The Battle of Hastings in 1066

The Battle of Hastings was fought on October 14, 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, the Duke of Normandy, and an English army under the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson.

The battle was a decisive Norman victory, resulting in the English King Harold's death.

The background to the battle was the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor, which 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, and were in turn defeated by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge five days later.

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.