<P> The battle began at about 9 am on 14 October and lasted all day, but while a broad outline is known, the exact events are obscured by contradictory accounts in the sources . Although the numbers on each side were about equal, William had both cavalry and infantry, including many archers, while Harold had only foot soldiers and few, if any, archers . The English soldiers formed up as a shield wall along the ridge and were at first so effective that William's army was thrown back with heavy casualties . Some of William's Breton troops panicked and fled, and some of the English troops appear to have pursued the fleeing Bretons until they themselves were attacked and destroyed by Norman cavalry . During the Bretons' flight, rumours swept through the Norman forces that the duke had been killed, but William succeeded in rallying his troops . Two further Norman retreats were feigned, to once again draw the English into pursuit and expose them to repeated attacks by the Norman cavalry . The available sources are more confused about events in the afternoon, but it appears that the decisive event was Harold's death, about which differing stories are told . William of Jumièges claimed that Harold was killed by the duke . The Bayeux Tapestry has been claimed to show Harold's death by an arrow to the eye, but that may be a later reworking of the tapestry to conform to 12th - century stories in which Harold was slain by an arrow wound to the head . </P> <P> Harold's body was identified the day after the battle, either through his armour or marks on his body . The English dead, who included some of Harold's brothers and his housecarls, were left on the battlefield . Gytha, Harold's mother, offered the victorious duke the weight of her son's body in gold for its custody, but her offer was refused . William ordered that Harold's body was to be thrown into the sea, but whether that took place is unclear . Waltham Abbey, which had been founded by Harold, later claimed that his body had been secretly buried there . </P> <P> William may have hoped the English would surrender following his victory, but they did not . Instead, some of the English clergy and magnates nominated Edgar the Ætheling as king, though their support for Edgar was only lukewarm . After waiting a short while, William secured Dover, parts of Kent, and Canterbury, while also sending a force to capture Winchester, where the royal treasury was . These captures secured William's rear areas and also his line of retreat to Normandy, if that was needed . William then marched to Southwark, across the Thames from London, which he reached in late November . Next he led his forces around the south and west of London, burning along the way . He finally crossed the Thames at Wallingford in early December . Stigand submitted to William there, and when the duke moved on to Berkhamsted soon afterwards, Edgar the Ætheling, Morcar, Edwin, and Ealdred also submitted . William then sent forces into London to construct a castle; he was crowned at Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066 . </P> <P> William remained in England after his coronation and tried to reconcile the native magnates . The remaining earls--Edwin (of Mercia), Morcar (of Northumbria), and Waltheof (of Northampton)--were confirmed in their lands and titles . Waltheof was married to William's niece Judith, daughter of Adelaide, and a marriage between Edwin and one of William's daughters was proposed . Edgar the Ætheling also appears to have been given lands . Ecclesiastical offices continued to be held by the same bishops as before the invasion, including the uncanonical Stigand . But the families of Harold and his brothers lost their lands, as did some others who had fought against William at Hastings . By March, William was secure enough to return to Normandy, but he took with him Stigand, Morcar, Edwin, Edgar, and Waltheof . He left his half - brother Odo, the Bishop of Bayeux, in charge of England along with another influential supporter, William fitzOsbern, the son of his former guardian . Both men were also named to earldoms--fitzOsbern to Hereford (or Wessex) and Odo to Kent . Although he put two Normans in overall charge, he retained many of the native English sheriffs . Once in Normandy the new English king went to Rouen and the Abbey of Fecamp, and then attended the consecration of new churches at two Norman monasteries . </P>

Who was crowned at westminster abbey on december 25 1066
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