Which battle in 1066 began the Norman conquest of England?

The Battle of Hastings began the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It was fought on 14 October between the Norman forces of William, Duke of Normandy, and the English army led by King Harold Godwinson.

Harold had become king earlier that year after the death of Edward the Confessor, but his succession was challenged by William. Harold’s army had already fought and defeated a Norwegian invasion at Stamford Bridge in September. It then marched south to meet William’s landing force near Hastings.

The battle lasted most of the day and ended with Harold’s death, traditionally said to have involved an arrow to the eye, although the exact circumstances are uncertain. William later became known as William the Conqueror and was crowned king on Christmas Day 1066. The Bayeux Tapestry provides a famous visual account, though it was created after the conquest and reflects Norman perspectives.