King Harold could hardly believe his bad luck King Harold could hardly believe his bad luck. His battered and bruised army had just defeated Hardrada, Tostig and the Viking army Stamford Bridge and now they were going to have to fight all over again. They had to march hundreds of miles south to meet the new invaders. On the night of 11 October, after nearly two weeks of marching, King Harold and his army set up a camp on a hill about 10 kilometres away from William’s army at Hastings. The hill became know as Senlac Hill – the Norman translation means ‘lake of blood’.

The Saxon shield wall was holding firm The Saxon shield wall was holding firm. William needed to find way of breaking through. He came up with a cunning plan. He told his knights to approach the shield wall, then, after a short time fighting, pretend to run away. The Saxon’s thought the Norman’s were retreating and chased after them. This left gaps in the shield wall.

William hoped the English would fall for the trick again – which they did. The Norman knights pretended to run away several times. Gradually, the English shield wall on top of Senlac Hill became weaker as King Harold’s men ran down the hill after the Normans on horses.

Harold’s bad luck