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Period: Jan 1, 1066 to Jan 2, 1066
Edward the Confessor dies
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 . -
Period: Feb 2, 1066 to Mar 3, 1066
Tostig comes to Flanders looking for aid
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 -
Period: May 4, 1066 to Jun 4, 1066
Tostig makes an abortive attempt to invade England
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. By 8th September, Harold has to disband the fyrd and let it go home to harvest its crops -
Period: Sep 20, 1066 to Oct 23, 1066
After sailing up the Ouse with more than 10,000 men in 200 longships
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. The army of the Earls is decimated and Edwin & Morcar are unable to play any more part in the campaigns of 1066 -
Period: Sep 25, 1066 to Oct 26, 1066
Harold responds by scraping together a scratch force made up largely of his own housecarls
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 -
Period: Sep 28, 1066 to Oct 29, 1066
Having sailed his fleet to St Valery sur Somme
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 -
Period: Oct 1, 1066 to Nov 2, 1066
While at York, Harold learns of William's landing. He marches back down Ermine Street
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 -
Period: Oct 10, 1066 to Nov 11, 1066
Harold takes up a position blocking the Norman advance to London on Senlac
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 -
Period: Oct 12, 1066 to Dec 13, 1066
A state of war continues until Christmas 1066, when a deal is struck between William
A state of war continues until Christmas 1066, when a deal is struck between William and the English magnates in which he guarantees their positions in return for their support