Hardrada was defeat

956 years ago today in 1066, Harald Hardrada was defeated and killed by Harold Godwinson on the battlefield at Stamford Bridge, a small village near York in the North of England. This Anglo-Saxon victory, overshadowed by the more famous battle at Hastings three weeks later, is nonetheless significant as it was the last serious attempt by Vikings to conquer England. 

Born in 1015 in Norway, Harald was exiled in 1030, and spent a dozen years as a mercenary commander, fighting for the Kievan Rus and the Byzantines in places as distant from Norway as modern day Russia, Iraq and Sicily. Harald returned to Norway in 1046, finding Cnut’s old Empire collapsed, with both his sons dead and a Saxon permanently ruling in England for the first time in thirty years. Magnus the Great, King of Norway and Denmark, died childless in 1047, leaving Harald with only Norway, not Denmark. Harald failed in his attempts to conquer Denmark, but when Edward the Confessor died in England in 1066, Harald laid claim to the throne of England, seeing it as property of the throne of Denmark, which was de jure his, if not de facto. 

On the 18th of September 1066, Harald landed at the head of a force 10-15,000 strong. Harald was allied with Harold Godwinson’s estranged brother Tostig who had been deposed from his earldom in 1065 and was looking to regain it under Viking supervision. Harold, who likely had no idea that Harald even desired the English throne, had been camped on the south coast all summer, and only returned to London early in September 1066. However, upon learning of the defeat at Fulford Gate on 20th September, Harold managed to march 180 miles in four days, raising men from local shires as they marched north. Harold Godwinson is thought to have an army some 12,000 strong by the time he arrived at Stamford Bridge, though estimates do vary significantly. Harald, with only small northern lords opposing him, nonetheless developed a reputation for brutality, which caused many towns to capitulate, one exception being Scarborough. On the 24th of September the Vikings captured York, the northern capital of England. Harald and Tostig had no idea that Harold’s army was camped just seven miles west of their newly conquered city. 

Harold’s quick march to Stamford Bridge is likely what won him the eventual battle.  The Vikings were visibly not prepared for battle so soon, some leaving their armor on board ships on a nearby river. Additionally their army was scattered across the region, some guarding the Viking fleet, with the result that roughly a third of Harald’s force showed up late to the battle. 

However, the valor of the Viking troops was admirable. A small party of men keeping watch on the West Bank of the river Derwent fought to the death to delay the Saxon advance so the troops on the East bank would have time to form up. It is rumored that the Saxons were further delayed by a lone Viking axe man posted on the bridge, who took down forty Saxon warriors before being stabbed by a pikeman beneath the bridge. Eventually the Saxons were able to cross the bridge, forming battle lines on the East side of the Derwent. Despite superior numbers and armor, the Saxons struggled to break the Viking lines, until Harald took an arrow to his throat at which point the Vikings began to break. By the time the troops guarding the fleet showed up to the battle, it was too late to save the Viking cause. The Viking army was almost entirely eliminated. 

After the battle, Harold gave mercy to Harald’s son Olaf, now King of Norway, if he swore never to invade England again. While there would be Viking attacks in the future, the defeat at Stamford Bridge is nonetheless acknowledged by historians as the end of the Viking era in English history, as they would never again pose a serious threat to the holder of the English throne, However Harold would not live long to celebrate his historic accomplishment, as just three days later, William of Normandy landed in Pevensy, Sussex….

[Online References]

(https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/The-Battle-of-Stamford-Bridge/ )

(https://www.warhistoryonline.com/medieval/anglo-saxon-battle-stamford-bridge.html )

(https://www.historyhit.com/1066-harald-hardraada-lands-england/ )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByN8nqEpGu0- Good animated summary of the battle by Baz Battles. 

[Book references]

Kelly DeVries (1999). The Norwegian Invasion of England in 1066. Suffolk: Boydell Press

R.J Adam (1965). A Conquest of England: The Coming of the Normans. London: Hodder and Stoughton

Authored by TCD

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