Events of 1066

Events of 1066

Period: Jan 1, 1066 to Oct 20, 1066

Accession of Harold

Jan 5, 1066

Corrination og Harold

Jan 6, 1066

Plans to invade England

Jan 20, 1066

As news of the accession and coronation of Harold Godwineson spread, both William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada of Norway, Harold's rivals for the English throne, raised forces and planned to invade England.

Battle of Fiulford

Sep 20, 1066

Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, allied with the Orkney Vikings and Harold Godwinson's brother Tostig and invaded the north of England. The combined forces of Mercia and Northumberland led by earls Edwin and Morcar were heavily defeated outside York. Harold was forced to march his army north to fight off the Norwegian invasion.

Battle of Stamford Bridge

Sep 25, 1066

Harold Godwineson surprised Harald Hardrada's forces as they rested outside York. Both Hardrada and Tostig were killed and the invading forces defeated. Harold had recovered Northumbria but his army was considerably weakened.

Normans set sail for England

Sep 27, 1066

When he heard that Harold had been forced North, William mounted his invasion. A fleet of ships carrying about 5,000 warriors, horses, arms and supplies left France, paid for by William's brother, Odo, bishop of Bayeux.

Normans invade England

Sep 28, 1066

William Duke of Normandy landed at Pevensey in the South of England and began a march towards Hastings where a wooden fort was built. Harold Godwinson's weakened army were forced to march rapidly South.

Battle of Hastings

Oct 14, 1066

Harold's army had returned South and Harold, hoping to surprise the Normans. The battle lasted all day and towards the end of the day Harold fell, popularly thought to be from an arrow in the eye, but actually from a sword blow wielded by a mounted Norman Knight. The English infantry was broken, William had won the battle. He gave thanks for victory by founding an altar and later an abbey at the place known afterwards as Battle.