[1] The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place in 1066 between the English army led by King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian army led by King Harald Hardraada of Norway and King Harold's brother Tostig. [2] The Norwegian armies were taken by surprise by the arrival of King Harold's forces as they were expecting supplies, not an army. The English were able to slaughter many of the disorganized Norwegian forces. [3] A famous Norwegian warrior single-handedly held off the entire English army by cutting down 40 men with his axe until he was finally killed by an English soldier emerging from under the bridge. [4] The English were ultimately