Battle at Hastings

__Harold’sright to the thronewas challenged by Duke William of Normandy. When the news reached him, he got furious. William was the Duke of Normandy in northern France and he was Edward’s cousin. Edward had grown up in Normandy and he had promised William the throne. Duke William was tall and strong and he was good at military science.

__Harold and most of his army had stayed on the hill. The Duke of Normandy ordered his archers to attack and they fired thousand of arrows into the air. Harold was looking at the sky of arrows in amazement. Accidentally one of the arrows hit him. The last Anglo-Saxon king was dead and King William won the throne of England.

Harold Godwinson’s Death

__After the battle of Hastings, William marched to London and was crowned King of England. He is now called William the Conqueror and 1066 is the most famous date in English history. It was a turning point for English history and the English language.

__ Harold’s men were tired, but they had no time to rest and they marched to Hastings as fast as possible. The English King decided not to wait for the whole Anglo-Saxons army because William’s army was small. He thought he could beat the enemy with the soldiers who had done so well against Hardraada’s army.

__Harold Godwinson was the most important of the Anglo-Saxons lords. Edward had been a weak king and Harold had been the real ruler of the country for many years. Harold had already shown his bravery and abilities. He had no royal blood, but he seemed a good choice for the English throne. When Edward died at the end of 1065, Harold was crowned king.

__ But if William was tall,Harald Hardraada was even taller. He was a giant, almost seven feet tall. Hardraada’s ancestors had been kings of England before Edward that’s why he was sure he had all the rights for the English throne.

__The Anglo-Saxons and Norwegian armies met at Stamford Bridge near the city of York. Before the battle, Hardraada asked King Harold: ‘How much of England will you give me?’ ‘Seven feet,’ Godwinson replied, ‘enough for your grave’.

__Harold was faced by two dangers, one in the north and one in the south.The first challenge to King Harold Godwin came from the north. In 1066 at the end of the summer, Harald Hardraada landed in the north-eastern coat of England. Godwinson marched north with his army.