In the historical novel 1066, David Howarth analyses the events of the Battle of Hastings by examining the events of the year. The author looks at the events leading up to and after the battle in the eyes of all parties involved and the people affected. This unique and unbiased view is a key tool in understanding how and why the events came to be. The book begins and ends with a look at a small village and the inhabitant's way of life to show the enormous change that took place in the span of one fateful year. .
The reason behind the battle was a dispute over who was the rightful king of England after Edward's death early in the year. The English witans chose Harold "who had carried most of the burden of government for the past ten years" (p. 45). Though he was not of direct royal birth he was still part of the family. There was also talk of Tostig, the exiled brother being given the crown. But this suggestion was quickly dismissed due to Tostig's disgraceful actions in his Earldom leading to his exile. The only other person in England with any claim to the throne was young Edgar, "the only male survivor of the royal house but could a boy of thirteen hold the country together against the rivals?" (p. 45). But unbeknownst to the English there was another person who felt they had a claim on the crown, Duke William of Normandy. "Edward, in his vague and unpractical way, had said something to William that could be taken as a promise, but it is hard to believe that Edward promised the crown before he possessed it himself" (p. 67). This "promise" was made while Edward was visiting Normandy on some business for the King, many years earlier. "The whole thing was a misunderstanding, either by William or by both: whatever either of them thought at the time, no king of England had the right to promise the crown" the land belonged to the people and they chose the king (p. 68). .
This concept was a hard thing for the Norman Duke to understand.