Events of the Conquest

By amberlevy
  • Period: Jan 1, 1016 to Nov 1, 1017

    Key Events Prior to 1066

    Cnut of Denmark invaded England
  • Jan 1, 1066

    Early 1066

    Edward the Confessor dies. Harold gambles and makes a bid for the Crown, supported by all the magnates of England. Tostig comes to Flanders looking for aid in his projected bid against Harold.
  • May 1, 1066

    Tostig tries to invade England

    Tostig makes an abortive attempt to invade England. Harold calls out the English levy to defend against an expected thrust from William, but it never comes.
  • Sep 20, 1066

    The eve of conquest

    After sailing up the Ouse with more than 10,000 men in 200 longships, Harald Hardrada and Tostig defeat the hastily assembled forces of Earls Edwin & Morcar at Fulford outside York.
  • Sep 25, 1066

    Eve of conquest

    Harold responds by scraping together a scratch force made up largely of his own housecarls and personal followers, and racing north, calling up the shire levies as he passes through. In four days, he has marched 180 miles, and surprised the Norwegian army outside York at Stamford Bridge.
  • Sep 28, 1066

    Eve of conquest

    Having sailed his fleet to St Valery sur Somme, William waits for the wind to be in the right direction. It changes 2 days after Stamford Bridge, and William's fleet makes landfall at Pevensey completely unopposed.
  • Oct 1, 1066

    Eve of conquest

    While at York, Harold learns of William's landing. He marches back down Ermine Street, stopping to pray at Waltham Abbey on the way. By 12th October, he is back in London and gathering what forces he could to face William.
  • Oct 14, 1066

    Hasting

    Harold takes up a position blocking the Norman advance to London on Senlac Ridge at the site of Battle with an army of little more than 5,000 weary and footsore men.He intends to fight a purely defensive battle, sitting behind the famous Saxon shield wall and letting the Normans break themselves against it. Seeing victory in their grasp, the English right charges down the slope after them, exposing themselves to a devastating counter-attack led by William himself.
  • Dec 1, 1066

    Hastings (Oct-Dec 1066)

    A state of war continues until Christmas 1066, when a deal is struck between William and the English magnates in which he guarantees their positions in return for their support. William is crowned King of England on Christmas Day in London by Archbishops Ealdred and Stigand. Edwin, Morcar and Waltheof swear allegiance to him.