The Battle of Hastings was fought on October 14, 1066, and was the decisive battle of the Norman Conquest of England.

The battle was between the Norman-French army of William, Duke of Normandy, and the Anglo-Saxon army led by King Harold Godwinson.

The conflict arose from a succession crisis for the English throne after the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor.

King Harold's army was exhausted, having just marched south after defeating a Norwegian invasion at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

The Anglo-Saxons took up a strong defensive position on a hilltop, forming a tight 'shield wall.'

The Norman army consisted of archers, infantry, and cavalry.

The Normans used a tactic of feigned retreats to lure parts of the English shield wall to break formation and pursue them.

The battle lasted for a full day, an unusually long time for a medieval battle.

The turning point was the death of King Harold, who, according to tradition, was struck in the eye by an arrow.

The Norman victory led to the conquest of England and the establishment of William the Conqueror as the new king.