Norman Battle

The Norman Battle, most famously known as the Battle of Hastings, took place on October 14, 1066, and marked a turning point in English history. The conflict was fought between William, Duke of Normandy, and King Harold II of England for control of the English throne. After the death of Edward the Confessor, both men claimed the crown, Harold as the appointed successor and William as the promised heir. William invaded England with a powerful army of Norman knights, archers, and infantry, landing at Pevensey on the southern coast. The two forces clashed near the town of Hastings in a fierce day-long battle. Despite Harold’s strong defensive position on Senlac Hill, the Normans’ strategic use of cavalry and feigned retreats eventually broke the English lines. King Harold was killed in combat, legend says by an arrow to the eye, and his death ended Anglo-Saxon rule.