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Who fights in the Battle of Hastings? Who had the high ground?

User Maarvd
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Final answer:

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 was between William, the Duke of Normandy, and Harold, the Earl of Wessex for the English throne. William, who had the high ground, won the battle and was crowned as the first Norman King of England. Details of the battle are depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1066 between William, the Duke of Normandy, and Harold, the Earl of Wessex. The conflict was a struggle for the throne of England after the death of Edward the Confessor. On one side was William's Norman army, seeking to conquer England and on the other was Harold's English forces defending their kingdom.

William held the high ground at the start of the battle, an advantageous position that proved pivotal. The Bayeux Tapestry, created circa 1070, provides a detailed visual representation of the battle and the events leading up to the Norman Conquest. It depicts the armies, their tactics including the use of cavalry and infantry, and the construction of fortifications like the motte-and-bailey. Eventually, William's forces prevailed, leading to his coronation as the first Norman King of England, known historically as William the Conqueror.