Orderic Vitalis names “Suenum, Tosticum, Heraldum, Guorth, Elgarum, Leofvinum et Wlnodum” as the seven sons of “Githa Goduini comitis relicta”. After joining his father's threatened armed rebellion against the king in 1051, Tostig fled to Bruges with his parents, although he returned the following year.
He was created Earl of Northumbria in 1055 to succeed Earl Siward. Northumbria rebelled against him in Oct 1065, after several years of Scottish raids which Tostig had failed to halt. In his place, the thegns of Yorkshire elected Morcar, younger brother of Edwin Earl of Mercia, as Earl of Northumbria. King Edward attempted unsuccessfully to crush the rebellion on Tostig's behalf, but Tostig was forced to flee to Flanders with his wife in Dec 1065.
Baudouin V Count of Flanders installed him as castellan of Saint-Omer. Returning to England in search of revenge, he was repulsed from landing at Sandwich in Kent in May 1066, ravaged Norfolk and then sailed to the Humber where he was defeated by Edwin Earl of Mercia. Tostig sailed to Scotland, where he joined forces with Harald III "Hardråde" King of Norway who had recently arrived to invade England. Morkinskinna records that Tostig first sailed to Denmark to seek report from King Svend II, and then to Norway to King Harald III, sending “Gunnhildr´s son Guthormr” to offer Northumbria to the king in return for his help. After defeating the Northumbrians at Gate Fulford near York 20 Sep 1066, their combined army was defeated by King Harold's forces at Stamford Bridge 25 Sep 1066, where both he and the Norwegian king were killed. 1
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