Battle of Hastings

Hastings, Battle of, first decisive military encounter of the Norman conquest of England, fought between the troops of King Harold of England and Duke William of Normandy on Oct. 14, 1066. William crossed the English Channel while Harold was in northern England defeating a Norwegian invasion. Forced marches brought Harold south with an exhausted and depleted force. Harold's axmen were swept from a strong hilltop position, and Harold himself was killed in the battle. By 1070 most Anglo-Saxon nobles were dead or expropriated, and a new, French-speaking ruling class was imposed on England.

See also: Norman Conquest.