1066 The Three Kings

                                                                             

In 1042 Edward The Confessor, son of Ethelred the Unready, returned from exile to take up the throne of England again, After reigning for twenty-six years Edward died early in January1066 and the English throne was up for grabs once more. Three men claimed the right of succession and all three were of Viking descent.

The First was Harold Godwinsson, one of the most powerful Earls in England, eldest son of Earl Godwin of Wessex, father in law, and kingmaker to Edward The Confessor; and the man who helped Him regain his throne in 1042.

The Second was King Haraldur Sigurosson Of Norway (Haraldur the Ruthless) one of the great Viking sea kings. Haraldur believed the throne was his rightful inheritance because of an old treaty between his nephew Magnus former king of Norway and King Knutur the son of King Canute former king of Denmark and England; each had nominated the other as the heir to his throne.

The third was Duke William of Normandy, so called William The Bastard because of being born the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I (Robert the Devil) and Herleve a tanner’s daughter. Duke William was on friendly terms with Edward The Confessor who had spent twenty-five years of his life exiled to Normandy during the reign king Canute. William was later to claim that childless Edward had nominated him as his heir during a visit to England in 1051.

King Edward died on the 5^th of January 1066 and on the 6^th Harold Godwinsson the strong man who had ruled England in all but name for the last ten years of Edward’s reign, had himself proclaimed king of England. William incensed because Harold had given him an oath of Allegiance, began to build an invasion fleet. While all eyes are on Normandy, Haraldur in Norway, confident that he can best Harold and grab the throne for himself, is secretly making preparations for his own invasion. Unaware of this threat from the north Harold prepares for the Norman invasion.

Ten years earlier Harold had made his brother Tostig Earl of Northumbria, but after ten years of oppression the people of Northumbria rose up and threw him out. Eager to regain Northumbria and blaming Harold for not helping him out, Tostig was a loose cannon, he and his men available to anyone at a price. In May Tostig with a fleet arrived off the Isle of White. Harold hurried south with his army and Tostig left.

A possible diversionary attack? If so, no other attack came all that summer and Harold was forced to stand the army down in September, as moral and supplies were running low.

Meanwhile Haraldur had cross from Norway and accompanied by Tostig and a Scottish contingent swept down the northeast coast at the head of a fleet of 300 ships and 9,000 men. After raiding the coastal towns of Cleveland, Scarborough and Holderness, he travelled up river, landing at Riccall on the Ouse where he prepared to take York. The way to York however was barred by a joint army of Northumbrian’s and Mercian’s at Gate Fulford. The battle was hard, bloody and lasted most of the day, but in the end after both sides had lost a lot of men, the Norwegians were the victors.

With it army scattered to the winds, York capitulated and Haraldur spent a few days taking hostages and gathering recruits before marching to Stamford Bridge on the river Derwent.

On hearing of the battle at Gate Fulford, Harold gathered his Army and after a series of forced marches arrived at Stamford Bridge at noon on the 25^th of September. Haraldur taken by surprise hurriedly gathered his men and battle commenced. All afternoon the battle raged with first one side then other gaining the advantage, but eventually King Haraldur received a death wound, an arrow to the throat and the Norwegians were beaten. Norwegian reinforcements arrived from the ships, but the battle was over and along with the survivors they were granted quarter. 300 ships had arrived packed with warriors, but only 24 filled with survivors limped back to Norway.

On 27^th September after being delayed by adverse weather Duke William at the head of 10,000 men carried in 700 ships, left Normandy and landed unopposed on Pevensey beach to the west of Hastings. The Normans arrived on the morning of the 28^th and by evening had disembarked and set up a beachhead on the peninsular.

Up north, Harold’s men were licking their wounds and relaxing from the hard won battle, when the news came and they were forced to rush southwards once more. They reached London on the 5^th of October and spent five days raising more men before Harold had them on the move again. Despite being advised to wait until he had raised a larger army, he felt that if he was quick enough he could dig in along the Senlac Ridge and would be able to keep the Normans bottled up for the winter. Unfortunately he was a little too late and the Norman advance was upon him before he could complete his defences on the ridge.

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