The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was one of the most decisive and influential military engagements in English history. The victory by William, Duke of Normandy, over the Anglo-Saxon King Harold II set in motion the Norman Conquest that reshaped England‘s political, social, and cultural landscape for centuries to come. But how exactly did William emerge triumphant on that fateful October day?
The Road to Hastings
The roots of the battle lay in a succession crisis following the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor in January 1066. Edward‘s brother-in-law Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, claimed the throne and was crowned king by the English nobles. But he had rivals—most notably William of Normandy, who contended that Edward had promised him the crown years earlier and that Harold had sworn an oath to support his claim.
Determined to press his cause, William spent months gathering an invasion force, calling in favors from allies and promising lands and titles to adventurers who joined his ranks. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a contemporary historical text, suggests William‘s army numbered around 7,000 men, including 2,000-3,000 cavalry. Many were battle-hardened veterans of William‘s campaigns in France.
Meanwhile, Harold faced threats on two fronts. In the north, his exiled brother Tostig allied with the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada to launch their own invasion. Harold raced north and decisively crushed their forces at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25. But just days later, word reached him that William had landed in Sussex. Harold rushed his weary army south to confront the new threat.
Strengths and Weaknesses
On the eve of battle, the two rivals were in contrasting positions. William had the benefit of time—his army had been in England for two weeks, resting and foraging while waiting for Harold‘s approach. The Normans were well equipped with archers, infantry and a strong force of cavalry, which would prove a decisive edge against the English.
Harold‘s troops were exhausted after their forced march from the north and their numbers depleted following Stamford Bridge, where he lost two brothers and many of his best fighters. Historians estimate he fielded around 5,000-7,000 men at Hastings, but these were mostly foot soldiers as the English army relied less on cavalry.
Where Harold had an advantage was the high ground—he deployed his army in a strong defensive position atop Senlac Hill, protected by a wall of shields and stakes. If they could hold firm and grind down the Normans in a defensive battle, victory might be possible.
The Battle Begins
As dawn broke on October 14, William‘s army assembled at the base of Senlac Hill. The Norman archers let loose the first volleys but made little impact against the English shields. The infantry then launched a frontal assault but they too were repelled. Finally, William sent in his cavalry. One contemporary source, William of Poitiers, described the mounted charge:
"The English stood firm…the Normans furiously attacked…William himself, seizing his moment, charged at their forefront, cutting down the enemy left and right…"
But despite repeated attacks, the English line held. The battle raged for hours in a brutal stalemate, with high casualties on both sides. According to one modern estimate by historian Richard Abels, the Normans suffered around 2,000 dead and wounded, indicating the ferocity of the fighting.
The Turning Point
As the day wore on, the Normans employed a risky tactic—the feigned retreat. Small groups of cavalry would charge the English, then suddenly turn and flee as if in panic. Some over-eager English soldiers took the bait, breaking formation to pursue down the hill, only to be surrounded and cut down by the regrouping Normans. These ruses slowly thinned out Harold‘s lines.
The decisive moment came late in the day, during yet another Norman cavalry assault. As depicted in the famous Bayeux Tapestry, King Harold was struck in the eye by an arrow and fell mortally wounded. Without their leader, the English ranks disintegrated into panic and then retreat.
Modern historians still debate whether Harold was indeed shot in the eye, as the Tapestry suggests, or was simply hacked to death in the final melee as other sources claim. But all agree his death was the battle‘s conclusive turning point. As the English fled into the night, William‘s mounted troops pursued and cut them down.
The Aftermath
In the battle‘s immediate aftermath, English resistance crumbled. The remaining Saxon nobles submitted to William, who was crowned king in London on Christmas Day 1066. But his conquest was far from complete—rebellions flared up for several years until crushed by Norman might and castles built across the land to enforce the new regime‘s authority.
The impact of Hastings stretched far beyond 1066. The Normans brought new systems of feudalism, art, architecture and military organization to England. Thousands of French words entered the English language, particularly in government and law. England turned from a Scandinavian-oriented culture toward closer ties with Western Europe.
Hastings marked the last successful invasion of England—and the first and only time since that an English or British monarch died in battle. It was a turning point between the ancient and medieval worlds, a hinge between Anglo-Saxon and Norman England. As historian David Howarth put it:
"If William had not succeeded in 1066…the whole history of England would have been different…the Battle of Hastings…is one of the few battles which can be said to have genuinely and permanently altered the course of history."
Through superior military technology, clever tactics, inspirational leadership and a fateful final blow, William the Conqueror won both victory at Hastings and a kingdom to call his own. His conquest ushered in a new era for England—an era that still resonates today in the island nation‘s politics, language, culture and identity. The echoes of Hastings still sound through the centuries.
