Norman Conquest (selina escamilla)

By selinae
  • Jan 1, 1016

    Cnut of Denmark invaded England

    He eradicated all opposition in a pogrom in Winter 1017, and ruled thereafter with a combination of Danes and newly promoted English Earls who profited from the Danish Conquest
  • Jan 1, 1066

    Edward the Confessor dies

    Harold gambles and makes a bid for the Crown, supported by all the magnates of England
  • Jan 1, 1066

    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. He starts to gather his forces
  • May 1, 1066

    Tostig makes an abortive attempt to invade England

    Harold calls out the English levy to defend against an expected thrust from William, but it never comes.
  • Sep 20, 1066

    Harald Hardrada and Tostig defeat the hastily assembled forces of Earls Edwin & Morcar at Fulford outside York

    The army of the Earls is decimated and Edwin & Morcar are unable to play any more part in the campaigns of 1066
  • Sep 25, 1066

    Harold responds by scraping together a scratch force made up largely of his own housecarls and personal followers, and racing north, calling up the shire levies as he passes through

    In four days, he has marched 180 miles, and surprised the Norwegian army outside York at Stamford Bridge
  • Oct 1, 1066

    Harold learns of William's landing.

    He marches back down Ermine Street, stopping to pray at Waltham Abbey on the way. By 12th October, he is back in London and gathering what forces he could to face William.
  • Period: Oct 1, 1066 to Dec 1, 1066

    William is crowned King of England on Christmas Day in London by Archbishops Ealdred and Stigand

    Edwin, Morcar and Waltheof swear allegiance to him.
  • Oct 14, 1066

    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

    He intends to fight a purely defensive battle, sitting behind the famous Saxon shield wall and letting the Normans break themselves against it
  • Oct 14, 1066

    Harold takes an arrow in the eye and as his men mill around him

    four Norman knights break through and hack him down