The Events that Lead Up to The Battle of Hastings, 1066 In England, King Edward the Confessor prepares to die without leaving England an heir. His most politically expedient ally is his brother-in-law, Harold. The English earl had been king in every sense but name only. But Edward, though English, was raised in exile in a Norman court, speaking Latin and Medieval French. He was, in every sense of the word, a Norman. The Normans meanwhile, had shown an emrging sense of power and influence among English noility without ever crossing the channel. Relationships and intermarriage only added to the deepening tension and threatened to break fragile treaties. Then, on January 6th, Edward the Confessor dies. The next frantic few hours turn into a a rapidly developing series of events which would see a third claimant to the throne, Harald Hardrada, the Viking king and living legend among his ownpeople. Hardrada was traveleld and cultured well for his day, perhaps more so than the other two combined. Lustful for England and its vast wealth, Hardada strikes first and unexpectedly, and with bloody precision. What would follow has never been duplicated, before or since; In just 19 days, the power of the Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons would be vanquished forever, ending two great civilizations; and a Duke of Normandy would become King over England, in effect, making France subject to the English for the next 500 years. The epic battle was so great, we can scarcely think of a world without it. And yet, despite its outcome and despite of its many adverse effects that we see today, three weeks in October 1066 changed the course of the next thousand years to come. Full of feudal promises, both kept and betrayed; allegiances shattered and secret ambitions abound, given in social and political consequence a world of blush that would rival everything we see in current 20th century America!