Battle of Hastings

The battle of Hastings, in which the Anglo-Saxon king Harold II attempted to defend his realm from the invasion forces of William, Duke of Normandy (later known as William the Conqueror), took place on 14 October 1066. The battle, won by William, marked the beginning of the Norman conquest of 1066. The Norman conquest heralded a dramatic and irreversible turning point in English history: William the Conqueror secured his hold on the lands he had invaded, replacing the English ruling class with Norman counterparts and building defensive fortresses at strategic points throughout the kingdom. He also set about transforming the face of Anglo-Saxon England: under William the feudal system [a hierarchical system in which people held lands in return for providing loyalty or services to a lord] was introduced; the church was reorganised and England’s links to Europe were strengthened

The battle of Stamford Bridge, 1066. (Mary Evans Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo)

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1066 – how the Viking diversion cost Harold his throne. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Events leading up to the battle of Hastings, and the conflict itself, are depicted in the Bayeux tapestry, a 68-metre-long embroidered frieze probably made within 20 years of the Conquest. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

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Bayeux unravelled: the scenes behind the threads. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

BBC History Magazine

Bid to uncover battle of Hastings remains

The White Tower, one of the oldest parts of the Tower of London complex, was built by William the Conqueror. (Getty Images)

Norman

Castles of the Conqueror

Cliffords tower, built by Henry III between 1250-1275, rear view, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom, 13th century

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Where History Happened: The Norman Conquest. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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