1066: A Timeline of the Norman Conquest
Norman knights and archers at the Battle of Hastings depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry
To help you get ready for our Special Issue on the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings, we've prepared a timeline for the events of the year 1066.
January 4 - Edward the Confessor, King of England, dies
January 6 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England
Late January - William, Duke of Normandy, begins preparations to invade England to assert his claim over England
August 12 - William’s army and fleet are based at St. Valery in Normandy, but are unable to cross the English Channel due to adverse winds
September 8 - Harold disbands his army on the south coast of England, believing that William will not attempt a crossing of the English Channel that year
Mid-September - A fleet from Norway arrives on the northeast coast of England, commanded by King Harald Hardrada with Tostig, brother of King Harold
September 20 - The Battle of Fulford Gate see the Norse army defeat an English army led by Edwin, Earl of Mercia, and his brother Morcar, Earl of Northumbria. York surrenders to Harald Hardrada
September 25 - King Harold Godwinson arrives in York, after a four-day march from southern England, and then defeats and kills Harald and Tostig at the Battle of Stamford Bridge
September 28 - After setting sail a day earlier, the Norman fleet lands at Pevensey, on the southern coast of England
September 29 - Duke William occupies Hastings
October 1 - King Harold, still at York, learns of the landing of the Normans and begins a march back to southern England
October 6 - King Harold arrives in London
October 11 - Harold and the English army march out of London and go to Rochester
October 13 - The English army camps at Senlac Hill, about 10 kilometres from Hastings. William marches his forces there.
October 14 - The Battle of Hastings is fought, ending with victory for Duke William and the death of Harold
Mid-October - While the Normans remain near the battlefield, the remaining English leaders return to London and name Edgar the Aetheling the new King of England
October 21 - The Norman army goes to Dover, which surrenders
October 29 - The Normans arrive at Canterbury
November - Duke William’s army approaches London, but the city does not surrender to the Normans
Early December - English and Norman leaders meet at Berkhamsted, where Edgar the Aetheling and other English leaders surrender to William
December 25 - Duke William of Normandy is crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey
Want to know more? Order our Special Issue of Medieval Warfare magazine on The Battle of Hastings
