BattlefieldsTostig and Hardrada Sack Scarborough 1066
Early Medieval

Tostig and Hardrada Sack Scarborough 1066

1066
North Yorkshire, England
Era
Early Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
North Yorkshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Scarborough garrison
Forces
c. 500 Scarborough garrison
VS
Victor
Harald Hardrada and Tostig
Forces
c. 5,000 Norwegian/Tostig forces
Outcome
Scarborough sacked and burned; coastal town submitted after resistance was overcome; Norwegian fleet approach to York secured
The Battle

History & Significance

After joining forces with Harald Hardrada's Norwegian fleet in September 1066, Tostig and Hardrada sailed south along the Yorkshire coast and sacked Scarborough. The garrison resisted but the Norwegians burned the upper town and forced submission. The Scarborough sacking was part of the Norwegian fleet's systematic demonstration of power along the Yorkshire coast before entering the Humber and advancing on York.

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