Battle of Stamford Bridge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Stamford Bridge
Part of the Viking invasion of England
Painting by Norwegian artist Peter Nicolai Arbo (1831–1892).
Date Monday, September 25, 1066 Location Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire Result Decisive Anglo-Saxon victory
Belligerents
Anglo-Saxon England the Thingmen	Norwegians Northumbrian rebels Scots
Commanders
Harold Godwinson	Harald Hardråde  † Tostig Godwinson  †
Strength
Around 7,000	Around 7,500
Casualties and losses
Unknown, around 2,000	Unknown, around 7,000

The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire in England on 25 September 1066. This was shortly after an invading Norwegian army under King Harald Hardråde (Old Norse: Haraldr harðráði) defeated the army of the northern earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria at the Battle of Fulford two miles south of York. After a lengthy forced march up to Stamford Bridge that took place in just four days, King Harold Godwinson of England caught Harald's force by surprise, which meant that the soldiers were unarmoured. After a stubborn battle, the majority of the Norwegians were killed along with Harald Hardråde and Earl Tostig, Harold's brother. Although Harold repelled the Norwegian invaders, his victory was short-lived: he was defeated and killed at Hastings less than three weeks later. It can be said it was the final fall of the "Vikings".

[edit] Background

In September 1066, King Harold Godwinson was in the south of Britain, anticipating an invasion from France by William, Duke of Normandy. By coincidence — there is no evidence that either the Norman or Viking invaders knew of each other's plans — King Harald Hardraada (King of Norway) and Tostig (the expelled Earl of Northumberland) landed in England and burned Scarborough. Harald Hardraada was pursuing dynastic claims with an army of Norwegians, Norwegian vassals, and allies, with the intent of conquest of England, rather than raiding. King Harold Godwinson and his brother Gyrth set out with their housecarls and royal thegns for Yorkshire to repel the Viking invasion. After Harold learned that Northumbrians were told to bring additional supplies and hostages to the Vikings at Stamford Bridge, Harold took his army to Stamford Bridge, where he hoped to surprise the Vikings. When Harold's forces came over the ridge, the Vikings were unarmoured, since they were only expecting a hand over of supplies and hostages.

In his saga Heimskringla about Harald III of Norway, which was written around 1225, Snorri Sturluson (Snorre Sturlason) described the disposition of the Norwegian troops. Snorri also claimed that the Norwegians had left their byrnies at the ships and thus had to fight with only shield, spear and helmets. ^[1] The sagas, however, are historical fiction which Snorri admits in his Prologue, "although we do not know the truth of these, we know, however, of occasions when wise old men have reckoned such things as true."^[2]

[edit] The battle

After marching 185 miles in about four days, raising local levies on the way, Harold's army were still ready to fight a long and bloody battle. The Viking army could not have been in a worse position. They had expected Harold's army to arrive a few days later and many of the soldiers had left their armour on the ships at Riccall, some 14 miles away.

The Vikings on the west side either put up a futile defence or ran for their lives across the bridge. Those who decided to fight were slaughtered without mercy. However, the Saxons came across an obstacle on the bridge. The story goes that a giant Norwegian armed with an axe held up the entire Saxon army, and single-handedly cut down over 40 Saxon soldiers. He himself was only killed when one Saxon drifted under the bridge in a barrel and thrust his spear through the latches of the bridge, killing the Norseman.

Whatever happened, this delay allowed the Vikings to form something of a line to face the Saxon army. Harold's army poured across the bridge, forming a line face-to-face with the Vikings. The Vikings locked their shields together to form a wall. The Saxons copied the tactic and rushed at the Viking army. The battle continued for several hours, and though the Vikings put up an impressive defence without their armour they were exposed to Saxon steel, chinks began to appear in the shield wall and the Saxons were quick to exploit these gaps.

The Saxon army broke up the Viking shield wall, spilled around the rear of their army and continued to fight until the Vikings broke and ran. The deaths of both Hardraada and Tostig further turned the battle in favour of the Saxons.

A group of Norwegian reinforcements who had been defending the boats under the command of Eystein Orri, Hardraada's daughter's fiance, arrived shortly after in full battle dress and attempted to rally the troops, but soon Orri, too, was killed, and the English won the day.

[edit] Aftermath

Harald Hardråde struck in the throat by an arrow at Stamford Bridge, by Wilhelm Wetlesen.

King Harold Godwinson accepted a truce with the surviving Norwegians, including Harald's son Olaf, and they were allowed to leave after giving pledges not to attack England again. Only 24 ships carried the survivors away, from over 300 ships which had arrived with the Viking army. This marked the end of the Viking Age.

King Harold's success did not last, however. Little more than a fortnight after the battle, on 14 October, after having marched his exhausted army all the way from Yorkshire, he was defeated and killed by Norman forces under William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. This began the Norman Conquest of England.

[edit] Monument

In the village of Stamford Bridge a monument to the battle has been erected. The monument's inscription reads:

"1066
The Battle of Stamford Bridge
King Harold of England defeated his brother Tostig and Harald Hardraada of Norway here on 25 September 1066"

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• Drama Documentary about events surrounding the battle
• 360° picture of the memorial at Stamford Bridge
• Description of battle by Geoff Boxell
• The Norwegian Invasion of England
• Saga of Harald Hardråde