In the tumultuous climax of 1066, why was Harold’s very own brother Tostig the first of the mighty foes he had to face? How did Harald Hardrada then launch his invasion of England, and how much resistance did he initially receive? And, what unfolded at the bloody battle of Stamford Bridge, in which Harold Godwinson and Harald Hardrada, two terrible kings, faced off at long last? Join Tom and Dominic as they discuss the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the last great clash between vikings and Anglo Saxons, for the English throne… _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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As the enemy raced up the slope, Harald Hardrada tightened his grip on his sword hilt and whispered one last prayer. There was nothing for it now, he thought, but to die with honour. He had formed his men into a tight circle, linking their shields around the raven banner, where he and Tostig stood with his friends and captains.
The Saxons, Harold thought, would have to cut their way through the line. He would make them pay in blood before the day was out. The enemy was screaming out their war songs. Through the dust and chaos he could see Harold Godwinson at the foot of the slope, urging his men on. The circle was shrinking. Harold's men were tiring, their shield arms heavy, their sword blows weary.
And still the Saxons came on, eager to finish it. For just a moment, Harold thought of that morning by the stream, when he was little, when Olaf had asked him what he most wanted in life. Housecarls! So many housecarls that they would eat all half Dan's cows at a single feast. What he wouldn't give for more housecarls now.
So there, Dominic, the epic tones of Snorri Sturluson, the 13th century historian and poet from Iceland, one of the greatest writers in medieval history, whose epic account, The Saga of King Harold, is the definitive, in fact, pretty much the only account we have of the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
And since today's episode is about the Battle of Stamford Bridge, I mean, what else could we possibly have begun with but that great work by Snorri Sturluson? I mean, really the only choice, except perhaps for a new version, a new account of the Battle of Stamford Bridge, because actually that wasn't by Snorri Sturluson at all, was it? It was by you.
It was, yeah. It's a forensic reconstruction, I think it's fair to say, of what happened at that battle in Adventures in Time, Fury of the Vikings. So that is literally exactly what Harold Hardrada thought. He thought back to that moment when he was a little boy, which listeners will remember from the Harold Hardrada series.
And, you know, the enemy was singing their war songs and he could see Harold Godwinson coming on. And that's exactly what happened, Tom.
Because, you know, Dominic, when we're going to go on and do the Battle of Hastings, and initially I put a passage from Millennium, my book, which includes an account of the Battle of Hastings in the front. And then I thought... No, I shouldn't do that. I mean, you know, there are so many other epic accounts that were written at the time I put them in.
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