The Battle of Hastings

Why Was There a Battle?

 Edward the Confessor, King of England, died in January 1066 without leaving an obvious heir.  The throne was immediately claimed by Harold Godwinson, son of the Earl Godwin, one of Edward’s most powerful nobles.  He was not of the royal line, but was accepted as many believed (or chose to believe) that the Confessor had selected him as his heir. 

William, Duke of Normandy, begged to differ.  Unlike Harold, he was a relative of Edward’s (his grandfather’s sister had been Edward’s mother) and he also claimed that the old king had bequeathed the throne to him.  It is true that Harold made a journey to Normandy in the years leading up to Edward’s death.  If the Bayeux Tapestry is to be believed, he swore an oath to William that he would support him when the time came to claim the crown.

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Regardless of whether or not Harold did swear, and whether or not he was compelled to swear, when William was informed of Harold’s coronation he took this as a declaration of war.  He began to make preparations for an invasion.

The Events of 1066

 Harold certainly cannot claim total ignorance of William’s claim to the throne.  The invasion was anticipated and September 1066 saw the new king camped with his army in the south of England watching the channel for Norman ships.

It was at this point that family infighting returned to haunt Harold and seriously undermined his chances of beating William.  Harold’s older brother Tostig had formerly been Earl of Northumberland.  His behaviour in the north had so outraged the local barons that they had complained to Harold.  He had intervened in the conflict and to Tostig’s disgust had taken the part of the barons and expelled his brother from his position.

Tostig was bent on revenge and persuaded the Norwegian king Harold Hardrada, to invade England in search of the crown.  Yet again a justification was felt necessary, and the invaders claimed that the Confessor had in fact promised the throne to Hardrada’s predecessor.  They landed in the north of England in September 1066 and advanced on York.  Harold received the news and immediately led his army north to meet the Vikings.