William assembled his invasion fleet at Dives-sur-Mer on the Norman coast in the summer of 1066, waiting for favourable winds to cross the Channel. The gathering of ships from across Normandy, Brittany and Flanders represented an extraordinary logistical achievement and the wait gave William time to train his forces and build the discipline that would prove decisive at Hastings. The fleet eventually moved to St Valery-sur-Somme for the final crossing.
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