Normandy was a region in northwest France which, in the 155 years before 1066, was settled in by Vikings. In 911, French ruler Charles the Simple allowed a group of Vikings, under their leader Rollo, to settle in northern France with the idea that they would provide protection along the coast against future Viking invaders. 

This worked well and the Vikings in the region became known as the Northmen (from which Normandy is derived). The Normans quickly adapted to the indigenous culture, doing away with paganism and converting to Christianity, transforming the language of their new home into the Norman language, and intermarrying with the local people.

A section of the Bayeux Tapestry
©TopFoto.co.uk/Roger-Viollet

Why did they invade England?

Well, it's a bit complicated, but very dramatic. 

William, Duke of Normandy, was born in 1027. In 1064, he was named heir to the throne of England, based on the fact that his aunt was the mother of King Edward the Confessor of England, making the two men cousins.

According to William, Harold Godwinsson, Earl of Wessex, carried the news to him, and swore a holy oath to support his claim, and to follow him. However, Harold claimed that Edward the Confessor on Edward the Confessor's deathbed in January 1066, he commended the country into Harold’s care.  Knowing this claim must have sounded a bit dodgy, Harold had himself crowned king of England the day following the death of Edward.

Harold was excommunicated by the Pope for going against his holy oath to support William's claim to the throne.

Now invasion from Normandy (and a miffed William) was inevitable, and for several months, Harold kept his army ready. However, as the summer wore on and no assault came, supplies were used up, and eventually Harold had to stand down much of his force.

The third wannabe

As if things weren't messy enough, at this point a third contender for the English throne, Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, made a move to capture it. His claim was based on an agreement with Harthacut, the last Danish king of England, who preceded Edward the Confessor on the throne. 

In mid-September Hardrada tried to invade Yorkshire, and Harold was compelled to lead his forces north to counter this threat. The Battle of Stamford Bridge followed, and Harold's men beat the invaders.

However, as the English army was recovering, news came that William had landed at Pevensey in Sussex. Harold had to subject his troops to another forced march along the length of the country to meet the Normans, a far scarier enemy.

The armies were about the same size (4,000-7,000), but the English force was made up of peasants and poorly trained infantry, while the Norman force was purely fighting men and contained archers and cavalry, both of which the English lacked. To make matters worse, Harold's troops were tired, while William's were fresh.

The battle

"William Of Normandy Killing Harold At The Battle Of Hastings", by an unknown artist, c.1280-1300
©TopFoto.co.uk/The British Library/HIP

On October 14, after the customary insults were exchanged, the armies started fighting.

Harold's troops made a shield wall, to protect themselves from arrows, but even so, they made easy targets for the Norman archers, and as the bowmen began to fall, William brought his cavalry to the fore, to charge the English shield-wall.

Throughout the day, he wore down the English. William pretended to retreat twice. The English give chase, and the Normans turned and charged them. The result was devastation for the English. Harold and both his brothers were killed, along with much of the English aristocracy. 

It is very unlikely that the figure with the arrow in its eye depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry is Harold. Reports from the time say that, in fact, Harold was so badly hacked and disfigured that his mistress had to identify him.

William moved on to London and was crowned king on December 25, 1066, his name becoming William the Conqueror.