Which English king was killed at the Battle of Hastings?

Harold II was the English king killed at the Battle of Hastings. He fought William, Duke of Normandy, on 14 October 1066, after William invaded England to press his claim to the English throne.

Harold had become king earlier that year following the death of Edward the Confessor. His succession was challenged by William, who claimed that Edward had promised him the crown, and by Harald Hardrada of Norway. Harold defeated the Norwegian invasion at Stamford Bridge in September, then marched south to confront William’s army.

The English army eventually lost after a long battle at Senlac Hill near Hastings. Harold’s brothers Gyrth and Leofwine also died in the fighting, and William’s victory led to the Norman Conquest. A famous version of Harold’s death says he was struck in the eye by an arrow, but medieval accounts disagree about the precise circumstances. The Bayeux Tapestry is often linked to that story, though its damaged imagery is debated.