Atheling
England · 1066

1066, event by event.

Edward died without a son in January, three men claimed his crown, and by Christmas a Norman duke was crowned at Westminster. This page is the record of that year: what happened, when, who was there, and how we know.

Every date and name here comes from the historical record the game is built on. The words between them are a guide to reading it. Where the record is uncertain the event's own page says so.

How the year ran

It began in the autumn of 1065, when Northumbria rose against Earl Tostig. Morcar took the earldom, Tostig went into exile, and Harold was left with a family feud the year would not let him set aside.

On 5 January 1066 Edward the Confessor died at Westminster, leaving the succession to the Witan. Harold was chosen and crowned the next day with the support of the English nobility, and with it inherited a powerful family, a fragile coalition and claims from across the sea. By March Tostig was looking for a way back. By August William was gathering ships.

The blows fell in the autumn. In September Harald Hardrada's Norwegian force appeared on the Tyne, with Tostig beside him. Harold marched north and destroyed it at Stamford Bridge on 25 September. Three days later William's fleet, held in port by the wind for weeks, landed unopposed at Pevensey. Harold turned south, and on 14 October met William on the ridge north of Hastings. He was killed there with his brothers Gyrth and Leofwine, and the English army broke.

The English did not give in at once. Archbishop Ealdred and the citizens of London named Edgar Ætheling, the boy of the old royal house, about fourteen years old and never crowned, and Edwin and Morcar promised to fight for him. In December they came out to William at Berkhamsted instead, gave hostages and swore oaths. On Christmas Day Ealdred crowned William at Westminster, while the Norman guard outside, mistaking the acclamation for a riot, set fire to the houses.

The events

12 events, oldest first. Each is dated to the day. Each has at least one source attached. Open any of them for the sources, the certainty and the people involved.

  1. Northumbria rejects Tostig

    A northern revolt forces the crown to choose between a brother and a realm.

    With Tostig, Harold, Morcar
  2. Edward the Confessor dies

    The old king's death leaves the succession to the Witan.

    With Edward, Harold
  3. Harold is crowned

    Harold takes the crown with the support of the English nobility.

    With Harold, Eadwine, Morcar
  4. Tostig seeks a return

    Tostig's exile hardens into a political grievance.

    With Tostig, Harold, Morcar
  5. William gathers ships

    Norman preparations turn a claim into a credible threat.

    With William, Harold
  6. Harald lands in the north

    A second claimant opens a northern front.

    With Harald, Tostig, Morcar
  7. Stamford Bridge

    Harold defeats the Norwegian host.

    With Harold, Harald, Tostig
  8. William lands at Pevensey

    The Norman fleet crosses while Harold is in the north, and the army comes ashore unopposed.

    With William, Harold
  9. Hastings

    William defeats Harold's army on the ridge north of Hastings. Harold is killed.

    With William, Harold, Gyrth, Leofwine
  10. London chooses Edgar

    With Harold dead, Archbishop Ealdred and the citizens of London name the boy of the old house as king.

    With Edgar, Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar, Stigand
  11. Edgar submits at Berkhamsted

    William crosses the Thames at Wallingford and the English leaders come out to meet him.

    With William, Edgar, Stigand, Ealdred, Eadwine, Morcar
  12. William is crowned at Westminster

    Ealdred of York crowns the Conqueror on Christmas Day while his guards set fire to the houses outside.

    With William, Stigand, Edgar

The people of 1066

In the order they enter the year. Each page gives dates with their certainty, family, titles and sources.

Reading the record

Know something this page gets wrong? Every event and person page has a link that opens an email with the record filled in. The whole record is also available as JSON.