Which body of water did William's fleet cross to reach England?

William’s fleet crossed the English Channel to reach England in 1066. The crossing carried the invasion force from Normandy on the northern French coast to Sussex in southern England.

William assembled ships and troops during the summer, but unfavorable winds delayed the expedition. The fleet eventually sailed from the area around Saint-Valery-sur-Somme, crossed the Channel and reached the English coast on 28 September. William’s forces landed at Pevensey, where they established a beachhead before moving toward Hastings.

The crossing was strategically important because England was separated from Normandy by open water, and William needed to transport horses, soldiers, weapons and supplies. Medieval sources give uncertain and probably exaggerated figures for the number of ships and men, but the expedition was large enough to support cavalry as well as infantry and archers.

The North Sea is a frequent distractor because it also borders England and was used by Scandinavian invaders. William’s route, however, ran across the English Channel from Normandy. After landing, he built a fort near Hastings and waited for Harold’s army to arrive from the north.