On October 14, 1066, William’s Norman forces and Harold’s English army clashed. William’s troops, having moved swiftly to reach Harold’s camp early that morning, caught the English somewhat off guard. The latter’s army had strategically positioned itself on a raised terrain known as the “hammer-head ridge,” which enjoyed natural defences from the surrounding woods. Meanwhile, William’s forces aligned themselves to the south of the ridge, organized into three infantry divisions: Bretons, Normans, and French, each boasting archers and crossbowmen in the front lines, while cavalry reserves stood ready at the rear.

The battle began with a barrage of arrows from the Normans countered by a hail of stone axes thrown by the Anglo-Saxons as the Normans ascended the ridge. The Norman cavalry struggled due to the terrain but was eventually repelled by the Saxon shield wall. A moment of panic swept the Norman ranks when rumours spread that William had fallen. However, William, unscathed, revealed himself to rally his troops. Subsequently, some Anglo-Saxons pursued the retreating Norman cavalry downhill but were ambushed and defeated, once on level ground. Witnessing this success, William ordered two more feigned charges and retreats, luring the Anglo-Saxons into pursuit and then executing counterattacks on favourable terrain.

Whoopsie!

The Norman cavalry’s superiority over the Anglo-Saxon infantry was a crucial factor in tipping the scales, as the housecarls, the best-trained troops, were depleted in number. In the final cavalry charge, Harold and other Saxon leaders, including his brothers Gurth and Leofwine, were killed. According to tradition, Harold suffered an arrow to the eye, fell under a cavalry charge, and was hacked to pieces by Norman swords. Following his death, the remaining Anglo-Saxons conducted a rearguard action as they retreated to a nearby hill, the Malfosse, but they were ultimately overwhelmed, securing total victory for William.

— Source

Genocide! Illegal occupation! Give England back to the Saxons!