Battle of Stamford Bridge

Timeline

1. 1066Fulford · YorkshireHarald Hardrada landed along the River Ouse with a Norwegian fleet, joined his brother-in-law Tostig Godwinson, and defeated the local English defenders—the Earls Morcar, Edwin, and Mowbray—south of York at Fulford, then captured York.
2. 1066Stamford Bridge · YorkshireHarold marched his elite troops rapidly north from London and launched a surprise attack while the Norwegians were unarmored and spread out on both sides of the bridge. The English shield wall crashed into the Norwegian line; Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson were killed, and the remnants retreated under Harald's son Olaf. Legend holds that a single Norwegian warrior held the bridge alone, delaying the English, a famous anecdote of later ages.
3. 1066England · EnglandAfter the victory at Stamford Bridge, Harold left only a small force behind and led his exhausted army south to face Duke William of Normandy, who had already landed in Sussex. The English army, unable to rest and reorganize adequately, went straight into the next decisive battle, an important contributing factor to the defeat at Hastings.