Which Norwegian king was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in September 1066, days before the Battle of Hastings?

The Last Great Viking Invasion of England

Harald Hardrada — whose name literally means "Harald Hard-ruler" — was one of the most feared warriors of the medieval world. Before becoming King of Norway, he had fought as a mercenary in the Byzantine Empire's elite Varangian Guard, raided across the Mediterranean, and carved out a reputation as virtually unstoppable in battle. By 1066, he had been king of Norway for over two decades and had his sights firmly set on the English throne.

Why Did Hardrada Invade England?

His claim to England was convoluted but not entirely without basis. He argued that a previous agreement between the rulers of Norway and Denmark gave him a right to the English crown — a claim most English people found unconvincing, but which Hardrada was happy to press with an army. He sailed south with a fleet estimated at around 300 ships and as many as 9,000 men, an enormous force by the standards of the age.

Crucially, he had a powerful ally: Tostig Godwinson, the exiled brother of England's own King Harold II. The two joined forces and pushed deep into Yorkshire, crushing an English earls' army at the Battle of Fulford Gate on 20 September 1066.

The Shock at Stamford Bridge

After their victory at Fulford, the Norse forces felt confident enough to leave much of their armour back at their ships near Riccall. They were not expecting what came next. King Harold II had marched his army north at a blistering pace — covering roughly 185 miles in just four days — and arrived at Stamford Bridge, near York, on 25 September 1066.

The Norwegians were caught completely off guard, scattered on both sides of the River Derwent and largely unarmoured. A famous story, possibly legendary but irresistible, tells of a single giant Norwegian warrior holding the narrow bridge alone, cutting down dozens of English soldiers, until one Englishman floated beneath the bridge in a barrel and speared him from below.

Once the English crossed the bridge in force, the battle turned into a rout. Harald Hardrada was killed by an arrow to the throat. Tostig died shortly after. Of the vast Norwegian fleet that had arrived, only around 24 ships were needed to carry the survivors home.

The Cruel Timing of History

Harold II had no time to celebrate. Within days, news arrived that William of Normandy had landed in the south of England. Harold turned his exhausted army around and marched them back down the length of the country. On 14 October 1066 — just nineteen days after Stamford Bridge — he faced William at the Battle of Hastings, where he was killed and the Norman conquest of England began.

Stamford Bridge effectively ended the Viking Age of English history. It just didn't get to enjoy its own legacy.