How did Harold Godwinson die?

Learning objective – to investigate the manner of the death of Harold Godwinson through sources. I can describe some of the ways that Harold might have died. Level 4 I can explain the different ways that Harold may have died. Level 5 I can explain and reach a substantiated judgement about the likely way that Harold could have died. Level 6

Starter

What happened at the end of the Battle of Hastings? The Battle of Hastings lasted a whole day – 15 th October. The turning point of the Battle Of Hastings was when William tempted the English soldiers off the hill be pretending to retreat. After this happened a number of times across the English battlelines, the Normans charged at the English and the English lines broke. In the massacre that followed, King Harold was killed, but how is the question historians have been asking for a thousand years ……….

What is the traditional view of Harold’s death? The traditional view of Harold’s death is that he was shot in the eye with an arrow. This view initially came from the Bayeux Tapestry. This was a 70 metre long piece of embroidery made in 1077 in Bayeux in Normandy by local women on the orders of Bishop Odo, Duke William’s half brother.

This means ‘Here King Harold dies’ This English soldier has been shot in the eye with arrow. This COULD mean someone important has died. This English soldier has been chopped down by a man on horseback. Which soldier is Harold? Could they be the same person but the eye in the arrow soldier be a symbol that an important person has died?

Source task There are three broad questions you should ask the content and provenance of any source. These questions are – INFORMATION – What does this source definitely tell me? INFERENCES – What can I work about from the source? QUESTIONS – What does this source not tell me? These questions get harder as you work through them. On the five source analysis squares, write down the answers to each of these questions for each source. Try to give as much detail as you can and stick these sheets into your exercise book once you have finished them.

What next Once you have analysed each source and completed the charts, you now have to sort out the information under different headings. These headings are – Different ways that Harold may have died Here you should note what weapons were used and what stage of the battle did Harold die. Any agreement between the different pieces of evidence. Can you trust the evidence? Here think about where the source comes from and who produced it.

What do you think? You have analysed all the sources … you have organised all the information ……what is your conclusion? How did King Harold actually die? Write a paragraph summarising your opinions answering the question in the lesson title. Always remember to use historical evidence to support your answer.

Plenary