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Edward the Confessor dies. Harold gambles and makes a bid for the Crown, supported by all the magnates of England. William does nothing, despite the so-called
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Tostig comes to Flanders looking for aid in his projected bid against Harold. Whether he makes a deal with William is a moot point, but certainly William sees this as his chance to invade.
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•May 1066: Tostig makes an abortive attempt to invade England. Harold calls out the English levy (the fyrd) to defend against an expected thrust from William, but it never comes.
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Harold answers by scraping together a scratch force made up largely of his own house Carl's to race to the North.
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By 12th October, he is back in London and gathering what forces he could to face William.
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•20th September 1066: After sailing up the Ouse with more than 10,000 men in 200 longships, Harald Hardrada and Tostig defeat the hastily assembled forces of Earls Edwin & Morcar at Fulford outside York.
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Harold responds by scraping together a scratch force made up largely of his own housecarls and personal followers, and racing north.
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Having sailed his fleet to St Valery sur Somme, William waits for the wind to be in the right direction.
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While at York, Harold learns of William's landing. He marches back down Ermine Street, stopping to pray at Waltham Abbey (which he had founded) on the way.
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Harold takes up a position blocking the Norman advance to London on Senlac Ridge at the site of Battle with an army of little more than 5,000 weary and footsore men.
