Battle of Stamford Bridge

Oh, that's interesting.

And so it's one of the few dates I can always remember is the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Do- do you remember Stamford Bridge or her birthday?

Hmm, hmm.

And I mean, spoiler for the result, the Battle of Fulford that had taken place a few days earlier will be remembered as the last time that a Scandinavian army will win on English soil-

Boo

... because the Battle of Stamford Bridge does not go well for- for your boy Harold.

No, it...

On the 25th of September 1066, the Battle of Stamford Bridge was fought between King Harald Godwinson of England and the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada.

Welcome to HistoryPod.

Following the death of King Edward the Confessor in January 1066, England was plunged into a succession struggle in which multiple claimants vied for the crown.

harald was soon joined by the english king's younger brother tostig who had turned against harald the previous year together they defeated a northern english army led by edwin the earl of mercia in the battle of fulford on the twentieth of september and the near-by city of york soon surrendered to the invaders Having received news of the Norwegian invasion, King Harold and his army marched north from the south coast where they had been anticipating an invasion by William of Normandy.

After travelling 185 miles in only four days, the English were able to take Hardrada and his troops by surprise.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge saw both sides suffer heavy casualties, but with Harold Hardrada slain in battle, the English emerged victorious.

This secured Harold Godwinson's hold on the English throne, but his forces were left weakened and fatigued.

Just days later, news came that William of Normandy had landed in England, and Harold was forced to march his army southwards to meet them.

Well, there really was on this day, September 25 in 1066.

I know, an awfully long time ago, but the Battle of Stamford Bridge happened.

which essentially ended the Viking Age, because that was King Harold II of England led his forces against the Norwegian king, Harald Hardrada.

And he was considered to be the last great Viking king, Hardrada.

So that was the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Now, you're going to say, if you follow the EPL, well, that's near Chelsea's home ground.

Now, they're two different places.

And so they set sail.

By this point, Harold has not only disbanded his army that has been on the Isle of Wight for most of the summer, lovely summer holiday for somebody, but he's had to march north to go and fight the Battle of Stamford Bridge against Harold Hardrada, Viking, pitched as the last kind of Viking assault on England.

It isn't really, as we'll get to later.

But Harold has managed to win that battle on the 25th of September, 1066, when he hears that the Normans have finally made it across the Channel.

So you're creating an Anglo-Saxon elite who are scared, but also dispossessed and angry.

And so you can imagine lots of them saying to Edgar, We're behind you, mate.

Edwin and Morcar in particular, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, they had backed Harold before the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

They kind of fought Harold Hardrada first and lost.