Death of Harold II - A question of When not Where
In this blog I will outline my case that it is a matter of "when" Harold Godwinson was killed and not "where" that is the driving force behind the actual "where".
Consensus view
Let's start with the accepted view of the battle of Hastings. According to historians, the battle started at 9 o'clock (Tierce) in the morning and lasted until 6 o'clock in the evening. The time of Harold's death is put at 6 o'clock (Vespers). As the retreating English fled, they were pursued by the Norman knights but put up a rear-guard action which surprised the knights. This resulted in a number of casualties which was notable.
Additionally, according to most historians, is that the battle was fought in one location and was continuous.
The upshot of this is that no matter when Harold died, he died at the location of the battle that took place at the Fire Station end of Battle High Street.
Evidence for the Consensus
1. William of Jumièges writes in his GND that battle was joined in the third hour and continued until late at night. He also states for the record that Harold was struck down during the first assault.
2. The Bayeux Tapestry and the Carmen state that Harold was killed at Vespers.
3. All four early sources mention some sort of "after - Main-Battle" affair.
4. A declaration of King William's fury when the monks tried to persuade him to build his Abbey away from the battlefield.
My view of the Battle
I agree with the time and location of the start of the battle in the morning.
After about 3 hours, the battle with the Huscarls ends.
The Normans reformed early afternoon and then attacked the "Main body"
The Normans goad the English into leaving their superior position.
Harold is injured by an arrow and subsequently killed
Evidence for my view
1. According to William of Jumièges the battle started at 9 in the morning. Also, this tallies with my understanding of the Bayeux Tapestry.
2. Three sources, the Bayeux Tapestry, William of Poitiers and the Carman agree that the first engagement resulted in all of the English, that took part, being killed
3. Taking from two of the three sources above, the Bayeux Tapestry shows Norman knights attacking unarmoured troops standing behind prepared defences and William of Poitiers refers to the "main body"
4. William of Poitiers and the Carmen tell of the tactics used to shake the English loose from their location. The Bayeux Tapestry only tells of the first attack and how William had to reveal himself to prove that he was still alive.
Conclusion
If William of Jumièges is to be believed then Harold needs to have died in the morning just as he writes otherwise Harold must have died at another location.
So, in essence, historians are being selective in what they take to be true. Trying to square William of Jumièges account with the other three early sources must be aim of any future historian.
