Battle of Stamford Bridge

• The Battle of Stamford Bridge is the second of the crucial battles of 1066
• The battle occurred on the 25th of September 1066
• The battle was between the Vikings and the Saxons over whether Harold Hardrada of Norway would be king of England or Harold Godwinson would preserve his crown
• The Saxons had earlier been defeated at Gate Fulford on September 20th
• Harold Godwinson force marched his army north, gathering strength along the way until his army numbered over ten thousand men
• Harold achieved complete surprise when he reached Hardrada's position at Stamford Bridge
• Hardrada's force was completely surprised and many were without their armor
• Hardrada's best tactic was to try and delay the English as long as he could to allow his reinforcements time to join him
• The bridge at Stamford Bridge was like a small wooden footbridge where only two to three people could cross at once
• Harold sent a messenger forward to converse with Hardrada to settle the situation peacefully, but diplomacy failed
• Hardrada's delaying action involved a huge Viking axeman blocking the bridge, which was later killed by a sneaky Saxon who floated under the bridge in a half barrel and stabbed the berserker from below
• Passing through the narrow bridge was difficult for the English army with all their equipment
• Passing through turnstiles at a concert or sporting venue

  Thousands of people passing through a narrow gap quickly, with a whole army and their equipment trying to squeeze across
• The English advanced upon Hardrada's lines and battle was properly joined
• Viking shield wall formation and fighting


  Vikings formed a shield wall and fought savagely for their survival
• Many English things and house cars fell during the battle
• Harold ordered his archers to open fire at the weakened shield wall
• One of the arrows landed in Hardrada's windpipe, killing him
• Harold killed Tostig himself
• Both Viking leaders were now dead
• Viking reinforcements under Einstein Ori arrived
• The tired Vikings succumbed to the inevitable
• Harold had won a crushing but costly victory
• Harold had learned that a bold surprise attack could win against a formidable enemy
• The English had lost 5,000 valuable trained soldiers
• The Vikings lost around 8,000 killed and missing
• Only 24 out of the 300 Viking ships were needed to take them back to Norway
• Harold showed mercy to Hardrada's son
• Harold secured his throne
• William of Normandy arrived soon afterwards
• Hastings was fought and Harold lost
• Harold achieved surprise at Stamford Bridge
• Hardrada and Tostig were killed
• Howard Godwinson had won and defeated Hardrada's invasion
• Harold had temporarily secured his crown
• Harold had become overconfident in the tactic of surprise
• Harold's forces were severely depleted
• Harold was in a far weaker position against William of Normandy
• King Harold was a skilled and brave commander
• The Viking threat from Norway was gone