History

• Battle of Stamford Bridge

  Battle fought between King Harold's army and Harald Hardrada's army, resulting in a victory for King Harold
• Battle of Hastings


  Battle fought between King Harold's army and William of Normandy's army, resulting in a victory for William
• Edward king of England on Lysary the King's council, the Wilan, crowned Harold Godwin as the next King

  5 January 3066
• King Harold thought that William of Normandy would attack first so in June he placed his army on the South coast of England
• Harold waited all summer but the Normans did not arrive. William was waiting for the right wind to allow him to sail his ships from France
• Harald Hardrada the King of Norway, invaded northern England

  18 September 2066
• Harald Hardrada was helped by his brother, Tostig
• Harald Hardrada and Tostig landed with 300 ships and a massive army, took York and declared Harald Hardrada King of England
• On hearing the invasion, King Harold Godwin marched his army 187 miles to the north of England
• Battle of Stamford Bridge

  1. King Harold's army met Harald Hardrada's army

  2. They fought a bloody battle

  3. Harold won the battle

  4. Harald Hardrada and Tostig were killed

  5. Much of the Norwegian army was killed
• Whilst Harold was celebrating his victory on York, the wind changed and William of Normandy was able to sail his fleet
• News was brought to Harold that William had landed at Pevensey on the south coast of England three days earlier


  1 October 1066
• Harold immediately marched his Saxon army south to meet William and his army, the march took ten days
• Meanwhile, the Normans were able to wait and rest
• The Battle of Hastings took place between 9:00am and dusk


  14 October 106
• King Harold won the Battle of Stamford Bridge


  But then lost the Battle of Hastings to William of Normandy
• King Edward the Confessor died

  5th of January 1066
• Locations


  • Stamford Bridge
  • London
  • Hastings
  • Pevensey
• Harold Godwinson made King of England by the King's Council


  6th January 1066
• Harold Godwin placed English forces on the South coast of England to wait in case William sent Norman French soldiers to England to take the throne from Harold Godwin


  June 1066
• Harald Hardraada invaded England from the North

  25th September 1066
• Harold Godwin responded to this invasion by marching north to Stamford Bridge

  25th September 1066
• Harold Godwin's English army fought and defeated the Norwegian army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge

  25th September 1066
• The Norman French Army under William's control landed at Pevensey off the South coast of England

  28th September 1066
• William built a castle

  28th September 1066
• Harold Godwin marched his English/Saxon army South from Stamford Bridge to meet the Normans/French army near Hastings


  Sat 14th October 1066
• The Battle of Hastings began

  Sat 14th October 1066
• The claimants to the throne

  • Harold
  • Godwinson
  • Edgar the Atheling
  • Harald Hardrada
  • William Duke of Normandy
• Harold


  • Earl of Wessex
  • Edward's brother-in-law but no blood connection
  • Edward probably promised Harold the throne after 1053
  • Rich and powerful man in England at the time
• Edgar the Atheling


  • Great nephew of King Edward
  • Only blood relative of the 4 claimants
  • Possible Edward wanted an Anglo-Saxon prince to succeed him
  • Teenager, not considered strong enough to rule a Kingdom
• Harald Hardrada


  • King of Norway
  • Succeeded Magnus I of Norway in 1046, who had been promised the Kingdom of Denmark
  • Gave up trying to secure Denmark and switched to claiming England
  • Famous Viking warrior and skilled commander, had the support of Tostig Godwinson
• William Duke of Normandy


  • Distant cousin of Edward
  • Claimed Edward had promised he should succeed him as King
  • Strong and experienced leader, ambitious and powerful ruler in Normandy
• Edward the Confessor died

  5th January 1066
• Edward the Confessor died childless, leaving no direct heir to the throne
• Summary of what happened in 1066

  1. Edward the Confessor dies

  2. Harold Godwinson crowned King

  3. Harald Hardrada invades Yorkshire

  4. Harold Godwinson defeats Hardrada

  5. William Duke of Normandy invades the south

  6. Battle of Hastings, William defeats and kills Harold

  7. William crowned King on Christmas Day
• Edward the Confessor died on 5th January 1066
• The 4 main rivals to the throne

  • Harold Godwinson
  • Edgar the Atheling
  • Harald Hardrada
  • William Duke of Normandy
• Harold Godwinson became King straight after Edward's death
• Harald Hardrada invaded the north of England in September 1066
• The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place in September 1066, where Harold Godwinson defeated and killed Hardrada