The Norman Invasion 1066 When Edward the Confessor died on January 4th 1066 he did so without leaving a son or daughter to become the new King or Queen of England. The three claimants who fought to take control of the throne of England were: -
- Harold, the Earl of Wessex
- Harald Hardrada, the King of Norway
- William, the Duke of Normandy, the Conqueror
Harold as King of England When Edward the Confessor died the rightful heir to the English throne was Edgar the Aethling. Unfortunately the boy was too young to rule and the English noblemen chose Harold Earl of Wessex as their next King. Harold became King of England on January 6th. Invasion by Tostig and Harald Hardrada, King of Norway Tostig was the brother of King Harold and had been the Earl of Northumbria until the Northumbrians revolted against him. Tostig went into exile to Flanders but in May of 1066 he invaded southern England with a sizable invasion fleet. His invasion plans failed and he sailed north, first to Scotland and then to Norway and the court of Harald Hardrada. Tostig pursuaded Harald Hardrada to assist him invade England. In September 1066 Harald and Tostig with a large invasion fleet sailed up the River Humber heading for York. On September 20th at Gate Fulford just a couple of miles south of York the English, lead by Earls Edwin and Morcar, fought the invaders. The English were defeated by the invaders.
Battle of Stamford Bridge During the summer of 1066 King Harold had been preparing for the invasion of William of Normandy. William had been building up a large invasion fleet in Normandy and it was only a matter of time before he sailed across the English Channel. Harold's army was on the south coast and when Earls Edwin and Morcar were killed at Gate Fulford Harold had no choice but to march his army north to deal with the invasion of Tostig and Harald Hardrada. The armies met on September 25th at Stamford Bridge just a few miles to the east of York in Yorkshire. King Harold won the battle where both Tostig and Harald Haradrada were killed. Invasion by William, the Duke of Normandy At about the same time that King Harold was dealing with the invasion in the north, William had set sail from Normandy. William's fleet landed at Pevensey on the south coast of England on September 27th and his army moved up the coast to Hastings where temporary fortifications were built. It is possible that William's army brought wooden castles in pieces with them that they could rebuild in England. On October 1st King Harold heard news of William's arrival and immediately began the long journey south with his army. By October 6th Harold had reached London where his army rested. On October 11th Harold and his army left London to fight William. Battle of Hastings The Norman and English armies met at Hastings on October 14th. After the battle King Harold was dead and William the Conqueror and his army had won. William's invasion route
This diagram shows the route that William and his army took from Pevensey, where they landed, to London. A direct route to London was not possible so William had to circle the city and enter from the north. William Crowned King of England William met some resistance as he moved around southern England towards London. His army was repulsed to the south of London so William had to march around the city looking for suitable river crossing points. At Berkhamsted William was met by several Earls and the Archbishop of York who accepted William as their new King. William the Conqueror was crowned King of England on December 25th 1066, Christmas Day, at Westminster Abbey in London. William's control of England was not complete. In the following years he had to deal with several uprisings against him. | The Norman Invasion 1066 This chart shows the events of 1066.
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