How Tostig Godwinson Influenced William The Conqueror's Victory in The Battle of Hastings

Tostig Godwinson – third son of Godwin – was thought of as a brutal tyrant in Northumbria who abused his power, so his banishment from the country by Edward the Confessor was not unexpected. Yet this wasn't the first time King Edward had expelled him from the country. Following the Godwins inability to deal with a fight between Edward's Norman visitors and locals to Dover. However the Godwins managed to force their way back into the country, and merely four years after their expulsion Tostig was appointed as Earl of Northumbria – which was no surprise as the King seemed to look favourably towards Tostig throughout his reign.

Tostig's main problem was that when put in a position of power – he completely abused it – causing mayhem for his subjects. His reign of terror in the North included raising taxes, implementing new laws with harsh punishments, as well as involvement with the murders of leading families in Northumbria who potentially rivalled him. Unfortunately for him – like most tyrants – the discontent amongst his people led to his overthrowing thanks to the thegns of York murdering Tostig's assistants and outlawing him on 3 October 1065.

The man sent to try and fix the broken relationship between Tostig and the people of Northumbria was his older brother – Harold Godwinson (later King Harold II). However he could not find a compromise with the rebels which involved reinstating Tostig. Therefore – with the fear of a Norman invasion and a potential civil war at the back of his mind – Harold advised that the rebels demands should be met, meaning Tostig was to be banished from Northumbria. Of course he felt betrayed by his brother more than anyone – the King reluctantly accepted the disposition but Harold was the one who pushed for it. Regardless of how Harold felt about the situation, Tostig felt as though he had been stabbed in the back and soon after he left the country with the remaining of his loyal men and family and set course for Flanders where they stayed with his brother-in-law Count Baldwin V whilst he plotted his revenge.

Whether or not the events of October 1065 were the main reason for Harold's downfall at Hastings is fairly disputable. Edward the Confessor died around two months after Tostig's dismissal, and had they gone the other way the country would either have been wrecked by civil war or still fighting each other. Either way it would have left England in a weak position on January the 4^th, when Edward broke his fifteen year promise to William the Conqueror and proclaimed Harold the next king of England.

Painting of The Battle Of Stamford
Bridge by Peter Nicolai

So it can be argued that perhaps Harold's decision prolonged a Norman invasion. It was clearly inevitable – the only way to avoid it was by naming William as the new King of England. It is arguable that Harold could have lied in order to fulfil his fathers (and personal) wishes of the Godwins finally obtaining the English throne, however he had sworn his support to William just two years before following the incident at Ponthieu. However this broken promise along with a seemingly broken promise from Edward the Confessor meant Harold new that William was coming.

Duke William and Tostig Godwinson – both full of hatred for Harold. It seemed written in the stars that shortly after Harold's coronation Tostig went to Normandy to offer aid in the invasion of England. But of course William wasn't the only ruler who believed the throne belonged to them. Harald Hadrada of Norway was the cousin of Edward's predecessor Cnut the Great and was also preparing his army for a Viking invasion of England. It clearly wasn't going to be an easy first year as King for Harold, particularly with his brothers impatience with William, leading to an invasion of the North easily swept away by Harold. However Tostig still had a fleet of men given to him by the Count of Flanders. With them he could offer Harald support for his invasion of the north...

Harold's focus was completely on Duke William in September 1066. It's arguable that his lack of preparation for an invasion by Cnut's relatives is a highly important reason for his downfall. Hindsight is a funny thing, and something which probably haunted Harold as he marched around 15,000 of his men from London to Yorkshire (around 184 miles) in merely 4 days. Harald's men were vastly outnumbered – by roughly 6,000 men. It was shown too, as they were absolutely crushed by the Kings army losing two thirds of their men along with leaders Tostig and Harald. Despite a morale boosting victory for the Englishmen, around 5,000 of their men had perished in the bloody battle and they suddenly found themselves horribly out of position.

The Bayeux Tapestry showing the arrow
which hit Harold's eye - arguably killing
the King.

It is highly likely that when William was informed of Hardrada's invasion of England that he waited for Harold's army to travel North before launching his invasion. There was only nineteen days between Harold's victory at Stamford Bridge and death at Hastings, but what cannot be argued is that the Viking invasion of the north left Harold's army overstretched and unprepared for the Norman invasion. It is estimated that William had 10,000 men in comparison to 7,000 for Harold – The men who battled at Stamford Bridge were resting in London during the Battle of Hastings. So it is irrefutable that the English stood a better chance without having to deal with Harald.

Tostig's desire for revenge managed to aid both of Harold's rivals for the monarchy, along with Harold losing a valuable ally. He became a niggling itch which just simply won't go away, and his involvement with Harald Hardrada simply opened the doors for William and left the door wide open for the English crown. As to whether the outcome would have been different without Tostig as a rival – it's impossible to tell – but it is undeniable he was an important factor.