Infantry

William’s army combined archers, infantry and cavalry. Archers could attack from a distance; infantry could engage the enemy directly; mounted knights could charge, reposition and pursue fleeing opponents. Coordinating these different troops is called combined-arms tactics.

Peasant infantry fought on foot and had lower status; their protection could include skull caps and leather jackets.

Alexander’s army combined infantry, who fought on foot, with cavalry, who fought on horseback. Its infantry phalanx used long spears in a close formation. Alexander personally led the elite Companion cavalry, while his experienced general Parmenion usually commanded the left flank.

William had a mixture of archers, infantry and cavalry: bowmen, foot soldiers and mounted fighters. Initially, he arranged archers at the front, infantry behind them and cavalry at the rear. These forces offered different ways to attack, but they still had to overcome Harold’s strong position.