The Battle of Gate Fulford, 20th September 1066 (Edexcel GCSE History)

How Significant was the Battle of Gate Fulford? - Timeline & Summary

The Battle of Gate Fulford was a significant defeat for the English forces. The Earl of Mercia, Edwin, and the Earl of Northumbria, Morcar, lost 500 troops, which was a significant loss to the northern forces. It did prove Edwin and Morcar's loyalty to Harold, which the king questioned before the Battle of Gate Fulford.

The aftermath of the battle also presented a problem for Harold. Harold had expected William, Duke of Normandy to invade England from the south. After waiting for the invasion force all summer, Harold disbanded the southern fyrd. This happened days before Hardrada and Tostig's invasion. Harold marched north to meet them. It was a military success. However, leaving the south of England caused devastating long-term consequences for Harold's reign.

Reasons Behind the Battle of Gate Fulford

• Harold had betrayed his brother Tostig

  • Harold had ensured King Edward exiled Tostig in November 1065 after the uprising in Northumbria against him

  • In May 1066, Tostig's invasion of England had failed

    • Tostig fled to Scotland. In September 1066, Tostig joined with Harald Hardrada to attack Harold

• Tostig and Hardrada had support in the North of England

  • The North was under Danelaw, with a high number of Anglo-Danish people

    • They would support a Viking king ruling England like King Cnut

  • With 200-300 warships and 10,000 soldiers, Hardrada and Tostig landed at the River Humber

    • They planned to march to York, the capital of the old Viking state

• Harold placed his forces in the South of England

  • Harold heard about Hardrada's invasion on 19th September 1066

    • Harold could not get to the North in time to intercept Hardrada's forces

  • The Earl of Northumbria, Morcar, and his brother, the Earl of Mercia, Edwin, blocked Hardrada's way to York

    • They chose an open battle with Hardrada and Tostig instead of using the fortifications of York

Why did Hardrada win at Gate Fulford?

Key events of the Battle of Gate Fulford

• Both sides had to wait until the river was low enough to cross

• Morcar charged at Tostig's forces

  • He believed Tostig was the weakest part of Hardrada's army

• Some of the Viking reserves helped Tostig's forces fight back against Morcar

• Hardrada's soldiers attacked Edwin's forces

  • Edwin ordered his army to leave to York as Hardrada's warriors were much stronger than Edwin's

  • Morcar did not know that Edwin had fled

  • Hardrada flanked Morcar's forces

    • Morcar escaped

Reasons for Hardrada's victory

• Edwin and Morcar were heavily outnumbered

  • Edwin and Morcar only had 6,000 troops. Hardrada and Tostig had around 9,000

• Hardrada had better-trained troops

  • Hardrada had housecarls

    • Housecarls were highly trained troops that protected their lord like a bodyguard

• Hardrada had a stronger battle strategy

  • Hardrada predicted that Morcar would charge at Tostig's forces

    • Hardrada had purposefully placed his weaker soldiers with Tostig

  • Edwin and Morcar assembled their troops by marshland

    • Edwin and Morcar's forces struggled to retreat

    • Hardrada's forces killed many of the retreating English soldiers

      • Hardrada boasted that there were so many dead English soldiers in Germany Beck that the Vikings could cross the stream without getting their feet wet

Harold's Response to Hardrada's Invasion

• It is likely that beacon signals notified Harold of Hardrada's invasion

• In response, Harold took his housecarls to the North

  • He abandoned his southern defences

  • Harold did not know about the Battle at Gate Fulford

• Harold's forces travelled 185 miles in five days

  • Harold's thegns travelled on horseback

  • Harold may have sailed to the North

  • As Harold's housecarls travelled north, he sent messages ahead of him

    • This notified earls and thegns to raise a fyrd to support Harold

    • Harold then collected these forces as he marched towards York

Causes and consequences of the Battle of Gate Fulford