Tostig,
the son of Earl Godwin of Wessex, and
brother of Harold
and Gyrth,
was born in about 1025. Tostig,
like his father, supported the king, Edward
the Confessor. However, after the Godwins complained about the
growing influence of Edward's Norman
advisers they were sent into exile.
In
1051 Tostig married Judith, daughter of Baldwin IV, the count of Flanders.
The following year Earl Godwin and his
sons, landed in the south of England. The army and navy gave its support
to Godwin and Edward the Confessor was
forced to reinstate the family estates.
On
the death of Earl Siward in 1055, King Edward made Tostig the earl
of Northumbria, Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire. At this time
Northumbria was in a lawless state and men were forced to travel in
parties of twenty to protect themselves from the attacks of robbers.
Tostig imposed new laws and all captured robbers were punished with
mutilation or death. This strategy was successful and Northumbria
came under his firm control.
In
1061 Tostig and his wife Judith, and Gyrth
went as pilgrims to Rome, where they
were received by Pope Nicholas II. On the way home Tostig's party
was attacked by robbers and all their possessions were taken. Tostig
returned to Rome and complained about the state of order in the country.
After being compensated for his losses, Tostig left for England.
In
1063 Edward the Confessor ordered Tostig
and Harold to invade Wales. Tostig led
the cavalry in this successful operation.
Tostig's
rule became increasingly tyrannical. In 1064 he had a meeting with
two important thegns, Gamel and Ulf, who wanted to complain about
his heavy taxes. During the meeting Tostig ordered their arrest and
execution. Later that year he arranged the murder of a noble named
Gospatric.
On
3rd October 1065, over 200 senior thegns met in
York and chose Morcar,
the brother of Edwin, Earl
of Mercia,
to become their new leader.
After plundering Tostig's treasury and killing more than 200 of his
followers, the army headed south.
When
Edward
the Confessor heard
the news he called a meeting of his nobles at Britford. Several made
complaints about Tostig's rule claiming that his desire for wealth
had made him unduly severe. The king sent Harold
to
put down the rebellion. Harold disagreed with this policy as he was
convinced it would result in a disastrous civil war. At a meeting
at Oxford on 28th October, Harold yielded
to their demands. Tostig was banished from the country and Morcar,
Harold's brother-in-law, became the new Earl of Northumbria.
Tostig
and his family went to live in Flanders. When Harold
succeeded to the throne
in 1066, Tostig went to Normandy and
met William
the Conqueror.
Tostig offered to help William against his brother and it was agreed
that his army would sail to England. In May 1066 Tostig landed in
the Isle of Wight and forced the inhabitants to give him money and
provisions. He then sailed north with sixty ships and entered the
Humber before being driven away by Morcar.
After
spending time in Scotland Tostig went to
Denmark and asked his cousin, King Sweyn,
to help him against Harold. He refused and so Tostig went to Norway
to meet King Hardrada. He agreed to join the campaign and in early
September Tostig and 300 ships sailed along the coast and did some
plundering, including the burning of Scarborough. They then entered
the Humber and on 20th September defeated Morcar's army at Gate Fulford.
Four days later the invaders took York.
When Harold
was told by a messenger
that Hardrada of
Norway had invaded with the intentions of conquering all of England,
it is said that the king replied: "I will give him just six feet
of English soil; or, since they say he is a tall man, I will give
him seven feet!"
On 25th September Harold's
army arrived in Yorkshire. He took Tostig and Hardrada by surprise
at a place called Stamford Bridge. It was a hot day and the Norwegians
had taken off their byrnies (leather jerkins with sewn-on metal rings).
Harold and his English troops devastated the Norwegians. Both Hardrada
and Tostig were killed. The Norwegian losses were considerable. Of
the 300 ships that arrived, less than 25 returned to Norway.
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