In 1066 England’s destiny was at stake, would the new King, Harold Godwinson, maintain the rule of an English King over England? Or would William of Normandy impose an alien French dynasty? But there was a third possible future Harold Hardrada of Norway re-establishing King Cnut’s Scandinavian control of England?
The fighting began, on September 20th, after the Norwegian King, accompanied by Harold Godwinson’s own brother, Tostig Godwinson, sailed up the Humber with 300 ships, disembarked and matched towards York.
In response, the Army of the North, led by the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria, left York to confront the invaders. They marched the mile and a half to Fulford, which is on the banks of the Ouse. They, apparently, did not know that on the 18th of September, King Harold of England had left London with the Army of the South to take on Hardrada. If the Earls had waited, the combined English Army had a good chance of destroying the Norwegian threat.
The Norwegians and Tostig had, perhaps 7,500 troops, and the English Earls Edwin and Morcar who were brothers had an ‘immense’ army.
The Norwegians were lined up at Fulford, with their left flank protected by the Ouse, their front protected by a ditch and having the benefit of the higher ground. The English drove the Norwegians back but Hardrada responded by pushing forward his left flank where he had his best warriors and enfolded the English who eventually broke. As the English retreated, they suffered terrible casualties, so many that the Norwegians could walk dry-shod over the marshy ground.
The jubilant Norwegians arranged the surrender of York without sacking it. It probably escaped because Tostig had come to England to reclaim the Earldom of Northumbria. It would be a bad start to slaughter the citizens of his capital city! Possibly they also wanted to get back to protect their boats. They matched to Stamford Bridge, to celebrate, rest and recover.
Things looked grim for the continuation of English rule over England,with Hardrada victorious in the North; a defeated Northern Army and the Normans with a huge invasion fleet ready to invade the South.
Click here To read my post on the Battle of Stamford Bridge or wait till September 25th.
I now understand the situation with the 3 forces fighting to rule over England in 1066!
The existence of two Harolds: Godwinson, the English one I ‘knew’ and Hardrada from Norway, was confusing for me! 🤔
its confusing for us all and there are other Harolds around about then too.