The Effect of King Harald Godwinson’s 200 Mile March from London to York on the Battle of Stamford Bridge: A Qualitative Study Using Experimental Archeology

Abstract

The year 1066 CE is one of the most heavily studied in medieval, military, and political history. It was the year of the death of King Edward the Confessor of England, and was filled with strife. Many battles and military feats took place this year. This study focuses on one in particular: King Harold Godwinson’s march to York, where the English army covered over two hundred miles in five days and emerged victorious at the battle of Stamford Bridge. I attempted this march myself, covering over two hundred miles on foot in five days wearing period-accurate war gear. At the end of this march, I faced off against martial arts practitioners, fighting with period accurate equipment, and was able to use this data to analyze the march’s impact on my fighting ability. Using this information, the academic community will get a better understanding of the effects of marching in 11th-century armor and how it changes the performance of an army. The results of the study also shine light on certain controversies around the march. Many historians believe that King Harold’s entire force was mounted. This study supports this claim. I was unable to complete the full 200-mile march in four days, suggesting that the majority if not the entirety of the army were mounted. Despite this the project provides a pivotal viewpoint in understanding this military feat.