People/Characters Tostig

Tostig (d. 1066): A younger son of Earl Godwine of Wessex and younger brother of King Harold II of England. He was probably born around 1025. Edward the Confessor made him Earl of Northumbria around 1055, but his misgovernment was so bad that he was driven out by a rebellion in 1065. Unable to gain help from the King or his brother, he turned to Harald Hardrada. They invaded England together in 1066, but were killed by Harold at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Tostig in effect had his revenge, however, as the battle in the North kept Harold from stopping William the Conqueror's invasion of the south and weakened Harold's army at the Battle of Hastings. It was thus Tostig's pride and arrogance, more than anything else, that doomed Saxon England.