4th+Period+-+Fyrd+and+Housecarls

"Blame for the Battle" Debate Wikis for 4th Period: A Response to //The King's Shadow// //** I. **//  //**  Introduction/Thesis   **// a)  The fyrd and the housecarls of the English military are who the people of Kent have decided to blame for their loss of independence. b)     If it wasn’t for the fyrd and the housecarls poor job, Earl Harold would have had a chance at winning the Battle of Hastings. c) The fyrd and housecarls didn’t stay in the shield wall, they ran from battle after the Earl Harold was killed, and they dishonored their country by failing to do so.

//**II. Accusation #1: failing to stick together with the shield wall of soldiers **// a)    Earl Harold had a brilliant plan- to build a wall of men around their perimeter.  b)     The plan was brilliant and working until, after Harold ordered them many times to plant their feet and stay with the wall, the fyrd and housecarls began to break away from the wall. i.    On pg. 237-238, it describes how the wall quickly crumbles. Brother Gyrth and Earl Harold continue to shout to the soldiers to keep their desires back and hold the shield wall together. Earl Harold shouts to the soldiers, “Stand firm. . . Do not break the shield wall! Nothing will defeat us if we keep the wall strong. Though I know it is in your hearts to rush into battle, you must stand firm.” c) They failed to keep the wall together and started hand-to-hand combat with the Normans. The Normans quickly destroyed any Englishmen who broke away from the shield wall.

//**III. **// //**Accusation #2: fleeing away from battle and failing to escape after their leader had fallen.**// a)    Toward the end of the Battle of Hastings, King Harold was defeated with a Norman arrow shot into his eye leading the Normans closer too victory.  b)     The word soon got out to many of the battle, leaving the English leaderless. c) After the King’s death, the fyrd and the housecarls ran away from battle like cowards.   i.     In doing this they dishonored their country and failed to succeed in battle.  ii.     By trying to escape, they also recieved by Norman swords through their hearts.

//**IV**// //**. **// //**Conclusion**// a)    As you can clearly see by now the fyrd and the housecarls are to blame because they were counting on Earl Harold of Wessex to save them; when he died the army stopped being productive. The army just gave up on the shield wall because their leader had died.

//** IV. **//  //**Earl Harold of Wessex-Innocent**// a)    The Earl of Wessex had a perfect plan; building a wall of soldiers  i.     The plan worked until the soldiers broke free from the wall.  ii.     Therefore, the fyrd and the housecarls are to blame for ruining the plan. If the wall kept together, there might have been a chance in winning the war against the Duke William of Normandy.  b)     The Earl used the most men he possibly could i.    The Earl of Wessex even used farmers backing him up to win the fight //**V.**//    //**King Edward-Innocent**// a)    Died before he could give any participation in the two battles between the Duke and Tostig. If the King could not help, he certainly could not do anything worse.  b)     The King Edward is certainly not responsible for any of the Duke’s or Tostig’s attacks; they were not Edward’s enemies c)    Not responsible for his own death. He died of a natural cause.  a)     Had no participation in the Battle of Hastings. b)    Had no relation with the Duke of Normandy.     VII.
 * //VI. Earl Tostig-Innocent  //**