The Battle of Hastings

The Battle of Hastings took place on October 14, 1066. It was one of the most important battles in English history and pitted the Anglo-Saxon and Norman armies against each other.

After the death of Edward the Confessor, Harold Godwindson became the king of England. A few days before the Norman invasion, Harold's troops had repelled a Norwegian invasion, and the army was weakened from the battle.

At this point, William of Normandy's army, with a core of elite Norman cavalry, sailed across the English Channel and landed at Pevensey. They established a fortification there and moved on to Hastings, where the pivotal battle was fought.

During the battle, the English attempted to use the age-old strategy of the shield wall, but Norman cavalry broke through. King Harold was killed in the fighting. The Normans had successfully invaded England. William was crowned King William I on Christmas Day, 1066.