Did Edwin and Morcar Make It to the Battle of Hastings? Unveiling the Truth Behind Their Absence

In the context of the monumental battles that marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon rule in England, the absence of Earls Edwin and Morcar from the Battle of Hastings has often raised questions among historians and enthusiasts. Their failure to join King Harold in his southern campaign has puzzled many. This article will delve into the aftermath of the Battle of Fulford, the strategic considerations, and the contemporary accounts to provide the most comprehensive insight into why Edwin and Morcar were absent at Hastings.

Strategic Constraints and Fulford Battle

Edwin and Morcar, as the Earls of Mercia and Northumbria respectively, played crucial roles in defending England from external threats. However, their best forces had already been significantly depleted during the Battle of Fulford on September 20, 1066. This initial clash against the Norwegian forces led by King Harald Hardrada was disastrous for the Anglo-Saxons, resulting in heavy casualties and the loss of control of York.

Despite their weakened state, Edwin and Morcar were tasked with marshalling what remained of their forces to support King Harold. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records their participation in this battle:

The Earls Edwin and Morcar had gathered from their earldoms as great a force as they could get and fought with the enemy. They made a great slaughter too but there was a good number of the English people slain and drowned and put to flight: and the Northmen had possession of the field of battle.

This account highlights the bloody nature of the conflict and the significant toll it took on the Anglo-Saxon forces under Edwin and Morcar.

King Harold's Rush to Hastings

While Edwin and Morcar were bogged down in the aftermath of Fulford, King Harold was conducting a remarkable journey. He took a fraction of his army after defeating the Danes at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on September 25, 1066. This army, having traveled 185 miles in just four days, then set out for London, covering another 200 miles in about a week.

The speed and scale of Harold's journey were unprecedented and likely contributed to his fatigue as he entered the south. However, upon his arrival, he was faced with the reality that Edwin and Morcar's forces had not joined him.

Missed Opportunity for Reinforcements

Had the King waited for additional forces from Mercia and Northumbria to arrive, the outcome of the Battle of Hastings might have been different. Contemporary accounts, such as the entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, indicate the potential for a different scenario:

Archbishop Aldred [of York] and the Corporation of London were then desirous of having child Edgar to King as he was quite natural to them and Edwin and Morcar promised them that they would fight with them. But the more prompt the business should ever be so was it from day to day the later and worse as in the end it all fared. This battle was fought on the day of Pope Calixtus: and Earl William returned to Hastings and waited there to know whether the people would submit to him. But when he found that they would not come to him he went up with all his force that was left and that came since to him from over sea and ravaged all the country that he overran until he came to Berkhampstead where Archbishop Aldred came to meet him with child Edgar and Earls Edwin and Morcar and all the best men from London who submitted then for need when the most harm was done.

This passage suggests that the presence of Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Hastings could have provided significant reinforcements and might have altered the course of the battle.

Conclusion and Impact

The absence of Edwin and Morcar at the Battle of Hastings remains a point of debate among historians. The strategic considerations of the time, specifically the aftermath of the Battle of Fulford and the urgency of Harold's response, provide a clear explanation for their absence. However, it is impossible to say exactly what might have transpired had they been present with their forces. Regardless, their role in the defense of England and their strategic importance cannot be understated.

Their journey and the subsequent battle highlight the complexities of governing a land under threat from both foreign and internal forces. The absence of key leaders can have profound consequences in times of crisis, as it did at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.