Historical military history
On the morning of 27th September 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, finally set sail for England, beginning the campaign that would forever alter the course of British history. The preparations for this moment had taken months. William had claimed the English throne by right of promise, asserting that King Edward the Confessor had named him as his successor years before. This claim was challenged when Harold Godwinson, a powerful English nobleman, seized the crown upon Edward's death in January of the same year. William, outraged and resolute, began planning his invasion.
The delay in launching the fleet had been due largely to unfavorable winds that had kept William and his vast army grounded in Normandy for weeks. Some of his allies were beginning to waver, morale was uncertain, and questions about the expedition’s success were being whispered among the ranks. But on that September day, the winds finally turned. With the tide and wind now in his favor, William ordered his fleet of ships—numbering perhaps around 700—to set sail across the English Channel. This moment marked the beginning of one of the most pivotal military campaigns in European history.
William’s fleet departed from the mouth of the River Dives but regrouped at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme before making the full crossing. His fleet was an impressive sight: a coordinated naval armada carrying thousands of troops, horses, weapons, and supplies. This was not a mere raid—it was a full-scale invasion. William had secured the blessing of Pope Alexander II, who sent a papal banner in support of the campaign, giving it a sense of divine legitimacy. The presence of this religious sanction was not just symbolic; it helped to unite William's forces under a common cause, lending spiritual weight to their military ambitions.
The crossing itself was swift, thanks to the now favorable wind. William and his men landed at Pevensey, on the southern coast of England, on 28th September, just one day after their departure. They quickly established a defensible position, building a fortification from which they could organize and supply their campaign. William’s landing came at a moment of remarkable timing. Just days earlier, King Harold had been fighting another army in the north—an invading Norwegian force under King Harald Hardrada and Harold’s own estranged brother, Tostig. Harold defeated the Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25th September, a stunning victory, but one that left his army weary and depleted.
William's timely arrival in the south forced Harold into a rapid march back across the country to meet the new threat. The two forces would ultimately clash at the Battle of Hastings on 14th October. But it all began with the decision to sail on 27th September, a moment born from strategic patience, meticulous planning, and the long-awaited cooperation of the natural elements.
