Fewer events have been so decisive for English history than the Norman invasion of 1066. The death of the childless King Edward the Confessor put Harold Godwinson, the new Anglo-Saxon king on the throne, but started a struggle among some claimants to the English throne, among them Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, and William, duke of Normandy. So, their armies set sail to fight for their leaders’ rights to be the next king of England.

The king of Norway was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge so the destiny of the realm would be decided in a fierce crucial battle between the Saxons and the Normans at Hastings. At the end of the day, Duke William, soon to be known as “the Conqueror”, was victorious and a new era started for England.

The Saxons were brave defenders whose army was mainly composed of Fyrd and Huscarls, most of them on foot. Our bust would be a Saxon Huscarl, well equipped with a chainmail, conic helmet with nose guard and the signature weapon of those troops, the fearsome Danish long axe.