Introduction to the Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings was a significant event in English history that took place on October 14, 1066. It was a decisive battle fought between the Norman-French army led by William the Conqueror and the English army led by King Harold II. This battle marked the beginning of Norman rule in England and had far-reaching consequences for the country’s political, social, and cultural development.

Key points:

• It was fought in the county of Sussex, England.
• The battle lasted from morning until late afternoon.
• King Harold II was killed during the battle, leading to the collapse of the English army.
• William the Conqueror emerged victorious and became the first Norman king of England.
• The Norman conquest of England brought significant changes to the country’s language, legal system, and feudal structure.
• The battle is often considered a turning point in English history, marking the end of the Anglo-Saxon era.

Who’s Who

• William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy, later King of England)
• Harold Godwinson (King of England)
• Harold Hardrada (King of Norway)
• Edgar Ætheling (Claimant to the English throne)
• Tostig Godwinson (Harold’s brother and former Earl of Northumbria)
• Ealdred, Archbishop of York
• William FitzOsbern (William’s trusted advisor)
• Odo, Bishop of Bayeux (William’s half-brother and military commander)
• Gyrth and Leofwine Godwinson (Harold’s brothers and key commanders)
• Eustace of Boulogne (Norman noble and ally of William)

Timeline

• January 5, 1066: King Edward the Confessor of England dies without a direct heir, leading to a succession crisis.
• January 6, 1066: Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, is crowned King of England, claiming the throne after Edward’s death.
• September 8, 1066: King Harold Hardrada of Norway, along with his ally Tostig Godwinson, Harold’s brother, lands in Northern England with a Viking army and defeats the English forces at the Battle of Fulford.
• September 25, 1066: Harold Godwinson rushes north to confront the invading Norwegians and decisively defeats them at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where Hardrada and Tostig are killed.
• September 28, 1066: William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, lands at Pevensey on the south coast of England with his Norman army, beginning his campaign to claim the English crown.
• October 14, 1066: The Battle of Hastings takes place near Hastings in East Sussex. The English army, led by King Harold, faces William’s Norman forces in a day-long battle that ends with Harold’s death and a victory for the Normans.
• December 25, 1066: William is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, solidifying his conquest of England and the beginning of Norman rule.