Harold Godwinson’s Rush to Hastings: Rash or Rational?

What if Harold had taken his time? By Adam Staten.

Every schoolchild in the UK knows that in 1066 Harold Godwinson marched north and defeated Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Almost immediately he had to turn his men south and march the length of the country to confront William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings. There, his army arrived exhausted, and this exhaustion is often cited as one of the reasons why Harold and the English lost the day.

The move from York to Hastings was an epic feat of military maneuvering, initially covering 190 miles in eight days from York to London, then pausing for one or two days in London, before embarking on the final sixty mile march to Hastings which was covered in a further three days. Although this speed of movement was without doubt impressive, Harold Godwinson has spent the last thousand years being widely criticized for being too hasty to get to the battle and arriving at the battle with a fatigued and understrength army.