English history's biggest march is a myth—King Harold sailed to the Battle of Hastings

New research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) reveals that King Harold's legendary 200-mile march to the Battle of Hastings in 1066 never happened. Instead, the journey was made largely by sea. The findings overturn one of the most iconic stories in English history, altering how the Norman Conquest is understood in classrooms, museums, and public memory.