The Battle of Hastings

• The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066 between the Norman-French army of William and the English army of Harold Godwinson.
• It took place near Battle, East Sussex and was a decisive Norman victory.
• The battle was part of the Norman Conquest of England.
• The death of King Edward the Confessor in 1066 set up a succession struggle.
• Harold was crowned king but faced invasions by William, Tostig, and Harald Hardrada.
• Tostig and Hardrada were defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, leaving William as Harold's only serious opponent.
• William landed his invasion forces in the south of England and Harold was forced to march south swiftly.
• The exact numbers present at the battle are unknown, but the English army was composed almost entirely of infantry and had few archers.
• The Normans adopted the tactic of pretending to flee in panic and then turning on their pursuers.
• Harold's death led to the retreat and defeat of most of his army, and William was crowned as king on Christmas Day 1066.

Test your knowledge on one of the most significant battles in English history - The Battle of Hastings. Explore the tactics used by the Norman-French army of William and the English army of Harold Godwinson, and the events leading up to the decisive Norman victory. Challenge yourself with questions on the succession struggle, the invasion forces, and the tactics employed during the battle. See how much you know about this historic event and its impact on the Norman Conquest of England. Take the quiz now!