Post by Pathfinder on Sept 27, 2022 13:07:24 GMT
Onthisday, 25 September 1066 was the Battle of Stamford Bridge fought between the English King Harold Godwinson [10,500 footmen, 2,000 cavalry) and the Norwegian King Haraldr Hardrada and his ally Tostig (6000 at Stamford bridge, 3000 reinforcements from Riccall).
Harold Godwinson marched 185 miles (~300 km) from London to York in four days, surprising the Norse forces that were waiting for hostages and supplies to arrive from York.
Before the battle, a single man rode up to Haraldr Hardrada and Tostig, offering Tostig the return of is earldom to betray the Norweigan king. Tostig asked the rider what the English king would offer Haraldr, in which the rider replied “Seven feet of English ground, as he is taller than other men.”
Hardrada was impressed by the boldness and asked Tostig who the rider was, in which Tostig replied that it was none other than Harold Godwinson himself.
The English caught the Norwegians by surprise, who quickly formed a defensive circle. The Norsemen positioned on the West side were either slain or fled across the river, with the English army quickly advancing, though slowed by the chokepoint presented by the bridge.
A giant Norse axeman blocked the narrow crossing. A strong berserker, an elite of Haraldr’s forces armed likely with a Dane axe. Here he cut 40 Englishmen down before being slain by a spear through the planks of the bridge.
The delay however allowed the Norwegians to form a shield wall on the other side of the bridge, with scouts quickly sent to call for the 3,000 troops that were left protecting the ships at Riccall.
The battle raged for hours but the Norsemen’s decision to leave their armour behind became a huge disadvantage. The army began to fragment and fracture as the English troops forced their way through the Norwegian’s shield wall.
Haraldr Hardrada was slain with an arrow to his windpipe, and the traitorous Tostig also fell in the battle. As the Norwegian’s line began to break the reinforcements finally arrived.
Some of the troops collapsed and fell from exhaustion upon reaching the battlefield, but the rest, fully armed launched a counter attack known as “Orre’s Storm” (named after the reinforcements being led by Eystein Orre, Haraldr’s son-in-law).
Though the strike was effective at first, the forces were outnumbered and overwhelmed and Orre was slain.
The Norwegian army recognised defeat and began to flee, but were chased down by the English army.
The remnants of Haraldr’s forces were either cut down, or drowned trying to cross rivers.
It is said that so many died in such a small area that the field was whitened with bleached bones even 50 years after the battle."
The surviving invaders, including Haraldr's son Olaf III and Paul Thorfinnsson (a Jarl of Orkney) made a truce and were allowed to leave under the promise never to attack England again.
Out of the invasion force of over 300 ships, only 24 left with the survivors.
Lews Therin Telamon
Harold Godwinson marched 185 miles (~300 km) from London to York in four days, surprising the Norse forces that were waiting for hostages and supplies to arrive from York.
Before the battle, a single man rode up to Haraldr Hardrada and Tostig, offering Tostig the return of is earldom to betray the Norweigan king. Tostig asked the rider what the English king would offer Haraldr, in which the rider replied “Seven feet of English ground, as he is taller than other men.”
Hardrada was impressed by the boldness and asked Tostig who the rider was, in which Tostig replied that it was none other than Harold Godwinson himself.
The English caught the Norwegians by surprise, who quickly formed a defensive circle. The Norsemen positioned on the West side were either slain or fled across the river, with the English army quickly advancing, though slowed by the chokepoint presented by the bridge.
A giant Norse axeman blocked the narrow crossing. A strong berserker, an elite of Haraldr’s forces armed likely with a Dane axe. Here he cut 40 Englishmen down before being slain by a spear through the planks of the bridge.
The delay however allowed the Norwegians to form a shield wall on the other side of the bridge, with scouts quickly sent to call for the 3,000 troops that were left protecting the ships at Riccall.
The battle raged for hours but the Norsemen’s decision to leave their armour behind became a huge disadvantage. The army began to fragment and fracture as the English troops forced their way through the Norwegian’s shield wall.
Haraldr Hardrada was slain with an arrow to his windpipe, and the traitorous Tostig also fell in the battle. As the Norwegian’s line began to break the reinforcements finally arrived.
Some of the troops collapsed and fell from exhaustion upon reaching the battlefield, but the rest, fully armed launched a counter attack known as “Orre’s Storm” (named after the reinforcements being led by Eystein Orre, Haraldr’s son-in-law).
Though the strike was effective at first, the forces were outnumbered and overwhelmed and Orre was slain.
The Norwegian army recognised defeat and began to flee, but were chased down by the English army.
The remnants of Haraldr’s forces were either cut down, or drowned trying to cross rivers.
It is said that so many died in such a small area that the field was whitened with bleached bones even 50 years after the battle."
The surviving invaders, including Haraldr's son Olaf III and Paul Thorfinnsson (a Jarl of Orkney) made a truce and were allowed to leave under the promise never to attack England again.
Out of the invasion force of over 300 ships, only 24 left with the survivors.
Lews Therin Telamon