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Battle of Hastings

October 14, 1066

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When Edward the Confessor died in 1065, he made a deathbed grant to Harold of the crown of England. William, duke of Normandy, felt that it had been promised to him, so he invaded England. At almost exactly the same time, the king of Norway invaded the north of the country. Harold took his army north and repelled the Norsemen, but the Normans were able to safely land at Pevensey Bay on September 28, 1066.

Harold brought his English forces back from the north and took up a strong position on the hill of Senlac near Hastings. The Normans attacked on the morning of October 14, but were repeatedly driven back. Then the Normans pretended to flee, causing the English to rush from their strongholds in pursuit. The Norman knights then divided and defeated the English. Harold was killed when an arrow struck him in the eye.

William was crowned on Christmas Day at Westminster Abbey, but it took five more years to crush the last resistance and finally earn the title William the Conqueror.