Battle of Fulford
Overview
The Battle of Fulford was one of the early battles in the series of events that led to the Norman Conquest of England. In 1066, England was under significant pressure from multiple claimants to the throne, following the death of Edward the Confessor in January. Harold Godwinson, the most powerful noble in England, had been crowned king, but his claim was contested by several rivals, including Harald Hardrada, King of Norway, who believed he had a legitimate right to the English throne due to earlier treaties and alliances between the English and Scandinavian rulers.
Tostig Godwinson, Harold’s estranged brother, had been exiled from England in 1065 after losing his position as Earl of Northumbria due to his tyrannical rule and was determined to reclaim power. Tostig allied himself with Harald Hardrada, whose invasion of England was partly motivated by Tostig’s encouragement. Together, they sailed to the Humber River and began their invasion, which led to the confrontation at Fulford.
Image: Battle of Fulford by Matthew Paris, 13th Century. Public Domain.
The Battle
The battle took place along the River Ouse, near the village of Gate Fulford, about 2 miles south of York. Edwin and Morcar positioned their forces near a marshy area, aiming to block the road, and Harald’s advance, toward York. There are no precise records of the size of the two forces, but Hardrada’s army is estimated to have been 6,000 to 10,000 men strong, compared to the English forces, led by Earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria, which numbered around 5,000 to 6,000 men.
The initial stages saw fierce combat as the two shield walls clashed, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage. However, the turning point came when Harald Hardrada managed to outflank the English forces. The marshy ground, initially an advantage for the English, became a hindrance as the terrain restricted their movement, leading to disarray in the English lines. The Norwegian forces exploited this vulnerability, pushing hard against the English flank, which began to crumble under sustained pressure.
Edwin and Morcar’s forces were eventually overwhelmed, leading to a full-scale rout. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, many English troops were killed while fleeing, drowned in the river, caught in the marsh, or cut down by the pursuing Norwegians. Both Edwin and Morcar managed to escape, but their army suffered significant casualties, leaving York vulnerable to the invaders.
Aftermath
The Battle of Fulford was a significant victory for Harald Hardrada, as it effectively opened the gateway to York. Following the battle, the city of York surrendered to the Norwegians and negotiated that 150 hostages would join the Viking army and a supply of food would be given to avoid being sacked. Hardrada was in a strong position to press his claim to the English throne; however, this victory was short-lived.
Just five days after Fulford, Harold Godwinson marched his army north from London at a remarkable pace to confront the Norwegian invaders. On September 25, 1066, Harold met Hardrada’s forces at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where the English king decisively defeated the Norwegians, resulting in the deaths of both Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson. This battle marked the end of the Viking Age invasions of England.
However, Harold’s swift and exhausting march north and his subsequent victory came at a significant cost. His forces were fatigued, and his army had been depleted by the campaign. Just under three weeks later, Harold would face William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings, where the English forces, weakened by the northern campaign, were ultimately defeated, leading to the Norman Conquest of England.
Image: Routes to Hastings – 1066
Further Research & Sources
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Trans. by Michael Swanton. New York: Routledge, 1996.
Malmesbury, William. Chronicles of the Kings of England: From the Earliest Period to the Reign of King Stephen. Tranlated by J.A. Giles. London, UK: Bohn’s Antiquarian Library. 1847.
Morris, Marc. The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England, 400-1066. New York, NY: Pegasus Books, Ltd. 2021.
Roesdahl, Elsie. The Vikings. Third Edition. UK: Penguin Random House. 2016.
Stenton, Frank. Anglo-Saxon England. Third Edition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. 2001.