Although he had gathered fresh men on the way, and had a similar number to the Normans, most were exhausted when they set up camp near the village of Battle in Sussex.

The Normans seized the opportunity, marched out of Hastings and took up positions on Telham Hill about a mile from Harold's camp.

William made the first attack and met with strong resistance. As the day wore on, fierce hand to hand fighting weakened the English. In the evening when William made his final attack, Harold was cut down by Norman swords and the Saxons were defeated.

The Battle of Hastings changed the course of history. It made England a closer part of Europe and for the next three hundred years, the rulers and the nobility of England spoke French, not English. Indeed, many nobles spent their lives on their French estates instead of in England. The Norman victory changed the way in which the country was ruled. Under the Saxons, the earls were often as important as the king, but now the king was firmly in control. He governed the whole of the country and his rule was law.

Today the village where the battle of Hastings took place is simply called Battle. The town of Hastings itself is about ten kilometres (Six Miles) to the south-east of the battlefield. Before the battle Duke William made a promise to God that he would build an abbey if he won. He carried out his promise. In Battle Abby the high alter of the church is said to mark the spot where King Harold was killed.

Saturday morning, 14 October 1066.

Led by the sound of war trumpets, the Norman army slowly begins to move towards you across the valley.
Archers armed with bows and arrows are in front, followed by foot soldiers armed with axes and spears.
Behind them come the knights on horseback. The Saxons soldiers on either side of you stiffen up. Their faces are tense as they prepare to defend King Harold and England against the Norman attack. The Battle of Hastings has begun.

In less than ten hours the fighting is over.
By nightfall, the fields are covered with bodies of dead and wounded soldiers and horses.
King Harold and his brothers have been killed, and the Norman Duke William rides across the fields as if he is already the new ruler of England.
The English speaking Saxons have lost. The French speaking Normans have won.

The house-carls wore hauberks for protection. These were coats of mail (armour) made by stitching wire rings together. They were extremely heavy.
They also carried long, kite-shaped shields to ward off blows from swords and to stop arrows, stones and other missiles. The house-carls were said to be the finest soldiers in Europe.