In the spring of 1066, Halley's Comet flared exceptionally bright across England and France, sparking mass panic. For King Harold Godwinson of England, the comet was interpreted as a catastrophic omen of ruin, whereas William, Duke of Normandy, seized upon the 'marvelous star' as a divine sign of blessing for his upcoming invasion. Later that autumn, William successfully defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings, fundamentally shifting English culture, language, and governance forever.

The comet was famously embroidered into the Bayeux Tapestry with the text 'Isti mirant stella' (They marvel at the star). This event profoundly reshaped the English language, introducing Anglo-Norman vocabulary that forever altered the structural and rhythmic landscape of English poetry.