Hastings 2006 was a major reenactment

Battle of Hastings reenactment

The Battle of Hastings reenactment is a yearly reenactment of the Battle of Hastings, held at Battle Abbey in Battle, East Sussex, UK, and drawing participants from around the world...

 of the Battle of Hastings

Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...

 which took place on October 14-15, 2006.

It was staged on the site of the original battle in the grounds of Battle Abbey

Battle Abbey

Battle Abbey is a partially ruined abbey complex in the small town of Battle in East Sussex, England. The abbey was built on the scene of the Battle of Hastings and dedicated to St...

, near the town of Battle, East Sussex

Battle, East Sussex

Battle is a small town and civil parish in the local government district of Rother in East Sussex, England. It lies south southeast of London, east of Brighton and east of the county town of Lewes...

.

Building on the success of Hastings 2000

Hastings 2000

Hastings 2000 was a major re-enactment of the Battle of Hastings which took place on the 14 and 15 October 2000.It was staged on the site of the original battle near the town of Battle, East Sussex....

, it was organised by English Heritage

English Heritage

English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...

 and The Vikings

The Vikings (reenactment)

"The Vikings" is a British society of re-enactors, dedicated to the study and re-enactment of the culture of the Viking Age and the display of authentic Dark Ages living history and combat.- Origins :...

, with participants from many medieval reenactment

Medieval reenactment

Medieval reenactment is a form of historical reenactment that focuses on re-enacting European history in the period from the fall of Rome to about the end of the 15th century. The second half of this period is often called the Middle Ages...

 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

Taillefer

Taillefer was the surname of a Norman ioglere whose exact name and place of birth are unknown . He travelled to England during the Norman conquest of England of 1066, in the train of William the Conqueror...

 incident, the presumed death of William the Conqueror, and Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson

Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...

 being shot by Norman

Normans

The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...

 archers and then cut down by a Norman cavalry attack.

As well as the battle combat reenactment

Combat reenactment

Combat reenactment is a side of historical reenactment which aims to depict historical forms of combat. This may refer to either single combat, melees involving small groups, or nearly full-scale battles with hundreds of participants....

, there was a large living history

Living history

Living history is an activity that incorporates historical tools, activities and dress into an interactive presentation that seeks to give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. Although it does not necessarily seek to reenact a specific event in history, living history is...

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").