How+did+William+become+the+King+of+England

William became King when he won the battle at Senlac Hill (most commonly known as the Battle of Hastings). In 1064 Harold, Earl of Wessex, Harold was shipwrecked on the coast of Normandy. William captured him and he would only let him go if he swore to support William’s claim to the throne. When Edward the confessor died the witenagemot (the Royal council) elected Harold King of England. Determined to become king, William recruited an army to lead an invasion. On September 28 1066 William landed at Pevensey. On the 14 of October the Normans prepared for the battle between William and Harold II. Harold II had just defeated his brother, Tostig Earl of Northumbria, at the battle of Stamford Bridge.

At 9:00 a.m. the battle started. The English axemen were able to stop a Norman cavalry attack. Norman infantry retreated after an attack but some of the English soldiers broke ranks and followed the retreating Normans. Other Normans quickly surrounded them and destroyed them. Because of the lack of rules between the English soldiers William the Conqueror ordered a Norman retreat. Like before the English soldiers chased after them. Again more Norman forces trapped the large group of English soldiers. This weakened the English defences. Also Harold II received a deadly arrow in the eye. The English abandoned the military plans. William won the Battle of Hastings.