York

York was known by the name of Eoforwic before the Vikings captured the city. Jorvik is its Viking name. It is the most famous Viking settlement in England.

It was captured by the Great Army in 866 while the Saxon kingdom of Northumbria was in the middle of a civil war. The Viking force was based in East Anglia before moving overland to York. The Vikings obtained horses for the journey. This is the first known use by Vikings of horses to aid mobility on land.

When the Northumbrians reunited and failed to retake the city in 867 it became the capital of a new Viking kingdom. Jorvik flourished under the Vikings to become a major conurbation and trading centre. York was also the main mint in Northern England during the Danelaw period, though several new mints were founded. The dies for the Chester mint were still being cut in York in the mid 10th century.

In 1066 a Norse army led by Harald Hardrada invaded North England. Harald was aided by Earl Tostig (the brother of King Harold and deposed Earl of Northumbria) who commanded a Flemish contingent. The joint forces marched on York. They were met at Fulford Gate by the Saxon Earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar (or Morkere) of Northumbria. The forces were probably of a similar size, the Vikings having left a third of their men at Riccall guarding their ships. According to the sources the battle may have occured as follows. The Vikings drew up along a waterlogged ditch. They placed their strongest flank on the bank of the River Ouse and their least reliable flank was protected by a marsh. The English attacked at an angle driving back the Vikings by the marsh. Harald then extended his line, charging with the remaining Vikings and catching the Saxons in the flank. The Saxons were driven into the marsh where so many died that allegedly the Vikings could pursue dryshod.

Following their defeat Edwin and Morcar fled. York then submitted to Harald and recognised him as king instead of Harold Godwinson. The Viking army withdrew to their base at Riccall to await the presentation of 100 hostages from the city. This was due to take place on the 25th of September at Stamford Bridge.

When Harold Godwinson was brought news of the Viking invasion he took his army North in a forced march to confront the Norse army (he would not, at this stage, have been aware of the defeat of Edwin and Morcar). As he marched North more men joined his army, but he would also have heard how Fulford Gate had gone.

When the Saxons reached Tadcaster they were allowed to rest. Harold then marched on to York before turning towards Stamford Bridge. Four days after the battle at Fulford Gate the Vikings had made camp outside York to await their hostages. They were surprised by the appearance of the Saxon army as they had no knowledge that it was in the area. Realising that he could not run Harald Hadradr decided to face the Saxons. His men were largely unarmoured since it was a hot day and they had not been expecting trouble. Many of the Vikings had therefore left their armour with the ships.

Once the two armies had been drawn up a vicious and bloody battle took place. In 1130 it was recorded that piles of bones still marked the site of the battle. In the fighting both Harald Hadradr and Earl Tostig were killed. The end result was an overwhelming victory for Harold and the Saxons. According to some sources the original Viking force consisted of 240 to 500 ships. Only 20 to 24 ships were needed for the survivors to return home.

There are a number of sources which describe the battle so we cannot be sure what happened. For example, Snorri Sturlusson says that the English were using cavalry. The evidence for the use of cavalry by the English at this time is inconclusive. One interpretation of the battle is given below.

The Vikings were camped on both sides of the River Derwent. The Vikings on the west bank were destroyed almost immediately by the surprise assault from the English. One Viking champion then held the bridge to the east bank against the English. The bulk of the English however crossed at a ford that the Vikings failed to hold. Harald Hardrada formed a defensive shield wall, arranging his forces on high ground in a circular formation. He had his and Tostig's bodyguards form a mobile reserve to counter the more dangerous English assaults. This elite also included archers to give close support to the hand to hand fighters. Harald is said to have given the following advice to his spearmen. The advice probably reflects a standard practice for infantry facing cavalry. According to the advice,the front ranks were to set the butt of their spears to the ground aiming the point at the rider's chest. The second rank were to level their spears at the horses. The shield wall was wiped out by repeated charges by the English. Harald himself was killed by an arrow to his throat. Viking reinforcements now arrived from Riccall having been summoned by messengers. Having run to the battle site they were exhausted. Many died from this exhaustion and the rest were decimated by the English.

The English paid a heavy price for their victory losing a large number of men either killed or wounded. The significance of this became clear when news reached them that the Normans of Duke William had landed in Sussex.