Battle of Stamford Bridge

• Harold heard about the English defeat and marched an army up north in 5 days - 185 miles in 5 days
• Hardrada and Tostig were relaxing with no armour - they had sent their troops back to their ships for supplies
• Harold hid behind a hill - surprise attack (success)
• Tostig and Hardrada = dead
• only 24 Viking warships returned back to Norway
• Reasons for the win

  Hardrada's army had just fought 5 days before and were not expecting them to get there so quickly
• Reasons for the win

  Harold had the element of surprise
• Reasons for the win

  Viking army had weapons and shields with them but their armour was on the ship with around 1/3 ofn the soldiers
• Reasons for the win

  Harold's men eventually broke the Viking shield wall - Harold's men had great endurance and battle skills
• Reasons for the win

  the Vikings had been misled - they were told England hated Harold