Following the death of King Edward the Confessor in January, England was plunged into a succession struggle in which multiple claimants vied for the crown. Harald Hardrada, the King of Norway, gathered a fleet of up to 300 ships and, combined with reinforcements from Orkney, between 7,000 and 9,000 warriors arrived on the English coast in early September.
Harald was soon joined by the English king’s younger brother Tostig, who had turned against Harold the previous year. They defeated a northern English army led by Edwin, Earl of Mercia, in the Battle of Fulford on 20 September and the nearby 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. Having travelled 185 miles (298 km) 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 Harald 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. Less than three weeks after their victory at Stamford Bridge the English army was decisively defeated at the Battle of Hastings.
