1066: Claimants of the English Throne

Edgar Atheling

Born in 1051 in Hungary, Edgar Atheling was the closest living relative to Edward the Confessor when he died. Also known as Edgar the outlaw, he was named the king by the Witenagemont but was never actually crowned. He was far too young at the age of 14 or 15 to be named king right before the imminent invasion of William and the Normans, so the Witen instead selected Harold Godwinson as their leader.

In 1068, Edgar joined the rebellion of Earls Edwin and Morcar but when defeated he ran to the open arms of King Malcolm lll of Scotland. Malcolm lll married Edgar’s sister a year later and promised to support his reclaim of the English throne. He established a relationship with the King of Denmark, Sweyn Estridson, who believed he was the rightful king of England. They captured York in 1069 but William forced him to retreat back to Scotland.

Edgar died around 1126 at the age of 75.

Tostig Godwinson

Born around 1026, Tostig Godwinson was the brother of the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. He was killed in battle at Stamford Bridge by his brother, King Harold ll, fighting alongside the Scandinavian invading enemy, Harald Hadrada.

In 1051, he married the daughter of Count Baldwin lV, Judith, half sister of Baldwin V of Flanders, and aunt of Matilda who married William. In 1051, Tostig became William’s uncle.

In 1066, Tostig and Harald Hadrada captured York and took hostages to Stamford Bridge as part of their army where they were mat and killed by Harold Godwinson.

Harald Hadrada

Born around 1015, probably in Norway, Harald Sigurdsson is said to be the last of the great Vikings. He earned the kickname Hadrada, meaning “hard ruler”, because of how much of a ruthless man he was.

In 1066, he 15000 men on 300 ships and the traitor brother of the king of England, Tostig Godwinson, arrived in England in the south of York and began the battle of Fulford. He had won and he thought Harold Godwinson was prepared to surrender, but only five days later was he met by the King of England whose army heavily outnumbered his own.

Harald died in battle by an arrow to the throat. This is when many people believe that the great Viking era ended.

His losses were so heavy that only twenty five of the three hundred longboats he had brought with him returned the survivors of the battle back to Norway.