Travel to other Cities in... Sussex
	Hastings
	Create a new City in Sussex

Hastings

District Leader: Position is currently vacant   

Archaeological evidence indicates that the area around Hastings has been inhabited for thousands of years. There may have already been a port there when the Romans first arrived. For the Romans, the iron ore found in the area was a huge draw. At one point, the iron ore industry there was one of the biggest in the Roman Empire with up to one thousand men working it.

Cattle are mentioned in an 8th century document. It is this document which refers to Hastingacaestre. Hæstingas the town was probably name for followers of Anglo-Saxon leader Hæsta. Under the reign of Athelstan, in 928 CE, a royal mint was established.

Hasting is most well know for the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Upon arriving in England, William the Conqueror made the castle there his headquarters. The Battle of Hastings, taking place on October 14, 1066, pitted William against the last Saxon king of England, Harold Godwinson. The battle took place eight miles north of Hastings at Senlac Hill. In modern times this is the location of the town of Battle. After defeating Harold Godwinson, William the Conqueror built his own castle at Hastings, quite possibly using the earthworks from the existing Saxon castle. The building of this castle is depicted in the famed Bayeux Tapestry.

Under Henry II, Thomas A Becket was dean of the chapel located inside the castle. It was at Hastings Castle that William Rufus held court while waiting to cross the channel to Normandy and it was from here that King John in 1201 declared the English to be "Masters of the Sea."

In the Middle Ages, Hastings became one of the Cinque Ports, joining Sandwich, Dover, and New Romney. Hythe, Rye, and Pevensey also became part of the Cinque Ports; in time, there were 42 towns that were directly or indirectly associated with the Cinque Ports. The Confederation of Cinque Ports was formed for trade and military purposes.

Hasting was a borough by 1086, giving its name to the administrative district known as the Rape of Hastings. In Sussex, the traditional sub-divisions of the country are known as rapes. The origin of the term is not known but it does predate the Norman conquest. As a borough, Hastings had a corporation of a bailiff, jurats, and commonality, with the bailiff replaced by mayor in a 1589 charter of Elizabeth I.

After the 19th century, Hastings's significance as a port declined. Industry shifted to fishing and today it still has the largest beach-based fishing fleet in England. During the Victorian Era, Hastings became known as a seaside resort.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings (Hastings entry)
http://www.1066online.com/ (1066online)

The Articles of Hastings:

---

Write an article for Hastings...