The Battle of Hastings was one of the most significant battles in English history. Fought on October fourteenth, ten sixty-six, near the town of Hastings in southern England, this battle would determine the future of the English throne and fundamentally change the course of English civilization.
The battle was fought between two powerful leaders with competing claims to the English throne. William, Duke of Normandy, claimed the crown through his relationship with Edward the Confessor and alleged promise from Harold. Harold Godwinson was the Anglo-Saxon king who had just defeated another claimant, Harald Hardrada of Norway, at the Battle of Stamford Bridge just weeks earlier.
The battle showcased contrasting military tactics. The English forces, led by Harold, formed a defensive shield wall on Senlac Hill, using their traditional battle axes and spears. The Normans employed a combined arms approach with cavalry charges, archers, and infantry. William's forces used innovative tactics including feigned retreats to break the English shield wall formation.