Norman Period

1066 AD - King Edward, the Confessor, dies
On the next day, Harold was crowned King. His only claim to the throne was that he was Edward’s brother-in-law. There were two main rivals to his claim: Haardrada, King of Norway and William, Duke of Normandy.

- Battle of Stamford Bridge
England was invaded by Harold’s brother Tostig, and Haardrada, King of Norway. In a double-pronged attack, Haardrada sailed up the Tyne and turned south to meet Tostig who had sailed up the Humber and the Ouse. Their combined force was two hundred warships and three hundred store ships. Harold marched north and defeated them at Stamford Bridge which lies east of York.

- Invasion by William the Conqueror [larger image of Norman Knights]
Four days after Stamford Bridge, William of Normandy came ashore at Pevensey in Sussex. Harold and his mounted infantry rode 190 miles south to try to repel William’s invasion. The two armies met at Hastings.