| Another bone of contention for a long time has been | | | | This was simply a case of the Anglo-Saxons breaking |
| this business of the feigned retreat, particularly at | | | | ranks and trying to take advantage of what they |
| Hastings. | | | | saw as an opportunity. They were fierce men, who'd |
| Until recently, historians, especially those with a | | | | been fighting in the shield wall all day and now they |
| military background themselves, have contended for | | | | saw their chance. |
| many years that the Norman cavalry broke and ran | | | | William then brought his archers up, ordered them to |
| because they were afraid of the Anglo-Saxons | | | | fire in the air so that the arrows rained down upon |
| pouring down on them from the hill upon which the | | | | Harold's men to weaken them. |
| lines of the latter were positioned. Three points nullify | | | | With the Anglo-Saxon battle line shortened because |
| this theory. | | | | of their comrades pursuit of the Normans, the latter |
| Firstly, the likelihood of the Norman cavalry sudden | | | | had little difficulty in ascending the hill up to the |
| being the victims of fear is most unlikely as to be | | | | English lines on their right flank, while Count Eustace |
| discounted. They may have been many things, but | | | | did the same on the left flank. From there, they |
| cowards they were not. | | | | simply rolled up the English lines. |
| Secondly, the Anglo-Saxon charge was piecemeal. It | | | | Harold, although wounded by an arrow, wasn't dead |
| wasn't a disciplined, concerted effort. Quite simply, | | | | at this stage, and his huscarls fought magnificently to |
| the left flank of Harold's army saw a group of | | | | the last man in his defense. |
| Normans relatively isolated and they decided to take | | | | In later years, the feigned retreat was often used. |
| advantage of what they saw as a promising situation. | | | | Indeed, Bohemond of Taranto used it with deadly |
| The Normans turned and let them chase them down | | | | effect against the Muslims. It was always forgotten |
| the hill, where they dispatched them. | | | | just how much these knights trained together. A |
| Thirdly, the knights were disciplined men. Also, it's | | | | gesture, even a look from their commander could |
| been supposed that it was impossible for any order | | | | have sent them off in the form of manoeuvre which |
| to have been given to the knights because of the | | | | was desired. |
| complete lack of battlefield communications. But the | | | | There's no question that the English fought quite |
| truth of the matter is that their commander would | | | | magnificently on that day, particularly if it's |
| have had little trouble in turning his men in just such a | | | | remembered that they had come straight from their |
| feigned retreat. | | | | defeat of the Danes at Stamford Bridge. |