William the Conqueror
Offering promises of English lands and
titles, he amassed at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme a considerable invasion force.
· Harold Hardraada invaded northern England.
Harold assembled a large army on the south coast and a fleet of ships to guard the English
Channel. Then came the news that the other contender for the throne, Harald III of Norway,
allied with Tostig Godwinson, had landed ten miles from York; Harold was forced to march
against them.
· Duke William landed at Pevensey
Before Harold could return from York to south south William landed his army at Pevensey
Bay . Then he decided to move to Hastings, where he built a prefabricated wooden castle for a
base of operations. From there, he ravaged the hinterland and waited for Harold's return from
the north.
· Harold Godwineson returned to London.
William chose Hastings as it was at the end of a long peninsula flanked by impassable
marshes. Battle was on the isthmus
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