25th September 1066 Battle of Stamford Bridge

                    On 25th September 1066 King Harold II of England [aged 44], supported by the brothers Edwin Earl of Mercia and Morcar Earl Northumbria, defeated the Viking army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge at Stamford Bridge [Map].
                
                    King Harald Hardrada III of Norway [aged 51] was killed. His son Magnus [aged 18] succeeded King Norway.
                
                    Harold's brother, fighting against Harold, Tostig Godwinson Earl Northumbria [aged 40] was killed.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 25th September 1066. Then after the fight went Harold, King of Norway [aged 51], and Earl Tosty [aged 40] into York with as many followers as they thought fit; and having procured hostages and provisions from the city, they proceeded to their ships, and proclaimed full friendship, on condition that all would go southward with them, and gain this land. In the midst of this came Harold, king of the English, with all his army, on the Sunday, to Tadcaster; where he collected his fleet. Thence he proceeded on Monday throughout York. But Harald, King of Norway, and Earl Tosty, with their forces, were gone from their ships beyond York to Stanfordbridge; for that it was given them to understand, that hostages would be brought to them there from all the shire. Thither came Harold, king of the English [aged 44], unawares against them beyond the bridge; and they closed together there, and continued long in the day fighting very severely. There was slain Harald the Fair-hair'd, King of Norway, and Earl Tosty, and a multitude of people with them, both of Normans and English;⁹¹ and the Normans that were left fled from the English, who slew them hotly behind; until some came to their ships, some were drowned, some burned to death, and thus variously destroyed; so that there was little left: and the English gained possession of the field. But there was one of the Norwegians who withstood the English folk, so that they could not pass over the bridge, nor complete the victory. An Englishman aimed at him with a javelin, but it availed nothing. Then came another under the bridge, who pierced him terribly inwards under the coat of mail. And Harold, king of the English, then came over the bridge, followed by his army; and there they made a great slaughter, both of the Norwegians and of the Flemings. But Harold let the king's son, Edmund, go home to Norway with all the ships. He also gave quarter to Olave [aged 16], the Norwegian king's son, and to their bishop, and to the earl of the Orkneys, and to all those that were left in the ships; who then went up to our king, and took oaths that they would ever maintain faith and friendship unto this land. Whereupon the King let them go home with twenty-four ships. These two general battles were fought within five nights.

Note 91. It is scarcely necessary to observe that the term "English" begins about this time to be substituted for "Angles"; and that the Normans are not merely the Norwegians, but the Danes and other adventurers from the north, joined with the forces of France and Flanders; who, we shall presently see, overwhelmed by their numbers the expiring, liberties of England. The Franks begin also to assume the name of Frencyscan or "Frenchmen".

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Chronicon ex Chronicis by Florence and John of Worcester. 25th September 1066. However, on the fifth day afterwards, viz. on Monday, the seventh of the calends of October [25th September], Harold [aged 44], king of England, having reached York, with many thousand well-armed troops, encountered the Norwegians at a place called Stanford-bridge, and put to the sword king Harold and earl Tosti [aged 40], with the greatest part of their army; and, although the battle was severely contested, gained a complete victory. Notwithstanding, he allowed Harold's son Olaf, and Paul, earl of Orkney, who had been left with part of the army to guard the ships, to return to their own country, with twenty ships and the relics of the [defeated] army; having first received from them hostages and their oaths.

Chronicle of William of Malmesbury Book 2 Chapter 13. [25th September 1066] Harold, on hearing this, proceeded thither with all his forces, and, each nation making every possible exertion, a bloody encounter followed: but the English obtained the advantage, and put the Norwegians to flight. Yet, however reluctantly posterity may believe it, one single Norwegian for a long time delayed the triumph of so many, and such great men. For standing on the entrance of the bridge, which is called Standford Brigge,²⁸⁷ after having killed several of our party, he prevented the whole from passing over. Being invited to surrender, with the assurance that a man of such courage should experience the amplest clemency from the English, he derided those who entreated him; and immediately, with stern countenance, reproached the set of cowards who were unable to resist an individual. No one approaching nearer, as they thought it unadvisable to come to close quarters with a man who had desperately rejected every means of safety, one of the king's followers aimed an iron javelin at him from a distance; and transfixed him as he was boastfully flourishing about, and too incautious from his security, so that he yielded the victory to the English. The army immediately passing over without opposition, destroyed the dispersed and flying Norwegians. King Harfager and Tosty were slain; the king's son, with all the ships, was kindly sent back to his own country. Harold, elated by his successful enterprise, vouchsafed no part of the spoil to his soldiers. Wherefore many, as they found opportunity, stealing away, deserted the king, as he was proceeding to the battle of Hastings.

Note 287. The battle of Stanford-bridge was fought on the 25th of September, 1066. See Saxon. Chron. p. 440.

Fagrskinna. [25th September 1066]. King Harald Sigurtharson rode on a black horse with a white mark out before his troop and saw how the retinue was positioned, and he arranged them further forward, as he then wanted. And during this ride the horse fell beneath him, and the king from off it, and he said: 'A fall is a good sign for a journey.' Then Harald, king of the Angles, spoke with the Norsemen who were with him: 'Do you know that noble man with the blue kirtle and impressive helmet, who launched himself off his horse?' They answered, 'We know him; that was the king of the Norsemen.' Then the king of the Angles said, 'He is a great and princely man, and it is likely that he has come to the end of his luck.'

Haraldr konongr Sighurðarsun ræið svǫrtum hesti blesóttom firir framan fylking sína ok sá hværsu liðit stóð, ok skipaðe þæim framar er þá villde hann. Ok í þesse ræið fell hestrenn undir hanum oc konongrenn framm af, oc mǽllti, "Fall er farar hæill." Þá mǽllti Haraldr Ænghla konongr viðr Norðmenn þá er með hanum váro, "Kenndo þér þenn hinn myckla meðr þæim blá kyrtli oc hin faghra hialm, er þer skaut sér af hestinum frem? Þeir svaraðo, "Kennom vér; þet var Norðmanna konongr." Þá mǽllti Ænghla konongr, "Mikill maðr oc hǫfðinghlegr er hann, oc hitt er nú venna at farinn sé at hamingiu."

Chronicle of Henry of Huntingdon 1066. [25th September 1066]. When this intelligence reached Harold, king of England [aged 44], he advanced with a powerful army, and came up with the invaders at Stanford Bridge. The battle was desperately fought, the armies being engaged from daybreak to noonday, when, after fierce attacks on both sides, the Norwegians were forced to give way before the superior numbers of the English, but retreated in good order. Being driven across the river¹, the living trampling on the corpses of the slain, they resolutely made a fresh stand. Here a single Norwegian, whose name ought to have been preserved, took post on a bridge, and hewing down more than forty of the English with a battleaxe, his country's weapon, stayed the advance of the whole English army till the ninth hour. At last some one came under the bridge in a boat, and thrust a spear into him, through the chinks of the flooring. The English having gained a passage, King Harold [aged 51] and Tosti [aged 40] were slain; and their whole army were either slaughtered, or, being taken prisoners, were burnt.

Note 1. River Ouse.

Note 2. The battle of Stanford Bridge was fought on the eve of St. Matthew, 20th September, 1066. [Note. The currently accepted date is the 25th of September 1066. The Battle of Fulfod was fought on the eve of the Feast of St Matthew i.e. 20th of September.]

                    Saga of Harald Hardrade Book 2 Chapter 42. Of the Beginning of the Battle.
                
                    [25th September 1066]. Now the battle began. The Englishmen made a hot assault upon the Northmen, who sustained it bravely. It was no easy matter for the English to ride against the Northmen on account of their spears; therefore they rode in a circle around them. And the fight at first was but loose and light, as long as the Northmen kept their order of battle; for although the English rode hard against the Northmen, they gave way again immediately, as they could do nothing against them. Now when the Northmen thought they perceived that the enemy were making but weak assaults, they set after them, and would drive them into flight; but when they had broken their shield-rampart the Englishmen rode up from all sides, and threw arrows and spears on them. Now when King Harald Sigurdson saw this, he went into the fray where the greatest crash of weapons was, and there was a sharp conflict, in which many people fell on both sides. King Harald then was in a rage, and ran out in front of the array, and hewed down with both hands; so that neither helmet nor armour could withstand him, and all who were nearest gave way before him. It was then very near with the English that they had taken to flight. So says Arnor, the earls' skald: --
                
                    "Where battle-storm was ringing,
                
                    Where arrow-cloud was singing,
                
                    Harald stood there,
                
                    Of armour bare,
                
                    His deadly sword still swinging.
                
                    The foeman feel its bite;
                
                    His Norsemen rush to fight,
                
                    Danger to share,
                
                    With Harald there,
                
                    Where steel on steel was ringing."

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History of the Dukes of Normandy by William of Jumieges. But Harold, when the Normans entered the kingdom which he had usurped, was occupied in war against his brother Tostig. In that battle he slew his brother, and also Harold Hardrada, King of Norway, who had come to aid Tostig. This battle was fought on the Nones of October¹, a Saturday, in which nearly the entire army of the Norwegians was destroyed by the English. From there the victorious Harold returned to London, but he was not able to rejoice long in his victory or to remain secure, for a messenger soon informed him that the Normans had arrived.

Heraldus autem, dum Northmanni intraverunt regnum quod ipse usurpaverat, contra Tosticum fratrem suum bello occupatus erat. In quo conflictu prædictum fratrem suum peremit, ac Heraldum regem Northwege, qui Tosticum juvare venerat. Hæc pugna Nonis Octobris, in die Sabbati facta est, in qua pene totus Northwigonarum exercitus ab Anglis casus est. Inde victor Heraldus Lundoniam rediit, sed de fratricidio diu gaudere, vel securus esse non potuit; quia legatus ei Northmannos adesse mox nuntiavit.

Note 1. The Nones of October is the 7th October which was a Saturday. The Battle of Stamford Bridge is traditionally held to have taken place on 25th September 1066 which is the seventh of the Kalends of October as described in the Chronicon ex Chronicis, Page 155: "However, on the fifth day afterwards, viz. on Monday, the seventh of the calends of October [25th September], Harold, king of England, having reached York, with many thousand well-armed troops, encountered the Norwegians at a place called Stanford-bridge, and put to the sword king Harold and earl Tosti, with the greatest part of their army; and, although the battle was severely contested, gained a complete victory. Notwithstanding, he allowed Harold's son Olaf, and Paul, earl of Orkney, who had been left with part of the army to guard the ships, to return to their own country, with twenty ships and the relics of the [defeated] army; having first received from them hostages and their oaths."

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