Early threats to Harold's throne

Edward's death and early claiments

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The Witan chose Ed with all leading magnates and clergy in Westminster.
Dying words, Harold's character and Edgar's youth meant Harold was chosen.
He was crowned the next day as a coup d'etat
He would be able to protect England from the Danes and was experienced
Normans show bishop Stigand (appointed twice archbishop and bishop of London) who was condemmed by the Pope and did not have a Papal Pallium.
English sources show a different archbishop with a Pallium crowning him.
He minted new coins with 'PAX' and married Eadgyth (Edwin and Morcar's sister).

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Halley's comet showed either something great or something terrible.
Harold was prepared to fight.
Tostig and Harold invaded and pillaged the Isle of Wight and the south coast.
Hardrada was an experienced fighter from Byzantium.
Harold summoned his Fyrd and prepared Edwin and Morcar.
Tostig had attacked with Norman ships, so Harold stationed his army near the channel.
He kept his fleet standing for 4 months.
Harold's 300 fleet attacked York, but Edwin and Morcar stopped Tostig rallying Northern support. The Northern earls were inexperienced and failed, losing 1000 men.

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After losing the northern earls' men, Harold assembled his housecarls.
He covered 300km in 5 days, and took them by suprise.
He attacked the enemy camp at Stamford bridge.
The Vikings were not wearing thier mail.
First, a group of Vikings defended the bridge, then they fought on the Bsttle Flats, when Harold was killed. Finally, Viking reinforcements came but were hunted down.
Hardrada didn't have time to form up his army, and they didn't have armour.
Harold also collected recruits on his march and had more soldiers.
Harold's reinforcements were exhausted when they arrived.
The loss of Hardrada and Tostig lost them thier leaders.
This shows English military strength and stopped the last Norse invasion.

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