Battle for the Island Kingdom

Don Hollway is an author and historian. His first book, The Last Viking, is a gripping history of King Harald Hardrada which was acclaimed by bestselling author Stephen Harding, by Carl Gnam of Military Heritage magazine and by Michael Dirda in The Washington Post. He is also a classical rapier fencer. His work is also available at www.donhollway.com. He lives in Pennsylvania.

A great book both for those exploring the story behind the Norman Conquest for the first time, and for more knowledgeable readers who want to read a fresh account of it.

• List of IllustrationsAuthor's NoteDramatis PersonaeIntroduction: A New MillenniumPart One. The Vikings: AD 1001–1043I. Normandy Invasion: 1001 II. Foreigners: 1002 III. Woe to King Aethelred: 1003–1009 IV. The Jomsvikings: 1009–1012 V. Hnefatafl: 1012–1014 VI. Sons of the Fathers: 1014–1016 VII. One King to Rule All: 1016 VIII. Viking England: 1017–1022 IX. Forging an Empire: 1022–1028 X. Kingdoms, Dukedoms, Heirdoms: 1028–1030 XI. Seeking Deliverance: 1030–1035 XII. Power Games: 1036–1037 XIII. Nadirs: 1037–1040 XIV. Harthacnut: 1040–1042 XV. Their Just Rewards: 1042–1043 Part Two. The Anglo-Saxons: AD 1042–1065XVI. Edward Rex: 1042–1045 XVII. Comeuppances: 1045–1046 XVIII. Outcasts: 1046–1047 XIX. Val-ès-Dunes: 1047 XX. The Godwins: 1047–1049 XXI. William the Bastard: 1049–1051 XXII. Rebellion: 1051 XXIII. Heir to the Throne: 1051–1052 XXIV. The Return of the Godwins: 1052 XXV. Asserting Power: 1052–1053 XXVI. Wars in the North: 1054 XXVII. The Godwinsons: 1055–1056 XXVIII. War and Diplomacy: 1057 XXIX. Supremacy: 1058–1060 XXX. Fragile Peace: 1061 XXXI. Conquerors: 1062–1063 XXXII. Betrayals: 1064–1065 Part Three. The Normans: AD 1066XXXIII. Challenge Accepted: Spring 1066 XXXIV. Opening Moves: Summer 1066 XXXV. Return of the Vikings: September 1066 XXXVI. Hastings: October 1066 Afterword: Domesday, 1066–1154 Sources Bibliography Acknowledgments Index About the Author