Topic Background Why did William win the ? Before the Battle

1. became king 1) staged his invasion at the Anglo-Saxon Earls (Edwin and when Edward died, but he knew that he very time Harold Godwinson had disbanded ) 7) Hardrada and the won but both was likely to face challenges. the Fyrd so they could harvest their crops. Vs sides suffered losses. The English Harald Hardrada and the Vikings northern army was disorganized and 2. When William heard of Harold's (and Tostig) scattered. Edwin and Morcar fled. coronation, he sent messengers to ask 2) Hardrada sailed up the River Humber Harold to honour his oath to support with 300 ships and 7000 Viking soldiers. William’s claim. Harold ignored the He landed 10 miles from the city of . The Battle of Fulford Gate 5) The English won an early advantage as only a messengers but prepared for invasion. few of the Vikings had arrived at the battlefield. 3) Edwin and Morcar were waiting with As the battle continued more Vikings arrived 3. Harold quickly assembled a navy the northern army (3500 men) to prevent 4) On 20th September 1066 the and eventually overwhelmed the Saxon forces. after demanding ships and seaman the Vikings from advancing to York. armies met at Fulford Gate from around the country. As king he (outside of York) had a loyal band of professional soldiers (the ) but he The Bridge also called on his (lords) to 25th September 1066 Harold Godwinson Vs Harald Harada 7) Hardrada and Tostig were both fight with him and bring the FYRD killed. Harold Godwinson won (peasants who could be called up to convincingly and dealt with one fight when needed). Harold’s assembled 1) The English has just lost against the Viking The Battle of of the twin threats he faced. forces gathered to defend the south- army at the Battle of Fulford Gate. This loss Stamford However, he could not enjoy the coast. However, William did not arrive meant Harold Godwinson had to move Bridge victory. Three days later (at least, not yet). quickly to deal with the Viking threat. Godwinson was told William hand landed in the south of 4. Harold’s first threat came from England Tostig (his brother) who supported 2) Godwinson marched north with Hardrada’s claim. Tostig raided towns his private army of housecarls (he along the Sussex coast (South) until he had disbanded his southern army on 6) A lone Viking warrior th was scared off by the threat of Harold’s 8 September). However, he defended the bridge until he army. He fled to Scotland to wait for gathered forces as he went. was killed by the Saxons. Hardrada.

5. Harold Godwinson is forced to 3) The Saxon army marched 190 5) Fighting was brutal and lasted th disband his army on 8 September miles to York in four days, taking most of the day. One 1066 after a 3 month wait for William’s the Viking army by surprise on the contemporary source referred to invasion. His timing could not have 25th September 1066. ‘rivers of blood’ after the battle. been worse. A few days later, William moved his invasion fleet further up the 4) The Vikings had not expected Harold to reach York so quickly. The Vikings were camped on the coast to gain a favourable wind. At the opposite side of the River Derwent and had not defended the bridge properly. Many Vikings were in same time, Tostig and Hardrada were scattered locations, some with little or no armour. sailing from Scotland to invade the North of England.