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Period: Jan 1, 1065 to Dec 31, 1067
Norman Invasion
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Jan 1, 1066
the events of 1066
January 1066: 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 oath -
Mar 1, 1066
Early 1066
Early 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 -
May 1, 1066
the events of 1066
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. -
Sep 8, 1066
Harold has to disband the fyrd
By 8th September, Harold has to disband the fyrd and let it go home to harvest its crops. -
Sep 20, 1066
The eve of conquest
•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 -
Sep 25, 1066
The eve of conquest
•25th September 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 -
Sep 28, 1066
The eve of conquest
•28th September 1066: Having sailed his fleet to St Valery sur Somme, William waits for the wind to be in the right direction. It changes 2 days after Stamford Bridge, and William's fleet makes landfall at Pevensey completely unopposed -
Oct 1, 1066
The eve of conquest
•1st October 1066: 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. By 12th October, he is back in London and gathering what forces he could to face William