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- Having just defeated Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge, Harold Godwinson received news that William had arrived at Pevensey and was causing destruction and devastation. Harold began to bring his exhausted army south.
- Shortly after dawn on 14th October 1066, the battle began. The English were assembled at the top of Senlac Hill, the Normans at the base of the hill. The Normans had archers, cavalry and foot soldiers, the English had mainly had the Fyrd, but they assembled a strong shield wall that was almost impossible to get through.
- The Norman archers could not break the wall, their arrows hitting the shields and flying over. The wall was secure and tight. Fighting lasted for much of the day with both sides equal.
- It is impossible to get up that hill!
- Mounted Norman knights could not charge up the hill, the shield wall pushed forwards. King Harold continued to boost his troops by fighting with them. William rode his horse, constantly looking for weaknesses in the English defences.
- It was rumored William had been killed and some of his army started to retreat, but he lifted up his helmet and yelled! Alive and well, he tried a new tactic: the feigned retreat. Norman knights pretended to flee in an attempt to lure the Anglo-Saxons into breaking the shield wall as they began to chase after them.
- As the day drew to a close, Harold's men foolishly followed the Norman's down the hill, breaking the shield wall! They repeated this and King Harold was left vulnerable. There were reports he was then shot in the eye with an arrow causing his death. With their leader dead, the Anglo-Saxons were defeated. William was now in position to claim the crown of England.
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