King Harold II defeated a Norwegian invasion of England at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066. The Norwegian king Harald Hardrada and Harold’s brother Tostig Godwinson were both killed.

The invasion followed Edward the Confessor’s death in January 1066. Harold Godwinson became king, but his claim to the English throne was challenged. Hardrada invaded northern England with Tostig, the former Earl of Northumbria, who had been driven into exile the previous year.

On 20 September, the invaders defeated the northern earls Edwin and Morcar at Fulford, near York. York subsequently submitted to Hardrada.

Harold had been in southern England preparing for a possible invasion by William of Normandy. After hearing of the Norwegian attack, he gathered his forces and marched north. His army covered roughly 200 miles in less than a week and reached Tadcaster on 24 September.

The following day Harold advanced towards Stamford Bridge. His arrival appears to have taken the Norwegian force by surprise.

The battle was prolonged and costly. Hardrada was killed, traditionally said to have been struck in the throat by an arrow. Tostig continued fighting after the Norwegian king’s death but was also killed. Norwegian reinforcements arrived by ship but could not reverse the battle.

The surviving Norwegians were allowed to leave England on the condition that they would not attack again. The invasion had arrived with a fleet of hundreds of ships. Only a fraction of them was needed to carry the survivors home.

Harold had defeated the immediate threat in northern England. William of Normandy’s invasion fleet sailed for England two days later, leaving Harold to march his army south again.