The battle of Hastings was a battle held in 1066, following the death of Edward the Confessor. The battle was between William I the Conqueror and Harold Godwinson. This battle was held near Hastings–approximately 7 miles away–in England.
William I was a distant cousin of Edward and was promised the throne shortly before Edward’s death. However, immediately after Edward the Confessor passed away, a Saxon Earl called Harold Godwinson, who was also Edward’s brother in law, crowned himself. This was devastating to William I and in a fury, he sailed with his army over to England, landing on the 28th of September, 1066. As William landed in England, Harold was busy fighting another invader – Harold Hardrada of Norway – in a battle of the Harold’s! After Harold Godwinson’s victory, the real battle was only just to begin. On the 14th of October of the same year, the forces of William I and King Harold Godwinson collided and the Battle of Hastings begun. The battle spanned the length of a day and was dramatically ended when King Harold was killed and his army collapsed with the absence of their leader. Achieving his goals, William I and his wife, Matilda of Flanders, were crowned on Christmas day. This glorious victory marked the beginning of his reign as King of England. |
For more information on the Battle of Hastings, you can go to;
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-hastings
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-hastings