What If Harald Hardrada conquered England in 1066?

If in the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, Harold Godwinson defeated and was KIA, Harald Hardrada of Norway conquered England before William the Conqueror landed on England, what the England's situation would become? And what relationship between England and European Continent would maintained?
 
If in the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066, Harold Godwinson defeated and was KIA, Harald Hardrada of Norway conquered England before William the Conqueror landed on England, what the England's situation would become? And what relationship between England and European Continent would maintained?

William would still be contesting even if Hardrada was at the gates of London before he lands, given he's already raise the army, promised these folks the oppritunity to win land (So he can't just bow out lest they get annoyed. And they DO have large followings of men with pointy sticks under their command...) and the backing of His Holiness. Alot depends on if the Anglo-Saxon lords will align behind the Normans, co-operate with the Norse, or try to elect a new king from a base somewhere else.
 

trajen777

Banned
Well
1 Northumbria falls in line with harald
2 if several principles are captured or he offers them to be left in place then they would have sided with harald
3 William would have invaded and taken London, in that most likely harold would not have arrived in time
4 William would have to have given his followers land in the south prob leading to again the earls supporting harold
5 in a battle i think the vikings /Saxons would have won .. Better infantry, vs Norman cav, with the sheild wall holding
 
William would still be contesting even if Hardrada was at the gates of London before he lands, given he's already raise the army, promised these folks the oppritunity to win land (So he can't just bow out lest they get annoyed. And they DO have large followings of men with pointy sticks under their command...) and the backing of His Holiness. Alot depends on if the Anglo-Saxon lords will align behind the Normans, co-operate with the Norse, or try to elect a new king from a base somewhere else.
You mean Harald and William would enter a slatemate between a line near London? Then things happened later would be unpredictable?
 
You mean Harald and William would enter a slatemate between a line near London? Then things happened later would be unpredictable?

No... This is 11th Century Warfare. Long time field stalemates aren't something that can happen, as garbage logistics make it so you have to live off the land (something you can't do in an area where the surrounding countryside is contested for any extended period of time). What I'm saying is William would be fighting Haldrada in a full blown war at whatever stage his Conquest as at, even of he's in the middle of the beseiging The City of London, and that there's no way he's delayed long enough that the Norwegians have pacified native noble resistance. Given the Anglo-SAxon Lord's can grant or withold their support, which comes with food, peace, and Bands from the breath of England, who they throw their weight behind will find the scales tilted in their favor in the actual clash.

And, given where everything stands, the Battle is likely to be fought on a field of William's choosing. Long term, he's in a much better position to solidify his position in Anglica and Wessex, the heart of English financial and political power, while the Norse base out of Jvorik/York is much more isolated from being able to project control out of, due to it's need to shore up against potential activity by the Scots and the Pennines cutting the Midlands in half, acting as a natural shelter for the Western side where domestic rebels can rebuild their strength. The Norse need to win decisively to stop their position from slowly ebbing down; the Normans can much better afford to refuse to give battle in an unadvantagious point, at least as long as a still defient City is there to block easy access across and up the Thames
 
An easier path to a Hardrada victory would be for William to get to England first, lose to Harold, only for Hardrada to show up next and defeat the weakened Harold just as William did.
 
Alternatively, an easy way for Harald to win might be having Will land first and kill Harold, and then having the Anglo-saxon nobles turn to Harald to defend them. Better the devil you know, and the A-S nobility know Scandinavian rule is going to keep them in power at least. The Normans are aiming to replace them
 
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