The Battle of Hastings happened in October 14th of the year 1066 CE (common era, or A.D. Anno Domini, year of our lord) y in England. It was a very important battle. It was fought between William of Normandy and his army from France (called the Normans), and King Harold II and his English army. The English were known as the Anglo-Saxons
Why was there a battle?
The king of England, Edward the Confessor, died. He did not have any children, so no one knew who should be the next king.
Three men wanted to be king:
1. Harold Godwinson – An English nobleman. He said Edward chose him to be king.
2. William of Normandy – A duke from France. He said Edward promised him the crown before.
3. Harald Hardrada – A Viking king from Norway. He also wanted the crown.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge
The Battle of Stamford Bridge happened in 1066, in the north of England. It was a very important fight before the Battle of Hastings.
Why was there a battle?
When King Edward the Confessor of England died, Harald Hardrada wanted to be king of England. He came with a big Viking army to take the crown.
- Harald Hardrada and his army came by ship.
- They landed in the north of England, near the city of York.
- Harold Godwinson, the new English king, quickly marched his army north to stop the Vikings.
On September 25, 1066, the two armies met at a place called Stamford Bridge.
The Battle
- The Vikings were not ready for a fight. Many of them left their armor on their ships.
- The English army surprised them.
- The battle was long and hard.
- A famous story says one big Viking with an axe blocked the bridge alone. He fought many English soldiers until he was killed.
In the end, Harold Godwinson won the battle. Harald Hardrada was killed, and most of the Viking army was destroyed.
Only a few Viking ships went back to Norway.
Harold’s army was tired from the battle. But just a few days later, William of Normandy arrived in the south of England. Harold had to rush back down to fight him in the Battle of Hastings.
The two armies met near a town called Hastings in the south of England.
The Battle
- The battle happened on October 14, 1066.
- Harold’s army stood on top of a hill.
- William’s army tried to climb the hill and fight.
- At first, Harold’s army was strong.
- But then, William tricked them. His soldiers pretended to run away, so Harold’s men chased them.
- When they were off the hill, William’s soldiers turned and attacked.
Harold was killed in the battle. Some say he was shot in the eye with an arrow.
What happened after?
William won the battle. He became King of England. People call him William the Conqueror.
This battle changed English history. William brought many changes to the country, including new laws, new castles, and even new words from the French language.
William and his people spoke a kind of French called Norman French. After they took control of England, they brought their language with them. The English rulers, nobles, and courts started speaking French. Over time, many French words got mixed into the English language—especially words about law, government, food, and fancy things.
Also, even before and after this, English had already been borrowing words from Latin—the language used by the Church and educated people in Europe. Latin was seen as a smart, serious language.
So after the Battle of Hastings:
- French words came from the Norman rulers.
- Latin words came from the Church, schools, and legal systems.
That's why English has many words that come from French and Latin, even though it's a Germanic language at its core.
|
Courage |
courage |
bravery |
|
Judge |
juge |
someone who decides in court |
|
Government |
gouvernement |
ruling system |
|
Beef |
boeuf |
meat from a cow |
|
Mansion |
maison |
big house |
|
Enemy |
ennemi |
someone who is against you |
|
Court |
cour |
place of law or royal house |
📚 Words from Latin (through the Church, schools, or French):
|
English Word |
Latin Origin |
Meaning |
|
Animal |
animal |
a living creature |
|
Manual |
manualis |
something done by hand |
|
Exit |
exit (he/she goes out) |
a way out |
|
Library |
librarium |
place with books |
|
Doctor |
doctor (teacher) |
medical expert |
|
Fame |
fama |
being well known |
|
Justice |
justitia |
fairness |
This mix lets English speakers choose different "levels" of tone:
- Simple: “Can I start now?”
- Formal: “May I commence the task?”
Both mean the same thing—but one sounds more casual, the other more professional or elegant.
English words ending in “tion” come from French with Latin roots.
Location, education, transportation, imitation, et cetera.