What mistakes did Harold make at the Battle of Hastings?

Answer 1

Harold was a foot soldier so he couldn't control his soldiers. Please note that all the English fought on foot, horses were used to get to the battle and were not used by them in it.

Harold's mistakesHarold made mistakes by having two battles in the same period of time, and using the wrong weapons. Harold should have waited before engaging battle with the Normans; The Normans burned the lands they pillaged through and consequently would have eventually had to return back to Normandy in order to get food. AnswerIn The Battle of Hastings, Harold was a foot soldier and he couldn't keep an eye on his men from where he was standing.

His men ran after the enemy when they faked retreat, and broke the shield wall - which was until then protecting them extremely well!

When the shield wall broke and Harold's army ran straight ahead, the Normans split into two columns. These then closed on Harold's army. That is called an envelopment.

Then Harold Godwinson fought Harold Hadraada just before the battle.Answer:

Harold's men were not only tired from marching up and then down the country again after taking on and defeating Harald Hardrada but they were also disaffected (fed up) with the terms of their involvement - many of them were not career soldiers but ordinary farm folk who had been rounded up and pressed into Harold's army in leiu of taxes (which he apparently then made them pay anyway). Those that were not killed during the Battle of Stamford Bridge with the Norse King (Harald Hadraada) had marched nearly 250 miles in a couple of days - perhaps if Harold had waited for his men to recover or if he had been a better tactitian he may have been luckier but maybe it was just down to that... luck.

Answer 2

He lost the battle of Hastings because he was not as prepared as William. William had the idea of building a wall of shields and Harold just wasn't as prepared also harolds men had just fought a battle before and was rushing in to fight another.Some of harolds men were killed and injured so he had less men.

Answer 3

He should have had more men

Answerin the battle of hastings, he should've got there first so that he could've had the best spot on the hill- so it would've been easir for himand his troops to win the battle. AnswerWilliam got his spot a little late so he could have done a bit better. He also slacked a bit by doing too much organising insted of practicing, Hope this info is useful ad not too lame! Answerhe should of taken his enemy by surprise by attacking early in the morning so the other soldiers would'nt of been ready

also he should have let godwins men rest, because in the end godwin got the best spot on the hill

Answer 4

-As William was positioned at the bottom of the hill.

-Harold's army had Housecarls who were so strong,that with one stroke of an axe would take of a horses head and possibly the rider too!

-Harold was already king so it made him more eager

By Georgina Mills

Answer 5

No real mistake, he was just unlucky enough to catch an arrow in his eye (the archers would aim them in the air above the opposing army). This killed him and now without a king the his army gave in. Had he not bee so unlucky he may well have won the day his army had been very successful hitherto.

Answer 6

He thought he had won the battle when Williams army turned and walked it but William was still alive and the won the army and William becam King of England

:p ;) XD

Answer 7

He thought he had won when Duke William of Normandy turned and walked off!!

Answer 8

One reason why William won the battle of hastings was that Harold was not flexible enough, and stuck too fiercely to his plan.