Edward the Confesser had just died on January 1066. He had no children to succeed him. So there was an argument about who should be the next English King. While gravely sick, Edward chose his brother in law, Harold to be the next King. But after he died, William Duke of Normandy, claimed that years before, Edward had promised him the English throne. When Harold was crowned King, William was furious and put together a huge army of over 7,000 soldiers. 700 Ships were needed to carry all the men and weapons. Then William set sail for England. The two armies met in Hastings in the south of England. After a fierce battle, Harold was killed, and his army was in turmoil and then the Normans defeated them. William led his army to London. After capturing the city, he was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066. From that day on he was addressed as William the Conqueror. After that Norman rule spread quickly across England and the Normans built castles to keep areas under control.