The Battle of Fulford

• 20 September 1066

• Harold disbanded the fyrd (8 September 1066) - he believed William’s men would bring crops from France

• Edwin and Morcar led their force into battle

• Tostig and Hardrada rested in York with the intention of moving south

• Tostig and Hardrada had defeated Edwin and Morcar which forced Harold to rush north → he had to gather troops on the way as he had dismissed the fyrd

The Battle of Stamford Bridge

• 25 September 1066

• Harold had gathered an army and marched 200 miles from London to York in a week

• Harold launched a surprise attack on Hardrada and Tostig (advantage)

• the Norwegians surrendered to the English

• Hardrada’s son Olaf was allowed to sail back to Norway, promising to never return→ returned with only 24 ships compared to the 300 ships from the beginning

• artist Peter Nicolai Arbo painted an interpretation of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

• it was based on the ‘Saga of Harald Hardrada’ written in 1230 by Icelandic poet Snorri

The Battle of Hastings

• 14 October 1066

• long delay to England was due to bad weather as the wind was constantly blowing north e.g. William’s attempt to cross on the 12th September

• 28 September- William landed at Pevensey →began building defences

• he ordered his men to raid nearby villages

• Harold rode to Hastings in 4/5 days

• Harold chose to make his stand near a forest- retreat was impossible but it provided a strong defensive line

• William arranged his archers, infantry, knights at the foot of the hill

• top of the hill- Harold had the same size force- 7000 men