Tostig Godwinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tostig Godwinson |
|
|---|---|
| Earl of Northumbria | |
| Reign | 1055–1065 |
| Predecessor | Siward |
| Successor | Morcar |
| Born | c. 1029 |
| Died | 25 September 1066 (aged about 37) Stamford Bridge, England |
| Burial | York Minster |
| Spouse | Judith of Flanders |
| Issue |
|
| House | Godwin |
| Father | Godwin, Earl of Wessex |
| Mother | Gytha |
Tostig Godwinson (around 1029 – 25 September 1066) was an important Anglo-Saxon nobleman. He was the Earl of Northumbria and the brother of King Harold Godwinson.
After his brother sent him away from England, Tostig joined forces with the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada. They invaded England together. Tostig was killed in battle alongside Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066.
Contents
Early Life and Family Connections
Tostig was the third son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex, a very powerful Anglo-Saxon noble. His mother was Gytha Thorkelsdóttir, whose father was a Danish leader.
In 1051, Tostig married Judith of Flanders. She was the daughter of Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders. This marriage connected Tostig to important European families.
Becoming Earl of Northumbria
In 1051, Tostig's family, the Godwins, had a big disagreement with King Edward the Confessor. This led to them being sent away from England. Tostig, his mother Gytha, and his brothers Sweyn and Gyrth went to stay with their relative, the Count of Flanders.
They returned to England the next year with an army. They gained support and demanded that King Edward give Tostig's family their lands back. Three years later, in 1055, Tostig became the Earl of Northumbria. He took over after the death of Earl Siward.
Tostig was close to his brother-in-law, King Edward the Confessor. In 1061, he even traveled to Rome to visit Pope Nicholas II with Ealdred, the Archbishop of York.
Challenges in Northumbria
Tostig found it hard to rule Northumbria. The people there were a mix of Danish invaders and Anglo-Saxons. They were not used to a southern earl. Tostig was seen as being too harsh with those who did not follow his rules. He was even accused of killing some important local leaders.
He was often away from King Edward's court in the south. This might have made it harder for him to lead against raiding Scots. Tostig was friends with the Scottish king, which made it difficult to gather local fighters. He often used a strong group of Danish soldiers called housecarls. This was expensive and made the locals unhappy.
Also, the people of Northumbria, many of whom were Danes, had enjoyed lower taxes. But the wars in Wales needed money, and Tostig's region had benefited from these wars. Tostig had been a main commander in these battles, attacking from the north while his brother Harold came from the south.
Tostig is Removed from Power
On October 3, 1065, noblemen (called thegns) from York and Yorkshire took over the city of York. They killed Tostig's officials and supporters. They then declared Tostig an outlaw because of his unfair actions. They asked Morcar, the younger brother of Earl Edwin, to become their new earl.
The rebels marched south to tell King Edward their demands. Earl Edwin and his forces joined them. They met Earl Harold Godwinson at Northampton. Harold had been sent by the King to talk with them. After speaking with the rebels, Harold likely understood that Tostig could not stay as Earl of Northumbria.
When Harold returned to Oxford, where the royal council met, he had decided. He convinced King Edward to agree to the rebels' demands. Tostig was declared an outlaw soon after, probably in early November. This was because he refused to accept being removed from his position. This led to a serious conflict between the two brothers.
Exile and Return to Fight
Tostig publicly accused Harold of causing the rebellion. But Harold wanted to unite England because William of Normandy was threatening to take the English throne. Harold likely exiled his brother to keep peace in the north. Tostig, however, wanted revenge.
Tostig sailed away with his family and loyal followers. He found safety with his brother-in-law, Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. He even went to Normandy to try and make an alliance with William.
Baldwin gave Tostig a fleet of ships. In May 1066, Tostig landed on the Isle of Wight. He gathered money and supplies there. He raided the coast but had to leave when King Harold sent his army and navy. Tostig went north and raided Norfolk and Lincolnshire. But the Earls Edwin and Morcar defeated him. His men left him, and he fled to King Malcolm III of Scotland. Tostig stayed in Scotland during the summer of 1066.
He then contacted King Harald Hardrada of Norway. Tostig convinced Hardrada to invade England. One story says Tostig sailed to Norway and impressed the king. He persuaded Hardrada, who had just finished a long war, to gather an army to take the English throne. With Hardrada's help, Tostig sailed up the River Humber. They defeated Morcar and Edwin at the Battle of Fulford.
The Battle of Stamford Bridge
Hardrada's army and Tostig invaded York. They took hostages after the city surrendered peacefully and got supplies. King Harold Godwinson quickly marched his English army north from London.
On September 25, 1066, Harold surprised his brother Tostig at Stamford Bridge. Hardrada, Tostig, and many of their men were killed. The Norwegians and the soldiers Tostig hired from Flanders had little armour. They only carried personal weapons. It was a very hot day, and they did not expect a fight. Also, Hardrada's large army had been split, with many guarding the ships miles away.
What Happened Next
After his death at Stamford Bridge, Tostig was buried at York Minster. Tostig's two sons went back to Norway. His wife Judith later married Duke Welf of Bavaria.
King Harold, whose troops were tired from fighting Tostig and Hardrada, then had to face the Normans. He was defeated at the Battle of Hastings just nineteen days later.
Tostig had two sons. They were probably born before his marriage to Judith. Their names show they had both Anglo-Saxon and Danish family. They were raised at the Norwegian court:
- Skuli Tostisson Kongsfostre
- Ketil Tostisson
Tostig in Books and Films
Non-Fiction Books
Some popular books that talk about Tostig's life and his role in history include:
- 1066: The Year of the Conquest (1977) by David Howarth
- The Making of the King 1066 (1966) by Alan Lloyd
Fiction Books
Tostig appears in several novels, such as:
- The Last English King (2000) by Julian Rathbone
- Harold, The Last of the Saxon Kings by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
- The King's Shadow by Elizabeth Alder
- The Interim King by J. Colman McMillan
- Lord of Sunset by Parke Godwin
- Warriors of the Dragon Gold by Ray Bryant
- God's Concubine (book 2 of The Troy Game series) by Sara Douglass
- The Bastard King by Jean Plaidy
- The Conqueror's Queen by Joanna Courtney
- 1066: What Fates Impose by G K Holloway (2013)
On Screen
- Actor Frederick Jaeger played Tostig in the BBC TV play Conquest (1966).
- Tostig also appeared in the Channel 4 documentary, 1066: The Battle for Middle Earth.
See Also
Images for kids
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Drawing of the Kirkdale sundial in Kirkdale, North Yorkshire. It mentions Earl Tostig's name: IN TOSTI DAGVM EORL+ ('in Earl Tostig's day').
