Senlac Hill (also known as Senlac Ridge), was the ridge on which King Harold II deployed his army for the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066. The high ground the hill offered gave the English a great advantage over the Normans, who made repeated charges up the hill but to no avail. It was only when the Normans feigned retreat did the English leave the hill to pursue the Normans. Once the English were on flat ground the Normans made their stand, soon Harold II was killed in battle and the English became disorganized allowing the Normans to win the battle.1
Etymology
It was originally known in English as Santlache ("Sandy Stream"), which the Normans punned into Sanguelac ("Blood Lake") which was then shortened to Senlac: thus Senlac Hill is the commonly held name for the high ground defended by the English army. Senlac Hill was c. 275 feet above sea level, before the top of the ridge was leveled off to create Battle Abbey.
References
^ Baugh, Albert; Thomas Cable [1951] (2006). A History of the English Language, 5th, Oxon, England: Routledge, 111. ISBN 0-415-28099-0.
