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.

[laughs]

May- maybe don't go on record with that.

Yeah, I don't know.

[laughs] So, like, basically, th- we do have this next confrontation at Stamford Bridge, but I think the important thing to kind of keep in mind here is whereas Fulford is kind of a traditional pitched battle, it's the sort of thing that you would expect, that's not what was happening at Stamford Bridge, is it?

At the close of the 10th and the beginning of the 11th century the battles of Tara in 980 and Clontarth 1014 overthrew the power of these Norsemen, or Ostemen as they were called, in Ireland, and restored the authority of the native Irish sovereign.

About this time they became Christians, and in the year 1066 we find one of their princes joining Harold Hardrada of Norway in his invasion of England, which ended so disastrously in the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Magnus of Norway, 32 years later, after subduing the independent Jarls of Shetland and the Orkneys, attempted to reassert his supremacy along the western coast.

But after conquering Anglesey, whence he drove out the Normans who had just made a settlement there, he crossed to Ireland to meet his death in battle in 1098.

Then quarreling with his master the emperor, he went back to Russia in 1044 to marry Elizabeth the daughter of Yaroslav.

Thence he returned to Norway to share that kingdom with Magnus the Good, his nephew, till the death of his rival left him the sole possession of the Norwegian throne.

Nineteen years afterwards, as we shall see, he crossed to England to claim that kingdom from Harold the son of Godwin, and to end his strange life at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile in Russia Yaroslav had died to be succeeded by Isebold and then by Vladimir II, who once more came west for a bride, and married Gytha, the daughter of the English Harold, Hardrada's foe.

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.

I mean, Chelsea's home ground is Stamford Bridge, but that's in London.