A battle fought at Senlac, inland from Hastings (south-east England) between the English under Harold II and an invading army under Duke William of Normandy (William I). Harold heard the news of the Norman invasion after his defeat of Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge, near York, and immediately marched southwards with his troops. The English resisted the Norman attack throughout a long day’s fighting but the Norman cavalry and crossbowmen were superior to the English soldiers, fighting on foot and armed with axes. Harold was killed, traditionally by an arrow piercing his eye, and William, the victor, marched towards London.