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1066. A very Big Year. 4/5th January 1066. Edward the Confessor dies at the Palace of Westminster. Although he promised to support William, Duke of Normandy's claim to the English throne, Harold allows himself to be elected King as soon as Edward is dead. 23rd March.
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1066 A very Big Year
4/5th January 1066 • Edward the Confessor dies at the Palace of Westminster. Although he promised to support William, Duke of Normandy's claim to the English throne, Harold allows himself to be elected King as soon as Edward is dead.
23rd March • Halley’s Comet is sighted in the sky, which is seen as a bad omen.
April 1066 • Harold's brother Tostig wants to be king, and he joins up with King Harald Hardrada of Norway. Now King Harold of England has a problem at both ends of his kingdom.
May 1066 • King Harold calls out the Fyrd, which is an army of English peasant farmers obliged to fight for the king when required to do so.
June 1066 • Duke William leaves his home town of Caen in Normandy to gather a force to invade England.
July 1066 • William has raised an army of 3,000 knights and 5,000 infantry soldiers.
August 1066 • High winds over the next several weeks prevent William from crossing the English Channel
8 September • Harold has to let the Fyrd go home to harvest their crops.
25th September • Harold has had to call the Fyrd back to fight the Norwegians in Yorkshire. He wins the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
28th September • William’s forces land on the south coast of England.
14th October • After hearing the news Harold and his men race down the country to meet William and his troops just outside Hastings. Harold is killed and the Normans are victorious.
Christmas Day 1066 • William (now called William the Conqueror) is crowned King of England.