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Biography
Biography
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Tostig (Earl of Northumbria)

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 Borncirca 1025   Born At
 Died25 September 1066  Buried At
 FatherGodwin (Earl of Wessex)  MotherGytha
 Borncirca 1025 / 
 Died25 September 1066 / 
Tostig was the third son of Godwin, the important Earl of Wessex and brother of the future King of England, Harold II. In 1051 Tostig married Judith the daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders (some sources say Baldwin IV). In the same year Tostig was expelled from Britain with the rest of his family after they rebelled against Edward the Confessor. A year later they returned and were reinstated into their powerful positions. Tostig was given the position of Earl of Northumbria in 1055 and was tasked with bringing the area under his control. In 1058 Malcolm III became the King of Scotland uniting the country under one leader. With Scotland under his control Malcolm was able to take his army into the north of England and Northumbria. Tostig did not confront Malcolm in battle preferring diplomacy to war and the attacks continued. Then in 1061 when both Tostig and Judith were on a pilgrimage to Rome the Scots again invaded Northumbria. The Northumbrian people were tired of Tostig's failure to protect their land and in 1065 a rebellion forced Tostig to flee to Flanders. The rebels chose Morcar as their new ruler. Tostig did not stay long in Flanders and in May 1066 he raised an army and attempted to invade England's south coast around the Isle of Wight. His attempts here must have failed as his fleet travelled up the east coast of England where they attacked Lincolnshire. Again his army was defeated and Tostig sailed to Scotland where was was able to spend time with King Malcolm. Still intent on invading England Tostig joined Harald Hardrada who's plans for invasion must have been well advanced. In September of 1066 Harald and Tostig invaded and after defeating the English at Gate Fulford took control of York. But on the 25th of September both were killed at the Battle of Stamford by an army led by Harold, the King of England.

Related Episodes

Edward the Confessor and Earl Godwine (click here)

Edward the Confessor and Earl Godwine (click here)

Norman Invasion (click here)

Norman Invasion (click here)

Reasons for the Norman Invasion (click here)

Reasons for the Norman Invasion (click here)

Siblings

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Show All
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Fantasy image of Godwinson, Sweyn
Godwinson, Sweyn
Fantasy image of HAROLD (II, Godwinson, King of England 1066)
HAROLD (II, Godwinson, King of England 1066)
Fantasy image of Gyrth (Earl of East Anglia)
Gyrth (Earl of East Anglia)
Fantasy image of Leofwine (Earl of Kent and Essex)
Leofwine (Earl of Kent and Essex)
Fantasy image of Godwinson, Edith (of Wessex)
Godwinson, Edith (of Wessex)

Parents

Fantasy image of Godwin (Earl of Wessex)
Godwin (Earl of Wessex)
Fantasy image of Gytha
Gytha
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tab 3

 

Family Tree Details

Father:Godwin (Earl of Wessex) (b.1000? - d.1053)
Mother:Gytha
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 Tostig (Earl of Northumbria) (b.1025? - d.1066)
 Tostig (Earl of Northumbria) (b.1025? - d.1066)

See Also

    People

    • Morcar (Earl of Northumbria)
    • Hardrada, Harold (King of Norway 1047-1066)
    • HAROLD (II, Godwinson, King of England 1066)
    • Siward, (Earl of Northumbria)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Other

    • Wessex

    Timeline

    1051(Age: 26yrs)
    Sep
    Edward expels the Godwin family

    An incident occurred when Eustace II Count of Boulogne visited Edward the Confessor, his brother-in-law. The incident occurred in Dover where a fight broke out between the Norman visitors and the locals resulting in the deaths of several people. The area of Dover was under the control of the Godwin family and Edward the Confessor, who blamed the people of Dover for the fight, told Earl Godwin to deal with them. Godwin refused to obey Edward's order and in response Edward raised an army and forced the Godwin family into exile.

    1055(Age: 30yrs)
    ...
    Tostig becomes Earl of Northumbria

    King Edward gave Tostig the important position of Earl of Northumbria and the difficult job of bringing the northern state under control. [1]

    1065(Age: 40yrs)
    Oct
    Morcar becomes Earl of Northumbria

    A rebellion against Tostig, Earl of Northumbria leads to Tostig fleeing to Flanders and Morcar becoming the new Earl.

    1066(Age: 41yrs)
    May
    Tostig invades the south of England

    After being expelled from Northumbria Tostig spent time in Flanders. Here he raised an army and fleet and attempted to invade the south of England. The English armies around the Isle of Wight were too strong so Tostig was forced to look for another place to attack. His fleet sailed up the east coast of England to Lincolnshire. [1]

    Sep 25
    Stamford Bridge Battle

    King Harold defeated the invasion threat from Harold Hardrada, King of Norway and his own brother Tostig, both of whom were killed. This stretched his forces to the limit as they quickly had to march south to defend against William the Conqueror's invasion from Normandy.

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    Selection of references used:

    • 1: Richard Fletcher, Who's Who in Roman and Anglo-Saxon England, ISBN:0-85683-114-X

      See Also

        People

        • Morcar (Earl of Northumbria)
        • Hardrada, Harold (King of Norway 1047-1066)
        • HAROLD (II, Godwinson, King of England 1066)
        • Siward, (Earl of Northumbria)
        • A .. Z List of Medieval People

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