The Battle of Hastings

The battle of Hastings came about from the death of Edward the Confessor. Edward married Edith the daughter of Harold Godwin, a powerful aristocrat, and tensions between to the two rose. Edward was the king of England and Godwin was a powerful aristocrat who saw the declining of the Saxon way of life. The major turning point was when Eustace the brother of Edward was attacked at Dover. Edward ordered Godwin to burn down the town and he refused, thus exiling himself and his family. Now since Edward was unopposed in his leadership of England he brought in William the Duke of Normandy and declared him his successor to the throne. Shortly hereafter Godwin returned to England and began to oust the Norman high office holders in the country. Although Edward had declared William his successor on his deathbed Edward told Harold Godwinson the son of Godwin “I commend my wife to your care and with her my whole kingdom” . Shortly after his death Harold was crowned the king of England. This enr...