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1066 CE

One of the most consequential years in English and European history, marked by three kings of England in a single year, the dramatic Norman Conquest following the Battle of Hastings, and the end of the Anglo-Saxon era in Britain.

The Succession Crisis

  • King Edward the Confessor of England died on January 5 without a clear heir, triggering a succession crisis with multiple claimants to the English throne.
  • Harold Godwinson, the powerful Earl of Wessex, was crowned King of England on January 6, the day after Edward's death, claiming the dying king had designated him as successor.
  • William, Duke of Normandy, asserted that Edward had previously promised him the throne and that Harold had sworn an oath to support his claim, and began preparing a massive invasion fleet.
  • Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, also claimed the English throne based on an earlier agreement between the Danish and English royal houses, and allied with Harold Godwinson's exiled brother Tostig.

The Battles of 1066

  • Harald Hardrada and Tostig invaded northern England and defeated the local English forces at the Battle of Fulford on September 20.
  • King Harold Godwinson force-marched his army north and surprised the Norse invaders at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25, killing both Harald Hardrada and Tostig in a decisive English victory.
  • William of Normandy landed his invasion force at Pevensey on the southern English coast on September 28, while Harold's army was still in the north recovering from Stamford Bridge.
  • The Battle of Hastings on October 14 pitted Harold's exhausted army against William's fresh Norman forces. After a long day of fighting, Harold was killed and the English army broke, giving William a decisive victory.

The Norman Conquest

  • William the Conqueror was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey on December 25, beginning a fundamental transformation of English society, language, law, and architecture.
  • The Norman Conquest replaced the Anglo-Saxon aristocracy with a French-speaking Norman ruling class, reshaped the English language, introduced Norman feudalism, and tied England closely to continental European affairs.

Climate & Environment

  • Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 275 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.

Population & Demographics

  • World population is estimated to have been approximately 315 million.