Ref.: ROME-54093
Anglo-Saxon «Huscarle» Hastings, AD 1066 The Battle of Hastings (14 October 1066) was the decisive Norman victory in the Norman Conquest of England. It was fought between the Norman army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army of Harold II.[1] The battle took place at Senlac Hill, approximately 6 miles northwest of Hastings, close to the present-day town of Battle, East Sussex. Harold II was killed in the battle—it is traditionally said that he was shot through the eye with an arrow. Although there was further English resistance, this battle is seen as the point at which William gained control of England. The term "huskarl" has its first meaning as "man of the court" (hus - court, karl - man, peasant etc). In England the first meaning of the word was replaced by another - mercenary. In England huscarles represented a kind of professional soldiers. That was a very powerful and very closed organization. Huscarles were the bone of anglosaxon army in 11 century. In viking's army huscarles were a guard, bodyguards of king. The first written mention of "huscarles" appeared in 1000-1018 in northern Europe (in Yomsborg, Baltic sea). Thet were also called as "tingamannen", mercenaries. English kings and nobility hired them very often and they became a real power in England in 2nd half of 11 century. the main weapon of huscarl was sword. There were 4800 men in usual anglosaxon army. Usually every earl had 200-300 huscarles as his best warriors. Huscarles were noble men and they were really appreciated by english lords.