The Battle of Hastings
A south wind blew in the English Channel on 28 September 1066. It took a fleet of little ships across the sea from France to England. They were packed with knights, archers, and horses. Duke William of Normandy was on his way to England.
King Harold of England was waiting with his army in Sussex. But he heard that the king of Norway had invaded the north of England. Harold marched his men north at once, and beat the Norwegians in a battle near York.
While Harold was in the north, Duke William and his army landed in Sussex. As soon as Harold heard the news, he rushed south again. But he moved too fast for some of his men. He reached Sussex with only half the army.
The English and Normans met in battle near Hastings, on 14 October 1066. It was a long, hard fight, which the Normans won. By the end of the day, Harold and all his bodyguard lay dead. Just two months later, William was crowned king of England. We now call him William the Conqueror.
Walter Robson: Medieval Britain; Oxford University Press, 1991/2000, page 4