<P> The background to the battle was the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor in January 1066 , which set up a succession struggle between several claimants to his throne . Harold was crowned king shortly after Edward 's death , but faced invasions by William , his own brother Tostig , and the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada ( Harold III of Norway ) . Hardrada and Tostig defeated a hastily gathered army of Englishmen at the Battle of Fulford on 20 September 1066 , and were in turn defeated by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge five days later . The deaths of Tostig and Hardrada at Stamford Bridge left William as Harold 's only serious opponent . While Harold and his forces were recovering , William landed his invasion forces in the south of England at Pevensey on 28 September 1066 and established a beachhead for his conquest of the kingdom . Harold was forced to march south swiftly , gathering forces as he went . </P>
<P> The background to the battle was the death of the childless King Edward the Confessor in January 1066 , which set up a succession struggle between several claimants to his throne . Harold was crowned king shortly after Edward 's death , but faced invasions by William , his own brother Tostig , and the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada ( Harold III of Norway ) . Hardrada and Tostig defeated a hastily gathered army of Englishmen at the Battle of Fulford on 20 September 1066 , and were in turn defeated by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge five days later . The deaths of Tostig and Hardrada at Stamford Bridge left William as Harold 's only serious opponent . While Harold and his forces were recovering , William landed his invasion forces in the south of England at Pevensey on 28 September 1066 and established a beachhead for his conquest of the kingdom . Harold was forced to march south swiftly , gathering forces as he went . </P>
the battle of hastings in 1066 was fought in which country
the battle of hastings in 1066 was fought in which country
England
England