Questions and Answers
What date was the Battle of Hastings fought?
14 October 1066
Who was the English king during the Battle of Hastings?
Harold Godwinson
What was the composition of the English army?
Mostly infantry with some archers
Study Notes
- In 1066, the English king Harold Godwinson faced invasions by the Norman-French army of William, the Duke of Normandy.
- The battle took place on 14 October 1066 and was a decisive Norman victory.
- The death of the childless King Edward the Confessor set up a succession struggle between several claimants to his throne.
- Harold was crowned king shortly after Edwards death, but faced invasions by William, his own brother Tostig, and the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada.
- Hardrada and Tostig defeated a hastily gathered army of Englishmen at the Battle of Fulford on 20 September 1066.
- Harold was forced to march south swiftly, gathering forces as he went.
- The composition of the forces is clearer: the English army was composed almost entirely of infantry and had few archers, whereas only about half of the invading force was infantry, the rest split equally between cavalry and archers.
- Harolds death, probably near the end of the battle, led to the retreat and defeat of most of his army.
- After further marching and some skirmishes, William was crowned as king on Christmas Day 1066.
- There continued to be rebellions and resistance to Williams rule, but Hastings effectively marked the culmination of Williams conquest of England.
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