1066: The Year of the ConquestThe year 1066 is one of the most important dates in the history of the Western world: the year William the Conqueror defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings and changed England and the English forever. The events leading to-and following-this turning point in history are shrouded in mystery. Distorted by the biased accounts written by a subjugated people, many believe it was the English who ultimately won the battle, since the Normans became assimilated into the English way of life. Drawing on a wealth of contemporary sources, David Howarth gives us memorable portraits of the kings: Edward the Confessor, Harold of England, William of Normandy, as well as the leading political figures of the time. Howarth describes the English commoners: how they worked, fought, died, and how they perceived the overthrow of their world from their isolated shires. |
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abbey Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Archbishop attack barons battle Bayeux tapestry Beachy Head began believe bishops Bosham brother Bulverhythe called Carmen certainly chaplain church coast conquest cross crown defend Denmark doubt Dover Duke William earldom earls Edith enemies England English Englishmen exile fight fleet foreign forest fought friends fyrd Godwin Gyrth happened Harald Hardrada harbour Harold Harold's army Hastings horses Horstede house-carls hundred invasion judgement killed King Edward King's knew knights Knut land Lanfranc later lived London married miles monks never Norman Normandy Norse Norsemen Norway oath perhaps Pevensey Pope probably promise river River Brede rode Roman de Rou sailed says seems sent ships Snorri soldiers St Valery Stamford Bridge Stigand story summer thane thing thought thousand told Tostig town Ulfer Viking village villein Vita wanted William of Poitiers William's army wind witan write to Penguin York