Changes

When [[Edward the Confessor]], King of England, died on January 4, 1066, a three-way struggle for the throne ensued. [[Harold Godwinson]], Earl of [[Wessex]], and already the most powerful man in the kingdom, was proclaimed king. But [[Harald Hardrada]], King of [[Norway]], and [[William the Bastard]], Duke of [[Normandy]], both believed they had a better claim. After a tense year of military preparation on all sides, the first to invade was Harald Hardrada, who landed in [[Yorkshire]]. King Harold marched north to meet him and destroyed the Norwegian army at the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]], September 25, 1066, killing Harald Hardrada in the process. It was one of the most decisive English victories ever, but the following day, amidst the celebrations, Harold received word that Duke William had landed with his army on the south coast. He immediately set off with his army on a forced march from [[York]] to [[Hastings]], and the exhausted English army met the Normans in the [[Battle of Hastings]] on October 14, 1066. The forces were very evenly matched, and the battle went on all day, until finally at dusk Harold was hit with an arrow in the eye and died. Leaderless the English fought on into the night but the situation became increasingly hopeless and Duke William won the battle. For the next few weeks William laid waste the countryside around [[London]], finally forcing the English [[Witan]] (i.e. parliament) to accept him as king. He was crowned as [[William I]], the Conqueror, on December 25, 1066.

When [[Edward the Confessor]], King of England, died on January 4, 1066, a three-way struggle for the throne ensued. [[Harold Godwinson]], Earl of [[Wessex]], and already the most powerful man in the kingdom, was proclaimed king. But [[Harald Hardrada]], King of [[Norway]], and [[William the Bastard]], Duke of [[Normandy]], both believed they had a better claim. After a tense year of military preparation on all sides, the first to invade was Harald Hardrada, who landed in [[Yorkshire]]. King Harold marched north to meet him and destroyed the Norwegian army at the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]], September 25, 1066, killing Harald Hardrada in the process. It was one of the most decisive English victories ever, but the following day, amidst the celebrations, Harold received word that Duke William had landed with his army on the south coast. He immediately set off with his army on a forced march from [[York]] to [[Hastings]], and the exhausted English army met the Normans in the [[Battle of Hastings]] on October 14, 1066. The forces were very evenly matched, and the battle went on all day, until finally at dusk Harold was hit with an arrow in the eye and died. Leaderless the English fought on into the night but the situation became increasingly hopeless and Duke William won the battle. For the next few weeks William laid waste the countryside around [[London]], finally forcing the English [[Witan]] (i.e. parliament) to accept him as king. He was crowned as [[William I]], the Conqueror, on December 25, 1066.