Hastings, city and district, East
Sussex, SE England. A resort and residential city, Hastings is backed by
cliffs and has a 3-mi (4.8-km) marine esplanade, parks, and bathing beaches.
The site was occupied in Roman times. It was made famous by the battle of
Hastings, which took place at nearby Battle on Oct. 14, 1066, between the
Normans under William, duke of Normandy (later William I), and the Anglo-Saxons under
Harold. The battle,
one of the most celebrated in English history, was won by William's force
after a single day's fighting. This was the first and most decisive victory
of the Norman Conquest
of England. Hastings became one of the Cinque Ports.
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