The year 1066 was one of the most important years in English history. In just a few months, England faced invasions, battles, betrayals and the death of a king. By the end of the year, a Norman duke called William had become King of England.

In this lesson, you will learn:

• What England was like in January 1066
• Why Harold expected an invasion from William
• Who the four claimants to the throne were
• The strengths and weaknesses of each claim
• The sequence of events during 1066
• The details of the three key battles
• The weapons and soldiers used by different armies
• Why the Battle of Hastings was so important
• How William became king