by Mark Hopkins

Created on: January 23, 2011

The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066, the most famous date in English history. On a hillside a few miles inland from the south coast town of Hastings, Sussex, two armies and two cultures clashed. The outcome changed the future course of English and British history.

England was already well established as a united country in 1066. It was a prosperous kingdom with a highly efficient system of government, but its old King, Edward 'the Confessor', had died in January without having left any descendants or adult blood relatives from whom a successor could be chosen. (Primogeniture was not the inevitable English custom at this time).

There is little doubt that the leading Englishmen, the Witan, who acted as the King's advisers, accepted his brother in law  Earl Harold Godwinson, as the new King.  He was crowned as King Harold II in a ceremony conducted by the Archbishop of York at Westminster Abbey soon after 'the Confessor's' death. This was all in accordance with English custom. King Harold had previously been Earl of Wessex, had successfully led the English army,  and was the richest and most powerful man in England, next to the King, who had been married to Harold's sister.

Two other leading political and military figures had long had designs upon the throne of England though. Harald Hardrada, the Norwegian king, was a successor of previous Viking kings such as Cnut, who had ruled England from 1016-1035. William, Duke of Normandy in northern France, was a distant cousin of 'the Confessor', had known him for many years (as a child and young man, 'the Confessor' had lived in Normandy). William  had visited King Edward 'the Confessor' in England in 1051 and claimed that he had been promised the English throne by the King.

Thus, trouble was expected in 1066. King Harold and the English anticipated an assault across the Channel by Duke William and the national militia, the Fyrd, were called up and deployed along the south coast to repel any landing. The English fleet was positioned around the Isle of Wight. All through the spring and summer the English maintained this posture of defense, but nothing happened. By September, with militia desperate to return to their villages and harvest their crops, the fleet was recalled to the Thames and the Fyrd was sent home. It seemed the danger had passed.  With deteriorating weather, the traditional campaigning season was at an end.

Then, two invasions came.

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