Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 AD - End of the Viking Age - Godwinson vs Hardrada

Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 AD - End of the Viking Age - Godwinson vs Hardrada === 00:00 The Road to Stamford Bridge and England's Fateful Crossroads 04:15 Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 AD 14:50 Aftermath === The Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 AD - Battle CHANGED history of Viking Age - Godwinson vs Hardrada. In 1066, the King of England passed away without an heir, leaving the question of succession uncertain. According to some accounts, before his death, the king entrusted Harold Godwinson with the defense of the realm, and on his deathbed, he is said to have hinted that Harold should succeed him. Thus, Harold Godwinson was quickly crowned king. However, his reign would not remain unchallenged for long. Two formidable rivals—Duke William of Normandy and King Harald Hardrada of Norway—also had their sights set on the English crown. Both believed they had strong claims to the throne, and neither hesitated to back those claims with force. Adding to the turmoil was Tostig Godwinson, the exiled brother of Harold and former Earl of Northumbria. Driven by revenge and a desire to reclaim his lost power, Tostig joined forces with Harald Hardrada, seeing in the Norwegian king the perfect ally to achieve his ambitions. The Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 AD - Battle CHANGED history of Viking Age - Godwinson vs Hardrada. Now, Harold knew he was in a tough spot, with threats coming from both the north and the south. But, given the choice, he figured it was more dangerous to leave the southern coast exposed, especially when he heard that William was busy building a fleet along the French coastline. William of Normandy gathered about 10,000 men and several hundred ships, ready to invade England. It really was the main threat like the anticipation, so Harold started preparing his army to face him. But, fortunately for everyone else, bad weather kept William stuck in France for months, giving Harald Hardrada the perfect window to make his move. By March, Harald was busy pulling together a huge invasion force—around 10,000 men on nearly 300 longships, which was about double the size of the Great Heathen Army from a couple of centuries earlier. After months of preparation, he finally set sail in September. The Battle of Stamford Bridge 1066 AD - Battle CHANGED history of Viking Age - Godwinson vs Hardrada. He left his son Magnus in charge of Norway then sailed down the Scottish coast, where King Malcolm offered 2,000 troops to join the invasion. From there, Harald met up with Tostig and his 12 ships at the River Tyne, and together they arrived in Yorkshire on the 18th of September. === #greathistoryen #greathistoryenchannel #battlehistory #battleofstamfordbridge