Hastings 2006

Hastings 2006 was a major reenactment of the Battle of Hastings which took place on October 14-15, 2006.

It was staged on the site of the original battle in the grounds of Battle Abbey, near the town of Battle, East Sussex.

Building on the success of Hastings 2000, it was organised by English Heritage and The Vikings, with participants from many medieval reenactment societies worldwide. A total of 3,400 reenactors registered, and about 2,000 people took part on each of the two days (including approximately 100 cavalry and 150 archers), watched by a total crowd of about 25,000 paying public. As such, it is believed to have been the largest pre-gunpowder reenactment ever held.

The battle was re-enacted during the afternoon on Saturday and Sunday, and was closely scripted according to how the manuscript and tapestry tradition describes the original, including the Taillefer incident, the presumed death of William the Conqueror, and Harold Godwinson being shot by Norman archers and then cut down by a Norman cavalry attack.

As well as the battle combat reenactment, there was a large living history encampment and a trade fair.

Before the official dates were announced, speculation led to many re-enactors using the acronym TNBO ("The Next Big One").

External links

* [http://hastings.vikingsonline.org.uk/ Official website]