Norman
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1066: William, Duke of Normandy, lands at Pevensey
On 28 September 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, landed with his invasion force at Pevensey in Sussex. The arrival began the Norman invasion of England that would lead to the Battle of Hastings little more than two weeks later. William had spent months assembling men, horses, ships and supplies, but crossing the Channel depended on…
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1066: William Defeats Harold at the Battle of Hastings
On 14 October 1066, King Harold II’s English army fought William, Duke of Normandy’s invading forces, near Hastings. By the end of the day, Harold was dead, and William had won the battle that opened the way for the Norman conquest of England. Harold became king in January after Edward the Confessor died. William claimed…
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1087: William the Conqueror Dies
William I died on 9 September 1087 at the priory of St Gervase near Rouen, ending a reign that had begun with his conquest of England 21 years earlier. William had left England for the last time in 1086. The following year, he campaigned in the French Vexin after disputes with Philip I of France.…
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1100: William II is killed in the New Forest
On 2 August 1100, William II was killed by an arrow while hunting in the New Forest. His death left no agreed successor and allowed his younger brother Henry to take the English throne before their elder brother could return from abroad. William, known as William Rufus, had ruled England since 1087. He was a…