Maldon) throughout the Anglo-Saxon period. Fyrdmen were the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of Minute Men in the American War for Independence; non-professional militia called upon in times of war. Third Verse of Song of the Shield Wall: The Battle of Stamford Bridge, September 25th, 1066 Harold Sigurdsson (1015-1066) was the king of Norway and given the epithet Hardrada, or ‘stern ruler.’ He invaded England in 1066 and was defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in East Riding of Yorkshire, England by the forces of Harold Godwinsson, King of England. On September 25th, 1066, Harold Hadrada landed his men on the River Derwent. He did not expect a battle and had his forces separated - some on the east bank of the river and some on the west bank. Most of the Norwegian army had left their armor on their boats, so when the English forces attacked they were outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and not even wearing armor. The English attacked from the west, destroying the unarmored Norwegians and then had to pass over the bridge to get to the rest of the forces on the eastern bank. The bridge slowed the English forces long enough for the Norwegians to form a shield wall (there’s a folk tale that a single Norse man with an ax held the English at bay). Harold Hadrada was killed by an arrow to the throat and his troops scattered after a long battle - the Norwegians took such heavy losses that of the 300 ships they brought, they only sent home men on 24. Huscarls were the Anglo-Saxon professional soldiers who fought on foot. Fourth Verse of Song of the Shield Wall / Requiem for a Huscarl: The Battle of Hastings, October 14th 1066 Three days after their victory at Stamford Bridge on September 28th, William Duke of Normandy AKA William the Bastard AKA William the Conqueror landed his fleet at Pevensey, East Sussex, England. Harold Godwinson had taken the English throne only 9 months prior in January after the death of Edward the Confessor and William, who was Edward’s cousin, believed that he had the natural claim. Harold Godwinson rushed his army south, not waiting to rebuild his army or for reinforcements, arriving on October 13th 1066 to Senlac Hill outside of Hastings, East Sussex, England. The English army was entirely infantry, with fyrdmen in little armor and huscarls all on foot, whereas the Norman troops included cavalry and professional mercenaries. The English began on the top of the hill, and William’s forces pressed up the hill with archers leading the way. After an hour of uphill battle, many of William’s infantry broke and fled down the hill with the English in pursuit. William and his cavalry were waiting at the bottom of the hill for the English, who began to break their shield wall formation in the charge. Harold Godwinson was hit by an arrow to the eye and died, and though his huscarls fought till the end, William had won the day. William was crowned King of England in December 1066. Though he spent most of his reign living in Normandy, his reign had considerable impact on English life. He built castles, installed Norman nobles in ruling positions, and made major changes to the English clergy. In 1086, William had the Domesday Book created as an early census of English landholders for tax purposes. *Vortigern might have been a title, meaning High Lord, rather than the name of a single British warlord.