harold knew about williams invasion plans but had not expected hardrada to invade -first?

Answer 1

Harold certainly knew about William's invasion plans. To defend against William, Harold had the Fyrd (militia) of the southern counties on alert all summer, and his navy also on guard. If William had invaded earlier, his attack might very well have been repulsed.

Hadrada's invasion (together with Harold's treacherous brother, Tostig) came as a surprise; but with Harold apparently preoccupied in the south, the northern Earls (Edwin and Morcar) tried to handle it themselves --- and were defeated at Gate Fulford (York). Harold's brilliant march to the north and surprise attack put paid to Hadrada and Tostig, but at terrible cost to Harold's army.

So, when William (by sheer chance) did finally invade at virtually the same time as Stamford Bridge, it was a weakened and exhausted army that Harold had to lead back south. Although Hastings was still a hard-fought battle, Hardrada and Tostig had essentially created the conditions for William's victory.

Answer 2

If Hardrada was the King of Norway, then I must tell you that Harold, King of England, killed him in single combat.

What Harold and the English Army faced on Senlac Hill [site of the Battle of Hastings] was the combined force of the Normans and their Celtic allies, the Bretons who numbered an additional 70,000. No matter what, the English faced certain defeat. Especially when confronted with the highly skilled trained and organised Norman cavalry.

Harold had marched north hoping to form a bigger English Army but he had first to deal with the Viking King of Norway. What Harold met up north were mostly Viking folk of England who had no plans to fight their Norman allies.

My lot, the Welsh, just stayed out of it.

Answer 3

That is most likely true. The news of Hadrada;s invasion was a bit of a surprise although members of his court had been in secret talks for awhile.

Actually Harold was a very good leader and almost pulled off one of the big upsets of his time. He raced north to defeat Hadrada at Stamford Bridge (sounds a good bit like Chelsea's home football pitch in London) and then had to race back to face William the Bastard or Conquerer. He came within a hair's breath of defeating them both, but that was not to be in 1066.

Answer 4

william and hardrada both simultaneously decided to attack there was no official alliance between them and even if Hardrad fought Harold and won he would have to contend with William so think of it as a three way struggle

Answer 5

When lying there with the arrow in his eye, he must have thought "I knew I should have taken care of William and the Normans first, then dealt with Hardrada later!"

Answer 6

Harold knew that William wanted the crown but he was busy with the Vikings.

Answer 7

that could have made a difference not marching north to confront the vikings