BattlefieldsHarald Hardrada Ravages Holderness 1066
Early Medieval

Harald Hardrada Ravages Holderness 1066

1066
East Riding, England
Also known as: Hardrada raids East Riding 1066 · Norwegian fleet in Humber 1066
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
East Riding, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Holderness communities
Forces
c. 1,500 Holderness militia
VS
Victor
Norwegians (Hardrada)
Forces
c. 8,000 Hardrada Norwegians
Outcome
Hardrada's fleet ravaged Holderness on entry into Humber; local resistance overwhelmed
The Battle

History & Significance

When Harald Hardrada's Norwegian fleet entered the Humber in September 1066, it first ravaged the Holderness peninsula — the flat, fertile land between the Humber and the North Sea. Local English forces under the earls Edwin and Morcar attempted to slow the Norse advance but were pushed back. This preliminary ravaging was the opening move of the campaign that led to Gate Fulford and then Stamford Bridge. The burning of Holderness communities left a lasting scar on the East Riding even before the great battle.

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