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Year 10
AQA

Battle of Stamford Bridge

I can explain why Harold Godwinson won the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Battle of Stamford Bridge

I can explain why Harold Godwinson won the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. After his coronation, King Harold II expected an invasion from Normandy.
  2. Harald Hardrada, king of Norway, also had a claim to the English throne.
  3. Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson launched an invasion of England in September 1066.
  4. Harold Godwinson defeated Hardrada and Tostig at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
  5. Harold Godwinson's victory had consequences for the Norman invasion.

Common misconception

It took many weeks to travel from the south to the north of England in medieval times.

Harold and his housecarls were able to cover 185 miles in just four days in 1066: an amazing achievement.

Keywords

  • Fyrd - the fyrd was an army which consisted of part-time soldiers called up by thegns and earls when ordered by the king

  • Fleet - a fleet is a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country's navy

  • Casualties - casualties are the people injured or killed in a war or in a specific battle

  • Hostage - a hostage is someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy in order to force the other people involved to do what the enemy wants

1066 was the age of the warrior; a clash between larger-than-life characters. The drama of this military history can be brought to life with some simple maps showing the battle formations.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A is a person who declares their belief that they have a right to something
Correct Answer: claimant, Claimant
Q2.
is a prince of royal blood.
Correct Answer: Aethling, aethling
Q3.
Who did the Witan nominate to be their leader?
Duke William of Normandy
Edgar the Aethling
Harald Hardrada
Correct answer: Harold Godwinson
Q4.
Why was there no heir to succeed the throne of Edward the Confessor?
Harold Godwinson had exiled the son of Edward the Confessor.
Correct answer: Edward and his wife, Edith, had no children.
The legitimate heir had renounced their claim to the throne.
Q5.
What did Harold Godwinson discover a few weeks after his coronation?
Correct answer: that William was building a fleet of ships to invade England
that Edgar the Aethling was building a fleet of ships to invade England
that Harald Hardrada was building a fleet of ships to invade England
Q6.
What gave William, Duke of Normandy, religious legitimacy in his claim to the throne?
Correct answer: William then convinced the Pope to support his claim as well.
William had been made a saint by the Pope.
William was a generous donor to Westminster Abbey.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The was an army which consisted of part-time soldiers called up by thegns and earls when ordered by the king.
Correct Answer: fyrd
Q2.
Match the words with their definitions. Write the correct letter in each box.
Correct Answer:a fleet,a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country's navy

a group of ships, or all of the ships in a country's navy

Correct Answer:casualties,the people injured or killed in a war or in a specific battle

the people injured or killed in a war or in a specific battle

Correct Answer:a hostage,someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy

someone who is taken as a prisoner by an enemy

Q3.
Who launched the Viking invasion of northern England? Select two correct answers.
Edwin
Correct answer: Harald
Morcar
Correct answer: Tostig
Q4.
Who did Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson fight against at the Battle of Gate Fulford?
Correct answer: Edwin
Correct answer: Morcar
Harold
William
Q5.
Starting with the earliest, sort these events into the order in which they happened.
1 - Harold gives the order to send the fyrd home.
2 - Harold receives news of a Viking invasion.
3 - Harold defeats Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
4 - Harold learns the Normans have landed on the south coast.
Q6.
What were important factors for Harold’s victory at Stamford Bridge?
Correct answer: Harold’s surprise attack
Harold’s army never crossed Stamford Bridge
Correct answer: the Vikings were not all wearing armour
the Vikings had no weapons

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