The Battle of Hastings: 950 years since 1066

The Battle of Hastings: the day Anglo-Saxon rule was finally crippled in England. After smashing the Vikings at Stamford Bridge, Harold Godwinson and his army made the long journey south to do exactly the same to William and his Norman raiders. After the death of Edward the Confessor, there had been a succession crisis and three men were engaged in this very real game of thrones. The Saxon Harold Godwinson, the Norman William I and the Norwegian King, Harald Hardrada. With Harald knocked out of the running at Stamford Bridge, it was down to two men. As William landed his forces on England’s south coast, Harold lined his men at the top of Senlac Hill, not far from the town of Hastings. The battle for England was about to begin.

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