Tostig Godwinson (1025-25 September 1066) was Earl of Northumbria from 1055 to 1065, succeeding Siward and preceding Morcar. He was the estranged brother of Harold Godwinson, and he was slain in battle with his brother at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.
Biography[]
Tostig Godwinson was born in 1025, the third son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and Gytha Thorkelsdottir and the brother of Harold Godwinson, Leofwine Godwinson, and Gyrth Godwinson. He was married to Judith of Flanders in 1051 in order to forge a political alliance between his father and Baldwin IV of Flanders against King Edward the Confessor. The family returned to England in 1052, and, on his father's death, Tostig was granted the Earldom of Northumbria. Tostig was never popular with the Danish or Anglo-Saxon nobility of Northumbria, as he ruled by decree and had Gamal Ormsson and Ulf Dolfinsson assassinated while under his protection in 1064. Tostig was also a poor military commander, failing to provide able leadership during the Scottish raids into Northern England, and using an expensive core of huscarls as the main body of his army. On 3 October 1065, the thegns of York rebelled against Tostig, a southern English outsider and poor leader, killing Tostig's officials and supporters and then outlawing Tostig. They nominated Morcar, the brother of Edwin of Mercia, as their new Earl, and Tostig's own brother Harold pressured King Edward to agree to the rebels' demands, outlawing and exiling Tostig. With the help of a Flemish fleet, Tostig raided the English coast, but, during his raiding in Norfolk and Lincolnshire, he was decisively defeated by Morcar and Edwin. Tostig then sailed to Norway, where he impressed King Harald Hardrada and convinced Harald to stake a claim on the English throne. Tostig accompanied the Norwegian invaders on their invasion of England in 1066, defeating Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Fulford and capturing York. However, the Norse were then surprised by Harold Godwinson's army at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and Tostig rejected his brother's pre-battle offer of reconciliation, ultimately being slain in the battle.
Gallery[]
