Exeter, Siege of 1068
THE SIEGE OF EXETER Autumn 1068 SUMMARY Harold Godwinson’s mother, Gytha had enlisted the support of the people of Exeter and they vowed to resist the rule of William I —-oOo—- BACKGROUND William Duke of Normandy had conquered England in 1066, winning the Battle of Hastings and killing King Harold II (Godwinson) and been crowned King […]
Stamford Bridge, Battle of 1066
THE BATTLE OF STAMFORD BRIDGE – VIKING INVASION 25th September 1066 SUMMARY The forces of Harold Godwinson defeated the forces of Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND In 1066 Edward the Confessor had died childless. Harold Godwinson had been crowned King but Harald Hardrada and William of Normandy both thought they should be King. Hardrada […]
Val es Dunes, Battle of 1047
THE BATTLE OF VAL ES DUNES 10th August 1047 SUMMARY This was a decisive battle fought between the combined forces of William Duke of Normandy and Henry I of France against Guy of Burgundy. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND William, the bastard son of Robert Duke of Normandy, had inherited his father’s title. Guy of Burgundy, one of William’s kinsmen, felt […]
Stiklestad, Battle of 1030
THE BATTLE OF STIKLESTAD 29th July 1030 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between the forces of Olaf Haraldsson and a peasant army of men loyal to Cnut —-oOo—- BACKGROUND The Norwegian Olaf Haraldsson had been displaced and forced to flee following the battle of Helgea in 1026. In 1030, following the death of regent Hakon, Olaf returned to […]
Helgea, Battle of 1026
THE BATTLE OF HELGEA unknown date 1026 SUMMARY This was a naval battle fought between Cnut of England and Denmark and a combined Swedish and Norwegian force —-oOo—- BACKGROUND Cnut had taken the English throne in 1016 becoming ruler of both England and Denmark. While Cnut was in England the Swedes and Norwegians had launched a series of […]
Brentford, Battle of 1016
THE BATTLE OF BRENTFORD 9th May 1016 SUMMARY This was a decisive battle fought the Danish Vikings and the Anglo Saxons —-oOo—- BACKGROUND In 1013 Sweyn Forkbeard had conquered much of England and had proclaimed himself King of the land. When he died in 1014 he nominated his son Cnut to be King but the Anglo-Saxons chose to […]
Olivento, Battle of, 1041
THE BATTLE OF OLIVENTO – NORMAN LOMBARD REVOLT 17th March 1041 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between the Byzantine army and a joint Norman-Lombard force —-oOo—- BACKGROUND Arduin the Lombard was a former member of the Byzantine army who had decided to ally himself with the Normans. It was agreed that if victorious land in […]
Nisa, Battle of, 1062
THE BATTLE OF NISA – NORSE INVASION OF DENMARK 9th August 1062 SUMMARY This was a naval battle between Harald Hardrada of Norway and Sweyn Estrithson of Denmark. Although the Nowegians were victorious they allowed so many Danes, including Estrithson, to escape that it was no victory at all. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND In 1045 Harald Hardrada […]
Mortemer, Battle of, 1053
THE BATTLE OF MORTEMER 1053 SUMMARY This was a battle saw a decisive victory for the forces of William, Duke of Normandy over the combined forces of King Henry I of France and Geoffrey Count of Anjou. —-oOo—- BACKGROUND William had become Duke of Normandy in 1035 following the death of his father, Robert. William […]
Montemaggiore, Battle of, 1041
THE BATTLE OF MONTEMAGGIORE – NORMAN LOMBARD REVOLT 4th May 1041 SUMMARY This was a battle fought between the Byzantine army and a joint Norman-Lombard force —-oOo—- BACKGROUND This battle was a part of a Norman-Lombard revolt against the Byzantine Empire. —-oOo—- LOCATION Close to the Ofanto River, Southern Italy —-oOo—- BYZANTINE VARANGIAN GUARD LED BY […]