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Events on September 20 in history

Battle of Fulford
1066Sep, 20

Battle of Fulford, Viking Harald Hardrada defeats earls Morcar and Edwin

The Battle of Fulford was fought on the outskirts of the village of Fulford just south of York in England, on 20 September 1066, when King Harald III of Norway, also known as Harald Hardrada ("harðráði" in Old Norse, meaning "hard ruler"), and Tostig Godwinson, his English ally, fought and defeated the Northern Earls Edwin and Morcar.Tostig was Harold Godwinson's banished brother. He had allied with King Harald of Norway and possibly Duke William of Normandy but there is no record of the reasoning behind his invasions. The battle was a victory for the Viking army. The earls of York could have hidden behind the walls of their city but instead they met the Viking army across a river. All day the English desperately tried to break the Viking shield wall but to no avail.

Tostig was opposed by Earl Morcar who had displaced him as Earl of Northumbria.

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Events on 1066

  • 5Jan

    Norman conquest of England

    Edward the Confessor dies childless, sparking a succession crisis that will eventually lead to the Norman conquest of England.
  • 27Sep

    Norman conquest of England

    William the Conqueror and his army set sail from the mouth of the River Somme, beginning the Norman conquest of England.
  • 28Sep

    Norman conquest of England

    William the Conqueror invades England beginning the Norman conquest of England.
  • 14Oct

    Battle of Hastings

    Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings: In England on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings, the Norman forces of William the Conqueror defeat the English army and kill King Harold II of England.