Battle of Stamford Bridge, 25th September 1066

For the first Friday game of 2024, Mie W staged a refight of Battle of Stamford Bridge in 28mm. The game was hosted at Rupert's and th e rule set was based upon Peter Dennis & Andy Callan's '1066 and all That'.

This game is a follow on from the relatively recent refight of Fuford Gate (see here), in thet the Anglo-Dane & Viking forces were impacted by the losses that they recieved at that earlier meeting.

Anglo-Danish orces pour over Stamford Bridge after making short work of the one 'heroic' Viking.

As such the Viking forces under Harald Hararda and Tosting Godwinson were reduced but not devistatingly so, the only big change being that Jarl Gnvald the Bald had been slain at Fulford Gate and thus his small force was no longer available. Instead the Vikings could call pon their reserves under Eystein Orri, located some 12 milies from the battlefield.

The Vikings were played by Rupert (Harald), Dave (Tostig) and Mat (Eystein Orri), whilst the Anglo-Danes were commnded by John (Harold Godwinson), with the able help of Mark, Mike N (Earl Morcar's Northumbrians) and Phil (Earl Edwin's Mercians).

First stage of the game was the fight to cross the bridge, a lone Viking Hearthguard stood wealding a double handed axe, unlike the historical ledgend, Harold ordered his bowmen to open fire nad teh unfortunate Viking was cut down in a hail of arrows without creating his own ledgend!

The Second stage of the battle was the Anglo Danes marching to deploy in to line of batte, Harold deployed to the left and centre, with Morcar deploying to his far right and Edwin to his immediate right. On each flank were depoyed independent Anglo Danish horsemen, threatening the Viking flanks, forcing their right flank to refuse their line to protect themselves.

The waiting Vikings begin to line-up on the slope northe of the River Derwent

The Vikings had started the game with just Harald and Tostig on the tabletop, accompanied by their bodyguards and Heathguards. During the course of the long Anglo Danish deployement process, they were able to bring additional units onto the field to bolster their lines. Harald was linng up in the centre and left, whlist Tostig was to his right.

The Anglo-Danes doing the same after crossing the bridge.

The Anglo-Danes slowly begin to close on the Viking lines.

Stage Three - the Angle-Danes advanced into contact on their left, with John keen for the fighting to begin. As this was happening Eystein orri's troops began to arrive on the Viking extreme left, a turn or so later Morcar and Edwin's men also engaged along the line, aincluding lead elements of Orri's troops.

Another view of the waiting Viking lines

The Anglo-Danish line as it advances.

Close-up of the Anglo-Danish Horse

Another shot of the Anglo-ane lining out after crossing the bridge