The Invasion: Crossing the Channel and Landing at Pevensey

By late summer 1066, William was ready to launch his invasion. In August, a favorable wind finally allowed the fleet to set sail from the Normandy coast. After a brief stop in the Channel Islands, William’s army made landfall on the southern coast of England at Pevensey on September 28, 1066. The invasion was swift and efficient, and the Normans quickly fortified their position by building a wooden fortress, later known as the "Pevensey Castle," to secure their beachhead.

Upon landing, William immediately began his campaign to assert control over the surrounding areas. The local Anglo-Saxon population was caught off guard by the speed of the invasion, and many English nobles were either unable or unwilling to mount an immediate defense.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge and Harold’s Response

While William's forces were landing in the south, Harold Godwinson faced an unexpected challenge from the north. Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, had launched his own invasion and was marching towards York. Harold, with his army still in the south, quickly turned around and marched north to confront the Norwegian threat. The Battle of Stamford Bridge, fought on September 25, 1066, saw Harold Godwinson’s forces decisively defeat Hardrada’s army, killing the Norwegian king and effectively ending his claim to the throne.

However, Harold’s victory at Stamford Bridge came at a great cost. His army was exhausted from the long march north, and many of his men were weary after their battle with Hardrada. This situation left Harold in a vulnerable position, as he now had to march his forces back south to face the true threat—William of Normandy. shutdown123