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First exams 2026

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The Battle of Stamford Bridge, 25th September 1066 (Edexcel GCSE History)

Revision Note

Flashcards
Zoe Wade

Written by: Zoe Wade

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

How did Edwin and Morcar Impact Harold's Defence of The Throne?- Summary

Edwin and Morcar had shown their loyalty to Harold. They led their army into battle against Harald Hardrada, a respected and powerful military leader. The Battle of Gate Fulford ended in a victory for Hardrada. Edwin and Morcar had delayed Hardrada's invasion force. They agreed to a transaction of hostages and money to Hardrada and Tostig.

Edwin and Morcar survived the conflict at Gate Fulford. However, historians believe that they fought no other battle for Harold. This is because the Anglo-Saxon sources do not mention Edwin and Morcar in future conflicts. Historians debate the reasons why, and the impact of Morcar and Edwin's absence at Stamford Bridge and Hastings. Harold's army would have lost strength without Morcar and Edwin. As the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, they would have contributed significantly to the number of housecarls and fyrd that supported Harold. Their absence may have impacted the outcome of the Battle of Hastings for Harold.

Reasons Behind the Battle of Stamford Bridge

  • Hardrada and Tostig defeated Edwin and Morcar's army at the Battle of Gate Fulford

    • The victory showed the strength of Hardrada's military 

  • Hardrada and Tostig captured hostages

    • The men demanded hostages from York and around Yorkshire

      • Eleventh-century warfare encouraged the seizure of hostages to ensure both sides kept their agreements

    • Each side agreed to exchange hostages for other hostages or money after the battle

      • Hardrada and Tostig set up camp at Stamford Bridge, about 15 miles away from Fulford

      • On 25th September, both men expected Morcar and Edwin to arrive at Stamford Bridge to exchange hostages for money

Why did Harold Godwinson Win at Stamford Bridge?

Battle diagram of Stamford Bridge, showing King Harold's English forces in red and Hardrada and Tostig's Viking forces in yellow on opposite sides of River Derwent.
A map showing how Hardrada and Tostig's forces assembled against Harold's army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge

Key Events of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

  • Harold's march to the North had gained the king 10,000 soldiers

    • He learnt about Morcar and Edwin's hostage deal on his journey to York

    • He and his army arrived at Stamford Bridge on 25th September

  • Harold launched a surprise attack on Hardrada

    • Harold's army used a small hill by Stamford Bridge to approach Hardrada undetected

  • Hardrada's army was not prepared for an attack

    • Hardrada believed that the purpose of meeting the English was just to transfer hostages 

      • A third of Hardrada's troops were ten miles away from Stamford Bridge

      • Many of Hardrada's remaining troops, 6,000 in total at Stamford Bridge, did not have armour

  • The Vikings were able to delay the English attack

    • A myth stated that one Viking axeman held the bridge over the River Derwent for some time, killing 40 Anglo-Saxons

      • The legend states that an Anglo-Saxon floated under the bridge and stabbed the Viking from below

  • The battle ended as a victory for Harold

    • Harold killed his brother, Tostig

    • An arrow to the neck killed Hardrada

Reasons for Harold's Victory

  • Without having armour, the Vikings could not protect themselves from the Anglo-Saxon attack

    • They were also heavily outnumbered by Harold's forces

    • The element of surprise was also decisive in Harold's victory

  • Hardrada's army did not have the energy to fight

    • They had only won the Battle of Gate Fulford five days before this conflict

  • Hardrada's men lost confidence in their cause

    • Tostig had informed Hardrada that Harold was not popular in England

    • The size and devotion of Harold's army showed Hardrada's soldiers that this was not true

  • Harold's troops were better prepared for the battle

    • His housecarls broke through the Viking's protective shield wall

    • Harold's soldiers demonstrated their superior fighting ability

      • Stamford Bridge would end up being a costly victory for Harold

Worked Example

Describe one feature of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

2 marks

Answer:

One feature of the Battle of Stamford Bridge was Harold's battle strategy (1). Harold used a small hill near Stamford Bridge to hide his troops. This allowed him to launch a surprise attack on Hardrada (1).

Examiner Tips and Tricks

An exam question based on this section could ask you to explain why Harold won the Battle of Stamford Bridge. There are multiple reasons, as shown above. However, the key successes of Harold's strategy were:

  • Harold launching a surprise attack on Hardrada

  • Hardrada's army being unprepared and exhausted

  • The size of Harold's army

This is a 12-mark question. Ensure you write three paragraphs that:

  • P - Make a point about the question

  • E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made

  • E - Explain why this evidence caused Harold to win the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor caused Harold to have an advantage over Hardrada

  • L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor is Harold's victory

The Significance of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

  • The Battle of Stamford Bridge was a significant victory for Harold

    • He eliminated Hardrada as a claimant to the throne

      • Hardrada was the best fighter out of all of the contenders for the English throne

      • His defeat showed Harold's ability as a military leader

Consequence

How did this impact Harold?

On around 1st October, Harold heard that William, Duke of Normandy had landed on the south coast of England

Harold believed that it was too late in the year for William to make the crossing of the English Channel. As a result, he had disbanded the southern fyrd. He was also hundreds of miles away from William's invasion force. He could not prevent William from attacking and pillaging the south coast

Edwin and Morcar had made military mistakes at Gate Fulford

Edwin and Morcar had weakened Harold's forces, as had the Battle of Stamford Bridge. He had a lower number of men to defend England from William

Harold's army had fought a hard-won battle against Hardrada

His soldiers would have felt in good spirits after their victory, but Harold's men had no energy. Harold marched his housecarls down to meet William on the south coast without rest after the battle

Harold was confident after his defeat of Hardrada. He believed that he had eliminated his biggest military threat

Harold chose an open battle with William rather than taking shelter behind the fortifications of London. He and his Witan expected an attack from William. They believed that they had well-prepared tactics against William's forces

Cause and Consequences of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

Flowchart of the Battle of Gate Fulford showing causes and consequences. Causes include the Battle of Gate Fulford, Hardrada and Tostig's unpreparedness, and Harold's march north. Consequences include Harold's vulnerability to southern invasion, housecarls' exhaustion, and Harold's confidence.
A flow diagram showing the causes and consequences of the Battle of Stamford Bridge

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Zoe Wade

Author: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.