Battle of Stamford Bridge

• Who were the invaders?

  • Harald Hardrade
  • Tostig
  • 2/3 of Viking Army (Due to Battle of Fulford Gate)
• Why were the Vikings disadvantaged?

  • Vikings left their armour on their ship (25km away)
  • Not fully recovered from the previous battle
• What was the Anglo-Saxon army made up of?

  • Housecarls (Knights)
  • Fyrd (Peasant soldiers)
• What happens at the beginning of the battle?

  • The two sides were separated by the River Derwent
  • The only bridge connecting the two sides was blocked by a Viking Berserker
  • The English attempted to get past but ended up losing 40 soldiers
  • This came to a stop when a cunning soldier snuck underneath the bridge and stuck a spear through the bridge and into the Berserker
  • English advanced across the Bridge
• What happened after the failure to defend against the English?

  • Hardrada ordered 3 horsemen to get his reserve fleet
  • Harold advanced up the hill with a shield wall
  • Harold gives the Tostig the chance to swap sides, and in response, Tostig asks what Harald would give him if he stayed, to which Harold wittily says "7km of land for a grave!" in which the battle starts
• Who won?

  • The English
  • Harald was struck by an arrow, and Tostig was slaughtered
  • The remaining Norwegians fled