Editing Norman Conquest (section)

==Tostig's raids and the Norwegian invasion==
In early 1066, Harold's exiled brother, [[Tostig Godwinson]], raided southeastern England with a fleet he had recruited in [[Flanders]], later joined by other ships from [[Orkney]].{{efn|Tostig, who had been [[Earl of Northumbria]], was expelled from that office by a [[Northumbrian Revolt of 1065|Northumbrian rebellion]] in late 1065. After King Edward sided with the rebels, Tostig went into exile in Flanders.<ref name=Stenton578>Stenton ''Anglo-Saxon England'' pp. 578–580</ref>}} Threatened by Harold's fleet, Tostig moved north and raided in [[East Anglia]] and [[Lincolnshire]], but he was driven back to his ships by the brothers [[Edwin, Earl of Mercia]], and [[Morcar|Morcar, Earl of Northumbria]]. Deserted by most of his followers, Tostig withdrew to Scotland, where he spent the summer recruiting fresh forces.<ref name=Harold144>Walker ''Harold'' pp. 144–145</ref>{{efn|The King of Scotland, [[Malcolm III of Scotland|Malcolm III]], is said to have been Tostig's sworn brother.<ref name=Stenton578/>}} King Harold spent the summer on the south coast with a large army and fleet waiting for William to invade, but the bulk of his forces were militia who needed to harvest their crops, so on 8 September Harold dismissed them.<ref name=Harold145>Walker ''Harold'' pp. 144–150</ref>

Hardrada invaded northern England in early September, leading a fleet of more than 300 ships carrying perhaps 15,000 men. Harald's army was further augmented by the forces of Tostig, who threw his support behind the Norwegian king's bid for the throne. Advancing on York, the Norwegians defeated a northern English army under Edwin and Morcar on 20 September at the [[Battle of Fulford]].<ref name=Harold154>Walker ''Harold'' pp. 154–158</ref> The two earls had rushed to engage the Norwegian forces before Harold could arrive from the south. Although Harold Godwinson had married Edwin and Morcar's sister [[Edith of Mercia|Ealdgyth]], the two earls may have distrusted Harold and feared that the king would replace Morcar with Tostig. The result was that their forces were devastated and unable to participate in the rest of the campaigns of 1066, although the two earls survived the battle.<ref name=Marren65>Marren ''1066'' pp. 65–71</ref>

Hardrada moved on to York, which surrendered to him. After taking hostages from the leading men of the city, on 24 September the Norwegians moved east to the village of [[Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire|Stamford Bridge]].<ref name=Marren73>Marren ''1066'' p. 73</ref> King Harold probably learned of the Norwegian invasion in mid-September and rushed north, gathering forces as he went.<ref name=Harold158/> The royal forces probably took nine days to cover the distance from London to York, averaging almost {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=off}} per day. At dawn on 25 September Harold's forces reached York, where he learned the location of the Norwegians.<ref name=Marren74>Marren ''1066'' pp. 74–75</ref> The English then marched on the invaders and took them by surprise, defeating them in the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]]. Harald of Norway and Tostig were killed, and the Norwegians suffered such horrific losses that only 24 of the original 300 ships were required to carry away the survivors. The English victory was costly, however, as Harold's army was left in a battered and weakened state, and far from the [[English Channel]].<ref name=Harold158>Walker ''Harold'' pp. 158–165</ref>