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My first TL, this is just a really really rough beginning. Please tell me if it is good, or ridiculous (say it nicely though;)) Please point out any errors.


September 20th, 1066: King Harold Godwinson sets out from London to meet King Harald Hardrada of Norway's army, which is stationed in York. Along the way, they meet up the West Mercian and East Anglian fyrd. Harold wants to crush the Viking threat before William, Duke of Normandy, a claimant to the English throne launches his invasion of England. His army is made up of proffesional thegns and huscarls


September 24th, 1066: King Harold's army reaches Tadcaster, only 16 km away from York. They had marched 320km in four days and are tired. His army camps here for the night. King Harold wants to surprise the Vikings at Stamford Bridge, so he made sure no one new he was in the area. However, two Northumbrian men working for the Vikings as scouts see the camp of soldiers and report back to Hardradra, who then sends for the soldiers he had left guarding the ships. The Viking army now numbers about 8,000 compared to Harold's 7,000.


Morning, September 25th, 1066: At about 8:00, Hardrada's army attacks the Saxons at Tadcaster. Most of Godwinson's soldiers barely have time to put on their armour before the Vikings charge into their camp. King Harold desperately tries to rally his men and form a shield wall, but the peasants of the army rout and begin to flee. The Saxons manage to form up but their numbers have been reduced to only 5,500 men. The Vikings rush the shield wall and a one sided battle ensues. Harold's forces are slowly being pushed back, but the wall cannot be breached. Eventually, one anonymous and reputedly giant Norwegian breaks through the the line and charges the King. He kills over thirty soldiers that are in his way before being killed. However, the damage is done. The Vikings and their allies pour through the gap and the Saxons break and run. King Harald is killed and England goes to King Harald Hardrada of Norway.


September 26th, 1066: King Harald learns of William of Normandy's planned invasion. He is conflicted as he cannot march his army south before securing the lands he had conquered. Reinforcements were already on their way from Scotland, the Orkney Islands and Norway, but it would be days before any arrived. He grants Earl Tostig the lands of Northumbria.


September 28th, 1066: William's army lands at Pevensey in Sussex and build a castle at Hastings. From there they raid the surrounding countryside.


October 3rd, 1066: The last remnants of the Anglo-Saxon army led by Earl Gyrth, brother of Harold Godwinson, attempt to drive the Normans out. They ally themselves to the Norse in hopes that they will be granted land. They are defeated and Earl Gyrth flees to Flanders. Hardrada marches south towards London.


October 5th, 1066: 3000 reinforcements arrive from Orkney and Scotland. They are mostly armed with swords and spears. The Norse army is made up almost entirely of infantry, and number about 9,000. The core of the army are the Housecarls, armed with two-handed Danish battleaxes. They wear chain mail and carry a round shield. The bulk of the army, or the fyrd, were poorly armed peasants who had little milltary training. Their loyalty to Hardrada is dubious, but they lack incentive to resist him.


October 8th, 1066: Harald Hardrada reaches London and declares himself king. The Norman army marches north. It is comprised of infantry, cavalry and archers and contains about 8,500 soldiers. William means to meet the Norse outside of London.
October 10th, 1066: Norse and Norman forces collide outside of London. The Norman archers begin the battle by firing volley after volley at the Viking shield wall. The Vikings are virtually unharmed but William orders his infantry to charge, believing that the defenders have been weakened. The Norse have the upper hand and inflict severe casualties upon the Normans. William realizes something is wrong, and orders his cavalry to charge. The horses charge at the Norwegian shield wall and many panic from the wall of axes and spears. William's left flank falters and breaks completely and retreat. Hardrada orders his men to charge. In the confused fighting, William of Normandy is killed. The Norman army surrenders soon after. However, Earl Tostig, brother of Harold Godwinson is killed as well.


October 11th, 1066: The Normans return to France. King Harald begins the work of ruling England.
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