Alfred's fortified burhs are credited with 28,000 paid troops in addition to local militiamen. Recruitment through the five-hide system supplied a further select levy of about 20,000 trained campaign troops. Kings could also call on their own armed followings and those of their magnates. Harold's roughly 8,000 soldiers at Hastings, mostly from the select levy, therefore represented only a fraction of the forces potentially available for campaigning.
Notable Point · 1:04:47-1:05:29
Alfred's garrisons and Harold's field army drew on different forces
Burh garrisons, a select levy, and personal followings show why Harold's army at Hastings represented only part of Anglo-Saxon military manpower.