The Battle of Hastings

Study Notes

The Battle of Hastings was fought on October 14, 1066 between the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, and the English army under King Harold Godwinson.
The battle marked the beginning of the Norman Conquest of England.
King Edward the Confessor's death in January 1066 set up a succession struggle between several claimants to his throne.
Harold was crowned king but faced invasions by William, his own brother Tostig, and the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada.
Tostig and Hardrada were defeated by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
William landed his invasion forces in the south of England at Pevensey on September 28, 1066.
Harold was forced to march south swiftly, gathering forces as he went.
The exact numbers present at the battle are unknown, but 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.
The battle lasted from about 9 am to dusk, and Harold's death led to the retreat and defeat of most of his army.
William was crowned as king on Christmas Day 1066, and Hastings effectively marked the culmination of William's conquest of England.

Description

Test your knowledge of one of the most significant battles in English history with our Battle of Hastings quiz! From the succession struggle that led to the battle, to the composition of the armies and the events that unfolded on the day itself, our quiz covers everything you need to know about this historic event. See how many questions you can answer correctly and impress your friends with your newfound knowledge of the Norman Conquest of England.