On the evening of the 13th of October Harold and the English army of 8000 men arrived at Caldbec Hill blocking off the road to London and any access out of the peninsula. The situation looked bad for the Normans when the Anglo-Saxon Fleet arrived in the bay, cutting off any hope of escape back to Normandy.
For William there was no option but to fight or die. He ordered the camp to be put on full alert and prepare for battle in the morning. Many men on both sides would have had a sleepless night knowing the fate of a nation would be decided by the outcome of the forthcoming battle. As the sun rose on a cold October morning, William heard mass and adorned the sacred relics around his neck before ordering the army to strike camp and move out towards the Anglo-Saxon lines.
He acclaimed; “You shall see the name of a Duke changed into King today”
The Normans marched down into the valley looking up at the English on the hill in front of them. It was a menacing sight as the Dragon banner of Wessex and King Harold’s personal banner of the Fighting man fluttered in the wind above, the English hit their shields and let out the war cries “Out, Out, Out and “Godemite” (God Almighty).
William launched a pre-emptive strike and sent in his archers and crossbowmen to soften up in English lines. The uphill trajectory and the Saxon shield wall made it extremely difficult for them to inflict heavy casualties upon the English. Next came the turn of the Norman infantry who slogged their way up the steep slope. When they were within a few meters of the English lines were met with an almighty barrage of spears, javelins, arrows, rocks and even Viking throwing axes. The whole Norman front line reeled back with men dropping like flies to the ground. When the surviving infantry reached the English lines, vicious hand to hand fighting ensued. It was a brutal struggle to the death for both sides.
Seeing his men wavering, William sent in some of the Norman elite cavalry to support the infantry. It was during this stage of the battle that Harold’s brothers Gyth and Leowine were probably killed. The Saxon housecarls fought with tremendous fighting spirit chopping man and horse in two with their huge battle axes. The Knights charged in hoping to find holes in the English defence. Instead they were met with axe, spear and sword. The Saxon shield wall stood firm and unbroken. It was said that the English ranks were so dense that no even the dead could fall to the ground. The bodies of the slain were strewn all along the slope of the ridge.
On the Norman left flank the Bretons were suffering enormous casualties; they began to panic and started to flee back down the slope. The Norman centre now pulled back fearing they might be outflanked and surrounded. A rumour spread through ranks of the Normans that the Duke had been killed. Eustace De Boulogne used the Papal banner as a rallying point, pointing at the Duke. William was forced to raise his helmet showing his men that he was very much still alive. "Look at me; here I am; I live, and by God's help will conquer." He shouted out great words of encouragement and also reminded them that there was no escape.
Harold had given strict orders to hold the defensive position on the hill. He had first hand experience of how dangerous the Norman cavalry could be during his time with them in Brittany. The temptation was just too much for some of the English who had lost their leaders Gyth and Leowine. In an uncontrolled frenzy they started charging down the hill after the Bretons. Had Harold ordered his entire army to commit to a frontal assault, the sheer weight of numbers and the momentum might have won the day for him.
Instead he allowed William the precious time to rally his men and take the initiative. The pursuing Saxons were now at the bottom of the slope far from the safety of the Shield wall. William spotted the opportunity and counter attacked with a detachment of armoured knights. The English were massacred with only a handful managing to escape back up the hill.
