At the time it was important, but the real impact came later when it was absolutely pivotal in giving British school children something to learn about and write a report on for one summer of their school life. There isn't a single person who went to school in England who doesn't know about the battle, the Bayeux Tapestry, and the Doomsday book.

(Hyperbole obviously, before people reply to say they went to Hastings Secondary and have never heard of William the Conqueor.)

I’ve never heard of William the Conqueor.