Battle of Hastings rages once more - 950 years later

Clad in mediaeval garb and chain mail, aficionados of the Middle Ages gathered in East Sussex in southern England on Saturday to re-enact the Battle of Hastings, 950 years later. At the site of the pivotal event, a thousand "soldiers" representing th
PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

Clad in mediaeval garb and chain mail, aficionados of the Middle Ages gathered in East Sussex in southern England on Saturday to re-enact the Battle of Hastings, 950 years later.

At the site of the pivotal event, a thousand "soldiers" representing the Norman invaders of William the Conqueror and the Anglo Saxons led by King Harold II gave an hour-long public rendition of the clash. Before the re-enactment, all of the participants had trained several hours a week in sword fighting.

Except for a row of portable toilets and a BBC camera, everything immediately surrounding the area was as it would have been on Oct 14, 1066.

The battle was a decisive moment in English history, with Harold's death in the onslaught ushering in a period of Norman rule as William seized the throne.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 17, 2016, with the headline Battle of Hastings rages once more - 950 years later. Subscribe