Post by stevep on Apr 8, 2018 21:22:18 GMT
Anyways, the conclusion is that, William lacked the forces to retry his assault, while Harold had everything going for him yet circumstance handed the Normans victory. Harold's death proved crucial for William's victory, and had he survived, it is unlikely the Normans would've won.
The way I would have put it is that if he was defeated but survived and got back to Normandy it would be very hard for William to manage to organise another invasion. Unless someone else,with significant power helps him or otherwise weakens Britain considerably.
For the English Harold's death in battle was very important as it left the country without a clear leader. There was a brief attempt to get a new regime under Edgar_the_Atheling, a distant relative of Edward the Confessor but he lacked the support of the main surviving figures, especially the northern earls who had wanted one of them selected themselves so support was rather limited and Egdar was still young, only 15, and lacking in experience.
Not saying that Harold couldn't have died in the battle but when he did, not long before nightfall, was crucial as without it the English would probably have held the ridge and been in a better position the following day as more reinforcements continued to arrive. Not impossible for William to win but steadily getting more and more difficult.