Editing Battle of Stamford Bridge (section)

==Background==
The death of King [[Edward the Confessor]] of England in January 1066 had triggered a succession struggle in which a variety of contenders from across north-western Europe fought for the English throne. These claimants included the King of Norway, [[Harald Hardrada]]. According to the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' Manuscript D (p.&nbsp;197),<ref>{{cite book|title=The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle|year=1998|publisher=[[Routledge]]|location=New York|editor=Michael Swanton}}</ref> the Norwegians assembled a fleet of 300 ships to invade England. The authors, however, did not seem to differentiate between warships and supply ships. In ''[[Heimskringla|King Harald's Saga]]'', [[Snorri Sturluson]] states, "it is said that King Harald had over two hundred ships, apart from supply ships and smaller craft".<ref>{{cite book|title=King Harald's Saga |date=1966 |publisher=Penguin Group|author=Snorri Sturluson|translator-last1=Magnusson |translator-first1=M. | translator-link1=Magnus Magnusson |translator-link2=Hermann Pálsson |translator-first2=H |translator-last2=Palsson |page=139}}</ref> Combined with reinforcements picked up in [[Orkney]], the Norwegian army most likely numbered between 7,000 and 9,000 men. Arriving off the English coast in September, Hardrada was joined by further forces recruited in [[Flanders (county)|Flanders]] and [[Scotland]] by [[Tostig Godwinson]].<ref>''The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles'', ed. and tr. [[Michael Swanton]], 2nd ed. (London 2000), pp. 196–197.</ref> Tostig was at odds with his elder brother Harold (who had been elected king by the [[Witenagemot]] on the death of Edward). Having been [[Northumbrian Revolt of 1065|ousted from his position]] as [[Earl of Northumbria]] and exiled in 1065, Tostig had mounted a series of abortive attacks on England in the spring of 1066.<ref>''Anglo-Saxon Chronicles'', pp. 190–197.</ref>

In the late summer of 1066, the invaders sailed up the [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|Ouse]] before advancing on [[York]]. On 20 September they defeated a northern English army led by [[Edwin, Earl of Mercia]], and his brother [[Morcar, Earl of Northumbria]], at the [[Battle of Fulford]], outside York. Following this victory they received the surrender of York. Having briefly occupied the city and taken hostages and supplies from the city they returned towards their ships at [[Riccall]]. They offered peace to the Northumbrians in exchange for their support for Hardrada's bid for the throne, and demanded further hostages from the whole of [[Yorkshire]].<ref>''Anglo-Saxon Chronicles'', pp. 196–197.</ref>

At this time King Harold was in [[Southern England]], anticipating an invasion from France by [[William the Conqueror|William, Duke of Normandy]], another contender for the English throne. Learning of the Norwegian invasion he headed north at great speed with his [[Housecarl|housecarls]] and as many [[thegn]]s as he could gather, travelling day and night. He made the journey from London to Yorkshire, a distance of about {{convert|185|mi|km}}, in only four days, enabling him to take the Norwegians completely by surprise. Having learned that the Northumbrians had been ordered to send the additional hostages and supplies to the Norwegians at Stamford Bridge, Harold hurried on through York to attack them at this rendezvous on 25 September.<ref>''Anglo-Saxon Chronicles'', pp. 196–198.</ref> Until the English army came into view, the invaders remained unaware of the presence of a hostile army anywhere in the vicinity.<ref>{{cite book |last=DeVries |first=Kelly |title=The Norwegian Invasion of England in 1066 |publisher=Boydell Press |location=Woodbridge, UK |year=1999 |isbn=1-84383-027-2 |page=268}}</ref>