The Battle of Hastings is one of the most important events in British history. Fought on 14 October 1066, it changed England forever.
What Happened
In January 1066, King Edward the Confessor died without an heir. Harold Godwinson was crowned King of England, but William of Normandy believed he had been promised the throne.
William invaded England with approximately 7,000 soldiers. Harold marched south after defeating another invasion at Stamford Bridge. The armies met near Hastings.
The Battle
- Harold's army held the high ground on Senlac Hill
- The English fought with shields and axes in a "shield wall"
- William used cavalry, archers, and infantry
- After hours of fighting, Harold was killed (legend says by an arrow to the eye)
- The English army collapsed and William won
The Norman Conquest
After Hastings, William marched to London. He was crowned King on Christmas Day 1066.
The Norman Conquest brought massive changes: - **New ruling class** - Norman lords replaced English nobles - **Feudal system** - Land granted in exchange for military service - **Castles** - William built castles across England to control the population - **Domesday Book** - A great survey of all England (1086) - **Language** - French became the language of the court and law
Legacy
The Battle of Hastings ended Anglo-Saxon England and began a new era. Norman French influenced English language, law, and culture for centuries.