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The army of Duke William of Normandy had a large number of trained warriors or mercernaries who fought with him for a share of the spoils of war.

It had a strength of 8,400 soldiers consisting of 2,200 cavalry, 1,700 archers and 4,500 infantry (men-at-arms). The archers would first attack the enemy, and would be followed by the infantry and a cavalry charge.

The strength of the English army was 7,500 and consisted entirely of infantry. Of these , about 2,000 were Housecarls, full time professional soldiers who were dedicated to the King of England and would fight to the last man. The rest of the army were 5,500 fyrd, who were part time soldiers drawn from small landholding nobility.