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Stamford Bridge

On 8 September 1066 the fyrd and the fleet guarding the south coast of England were disbanded for lack of supplies. A week later news reached Harold Godwinsson in London; Harald Hardrada had landed in the north. The king set out from London between 18 and 20 September with what men he had been able to recall and he gathered more as he hurried north. By 24 September he was at Tadcaster, 185 miles (296km) from London and nine miles (15km) from York. At about this time he would have learned of Harald's victory over Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria at Gate Fulford, just south of York and of the Vikings' camp at Stanford Bridge, eight miles (134km) to the east of the city. Even after such a remarkable march from London Harold gave his men no rest, but pressed on to Stamford Bridge where, on 25 September, Harald and Tostig Godwinsson, Harold's brother, only became aware of the approach of the English when the dust rose from a column picked out with the glint of weapons in the sunlight. Harald left a small force to hold the bridge over the River Derwent and hastily organised a shield-wall in the area to the south-east, between the road to Winchmore, Minster Way, and Burtonfield Hall, a tract now called Battle Flat which can be viewed only from Minster Way or from public footpaths and lanes around the edges. The bridge was then much closer to the direct line of the A166, the old Roman road, and it was held until an English warrior took to a boat to spear the Viking above through the slats of the bridge. Harold's men poured over, those mounted remaining so until they were upon their enemies. Harald and Tostig were killed and the Viking force on the point of total collapse when Eystein Orre arrived hotfoot from the Norwegian camp at Riccall. The battle was renewed, but by the end of the day Harold was victorious and the Viking claim to the throne finished forever. Only 24 ships, fewer than ten percent of the original fleet, were needed for Harald's son, Olof, to take the survivors home. Two days after the battle William the Bastard set sail for England.

See also: Edwin of Mercia; fyrd; Gate Fulford; Harald Hardrada; Harold Godwinsson; Morcar of Northumbria; shield-wall; Tostig Godwinsson; William the Bastard; York

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