The early life of Harald
Seven feet of English Ground
In September 1066, the question was whether England was to be Anglo-Saxon or Viking, and some 12,000 men had wagered their lives on the outcome. Near 7,000 strong came the Norse.
Harald III, son of Sigurd – called Harfager, the Burner of Bulgars, the Hammer of Denmark, the Thunderbolt of the North. By his own count he had conquered more than eighty cities, as far away as Sicily and the Middle East.
In 1066, Harald was fifty-one year old. Twenty years earlier Harald had taken the throne of Norway by right of blood, his great-great grandfather Harald Fairhair.
He was never called Hardrada – Ruthless, Tyrant, Hard Ruler – in his face.
The battle at Fulford had sundered into two battles, one along the ditch, one in front of it. Mercians stood against Vikings. They were led by Earl Morcar of York and Earl Edwin of Mercia. They lost.
Vikings than marched to London, but first wanted to took York, that was to be Jorvik again. But there was still an army of English king in the south, and it was agreed that at Stamford Bridge, the York would surrender itself. But the army of King Harold II was not in the south waiting for the Norman invasion of Duke William, they were at Stamford Bridge.
Harald fought with Tostig, brother of King Harold Godwinson.
Eye of God
The Fates – Urth (Past), Verthandi (Present) and Skuld (Future), the three otherworldly women who weave men’s destinies.
In the year 1030 Harald Sigurdsson was fifteen years old. That spring he was at the head of the army that went from Oppland in Norway to Jarnberaland in Sweden. There was Olaf II, called the Stout, future King of Norway. He was his half-brother. Their father was King Harald Grenski.
Now the combined army of Harald, Olaf (his army consists of men from his brother-in-law King Yaroslav of Kiev), King Onund Jacob of Sweden and Dag Hringsson went to Norway in the direction of Trondheim. Throne Home then called Nidaros was then the capital of Norway.
They should face the Knut’s army, led by Kalf Arnason and Thorir Hund was also one of the commanders.
By tradition Norse battles began with a single spear cast into the enemy, in remembrance of the spear Odin, leading the mythical Aesir, threw into the opposing Vanir to begin the First War between the gods.
Thorstein Knarrarsmid stroked Olaf. He has dropped his sword Hneitir and felt. Thorir the Hound and Kalf Arnason finished the job and killed Olaf.
Exile
Rognvald Brussason led Harald off the battlefield. First they went to Sweden and then to Russia (Rus) and King Yaroslav.
Ladoga said to have been founded by Rurik, the semi-legendary Danish Viking, father of the tsars. Ladoga was Rus’s first capital until sacked and burned by the Norwegians in 980.
Yaroslav married King Onund’s sister Ingigerd in 1019. He had moved his center to his city of Kiev.
Yaroslav the Great was in his early fifties in 1031. He was still fighting with his brother Mstislav of Chernigov. To him he ceded all Kievan territory east of the Dneiper.
At his court was Olaf’s seven-year-old bastard son Magnus and his mother Alfhild.
In Norway the King was Svein, Knut’s son.
Kievan Rus
The pagan Poles hadn’t taken as docilely as the Rus to Christianity, King Mieszko II, “The Lazy”, was unable to keep them subdued.
Yaroslav had an old score to settle with the Poles. In 1018 they had conquered the land of the Cherven Towns, modern Red Ruthenia.
When Mstislav and Yaroslav marched into Poland in 1031, Harald was with them and he learned about the siege warfare.
In 968 the Pechenegs had laid siege to Kiev, two years later they allied with the Kievan prince, Yaroslav’s grandfather Sviatoslav I, against the Byzantines; in 972 the switched sides again.
Harald also learned about fighting against enemy cavarlry.
Sven was not such a good king in Norway. Kalf Arnason and Thorir Hund regrated siding with Knut. In 1034 Kalf led a delegation along Harald’s route from Norway, through Sweden, to Kievan Rus.
Elisaveta was not promised to Harald, but also not to Magnus. Harald decided to go abroad.
Miklagard
In 1034 Harald went to Constantinople. With him were 500 warriors that choose to follow him.
In Constantinople Harald saw how use of monotheism as a tool for political unification is effective.
Byzantine emperors had employed Varangians in mercenary units, the Hetaria, as they did with other foreigners. The commander of the Guards was called the Akolouthos, the Acolyte, or Follower.
Harald knew the story of Bolli Bollason, an Icelander who journeyed through Norway in 1027, when Olaf was a king. He had joined the Varangian Guard and earn a fortune.
Before Harald’s arrival in Constantinople, the imperial throng had changed hands. The Empress Zoe and her younger sister Theodora were the daughters of the previous Emperor Constantine VIII.
Zoe’s marriage with Romanos was childless and loveless. Michael Psellos from Paphlagonia on the north Turkish coast has great effect on Zoe and the princess wanted him. On 11 April 1034 Romanos died. Zoe married Michael. He was crowned as Emperor Michael IV. But it was also not a happy marriage.
Michael’s most trusted supporter was his brother John.
Life in Constantinople
Varangian
In the 200 years leading up to AD 1000 Christians and Muslims had fought nearly thirty major sea battles.
In September 1034 Muslims had raided Thrace (modern Bulgaria) and sacked the town of Myra in Lycia. The first history use of the term Varangoi refers to Varangians posted that winter in the Thracesian Theme (military province) in western Anatolia.
In 655 Saracens won the Battle of the Masts. It was their first great victory at sea. They beat Emperor Constants II.
In Thrace Harald learned and saw a use of “Greek fire”. The victory in 1035 against Saracens where Harald was involved earn him the first recognition in the new environment.
Command
The fortress of Berkri controlled access to the valley of the Arsanias River (modern Murat). By holding it, the Byzantines could block Saracen access to Asia Minor, and secure their own route into Syria.
George Maniakes was made of sterner stuff than his emperor. He was now butting heads with Harald.
Contantine evidently did not wish to compete with the likes of Maniakes. He was transferred out of Edessa. Saracens were again before Edessa, they were pushing but in one moment they simply left.
In June 1036 Ali az-Zahir, the seventh caliph of the Fatimid dynasty died of plague. The caliphate passed to his son, Ma’ad al-Mustansir Billah.
With the Saracen threat in at least temporary abeyance, Harald too was recalled. In the capital, Maniakes wanted to rid of him, and the strategos Constantine may have recommended him to his brothers Michael and John, who needed a commander the Varangians would reliably follow.
It was getting to the point where Harald would have to choose loyalty to the emperor or the empress.
Holy Land
According to Arab sources, the peace treaty between Cairo and Constantinople was finalized in October 1037. Byzantines would have striven to reach the Holy Land by Christmas of that year.
Harald was also going to the Holy Land. His alias was still Nordbrikt.
Defending a camel train was another new kind of warfare for Norsemen. The annual winter caravan from Mecca to Damascus, numbering 2.000-3.000 animals with a cargo worth around 450.000 USD in today’s money, stood of constant attacks.
Harald went to the Jordan and bathed in the water, in the manner of all pilgrims.
Sicily
In the summer of 1038, Harald stood at the other end of the Byzantine Empire. He was part of the reconquest of Sicily.
Though it was Muslim territory, much of Messina’s populace was Christian, even Greek. Messina was base city of Byzantine commander, none other than George Maniakes.
Two different dynasty ruled Sicily and Tunisia. Arab Kalbid ruled Sicily for ninety years, Zirids in Tunisia for almost seventy.
In the Byzantine army in Sicily there were also Longobards, that were a generation earlier unsuccessful in a rebellion against Byzantine. There were also a few hundred knights of Normandy under exiled mercenary Rainulf Drengot.
The Saracens had moved their capital to Palermo, but by holding both Messina in the north and Syracuse in the south the Byzantines would control the island’s entire eastern coast, the direct approaches from the rest of the empire.
Muslims lost another battle at Troina. The battle would indeed be a turning point in the subjugation of Sicily.
Uprising
Former allies were now enemies. Byzantines were against Lombard and Norman rebels including the Hauteville brothers Drogo and William Iron-Arm.
The result of what was happening in the island was that Emperor and his brother ordered arrest of Maniakes. They believed he was plotting against them.
New commander of Byzantine army in Italy was now Michael Dokeianos.
The deciding factor at Olivento was not numbers, or position, or tactics. It simply boiled down to determination.
The Normans would soon shoulder aside their Lombard allies and found their own kingdom in Sicily, one that would endure for over 700 years.
Nor did Harald witness the final rebel triumph. He and Ulf and Halidor were not among the Varangians lost at Montepeloso. Harald and his men had already been recalled and departed for Constantinople.
The Burner of Bulgars
The 1041 was not a good year for Byzantine Empire. They have loses in Sicily, the Serbs were expanding their territory, Bulgars and Slavs had also risen up.
The new commander of the Guard was the emperor’s nephew Michael, son of disgraced former admiral Stephen.
Michael IV was dying. He named his nephew Michael as his successor.
A confrontation with the Bulgars had been brewing for decades. Basil II was known as the Bulgar Slayer.
In 1040 the Bulgarians proclaimed an emperor of their own. Peter II Delvan (Peter Delianos).
In the end the Varangians took the victory against rebels.
Reign of Terror
For three day the fate of all the Byzantine Empire hung in the balance. With an emperor on the throne, Constantinople was in limbo. Than Michael V was seated on the throne.
But he was not the right man for the job. He was a slave to his emotions.
He was removing the Varangians from the picture. But he has to move also against the empress. He sentenced her under false pretend. She was sent into exile. No only Harald was in his way. But without Varangians Harald could only count on city-wide revolt.
Revolution
And that is what happened. The city revolted against Michael. Mob needed a leader, Harald was there.
When Harald’s men came up against those of Kekaumenos, there was a scene of combat rarely witnessed in the history of the Byzantine Empire. Varangians against Varangians, axe versus axe.
Blinding
Michael’s Paphlagonian dynasty had fallen in just two day. Zoe had been restored, but Theodora, proclaimed empress by will of the people.
It is said that Harald blinded the Byzantine emperor himself.
Power
The emperor was out of the picture, fight was still on between empresses.
Harald was now rich and powerful.
In 988 Emperor Basil II had invited 6.000 Varangians to become his personal army. Harald was within a sword’s swing of the throne.
Zoe married Constantine, who had a daughter Maria Skleraina.
Lover
Harald and Maria developed feelings for each other. Zoe didn’t like that.
In this difficult times for Harald in Byzantine, the situation also changed in his old territories. Yaroslav was now the full ruler of Kievan Rus, since Mstislav died. Knut also died. Magnus has won against his son Svein in Norway. Knut’s son Hardaknut ruled Denmark and England and he agreed with Magnus, that who ever would outlive the other would join all the territories. Hardaknut died first, but England’s earls choose his half-brother Edward over Magnus. The jarl Svein Ulfsson, laid claim to Denmark.
Downfall
Maniakes led the rebel army against Constantinople in early 1043. In February 1043 his army and Stephens met near Ostrovo, modern Arnissa in Macedonia. Maniakes died.
Haralds ongoing affair with Maria become dangerous for him.
In one moment he was thrown to jail.
War
In 1043 Kievan also attacked Byzantine. The army was led by Yaroslav son Vladimir of Novogorod.
In the battle near Bospor Greek fire was used. Kievan were not successful. But they did eventually get in the city.
Escape from Byzantium
Harald together with Ulf and Halidor was released. He went to palace to get Maria and run away.
Harald had the blood of kings, yet he was without a kingdom. For Maria, that was no longer enough. Harald sent her back to Constantinople.
Harald was not only warrior, he was also a poet.
Back from Constantinople
Prince of the Rus
Harald was back to the court of King Yaroslav. But this time he was really rich.
Elisaveta was now grown up. And Harald was still a prince. They married.
Harald ambitions were not only the prince of the Rus, he wanted to become the king of Scandinavia.
But in Scandinavia there were Magnus and Svein fighting for the power. Harald was in position where he would need to think about which side he should took.
Denmark
Harald sail from Novgorod to Lake Ladoga.
Magnus was winning everything against Svein. If Harald would join forces with Svein and they would won. Svein could rule Denmark and Harald could rule Norway.
Treachery
During 1045, Harald and Svein sacked the island of Zealand and Fyn (modern Funen).
Raven banners had a long tradition in Viking lore, going at least as far back as the invasion of Wessex by the Great Heaten Army, led by Ubba, son of Ragnar Lodbrok, in the year 878. In the battle of Cynwit in Devon that year Ubbe was killed and his raven flag was taken as a trophy.
Harald broke his loyalty to Svein and he sailed with his men to Vik on the southern shore of the Sognefjord.
Kings of the North
When Svein heard that Harald and Magnus had agreed to unite their armies he sailed with his men to the east coast of Scania and remained there until that winter.
Queen Elisaveta – Elisif as she was known to her Norwegian subjects – was safely delivered of a baby girl, Ingigerd.
Magnus and Harald had dual reign.
Svein used the absence of both kings in Denmark and started collecting taxes again. Harald and Magnus went down to Denmark, but Svein run again to Sweden.
If both kings dies, their Norwegian-Danish empire would be broken up among the girls, Ragnhild, Ingigerd and Maria.
On October 25, 1047, Magnus died.
So was Harald, King of Norway.
Thunderbolt of the North
When Harald tried to assert his reign in Denmark Einar Thambarskelfir wasn’t have it.
Harald went back to Norway and Svein came back to Denmark.
Harald wanted a mail heir. He married again, this time with Norwegian Thora. Well not really married, but her union with Harland was as marriage.
Harald was again looking to south, he wanted to secure his Danish realm, also for his newborn son.
Hedeby lay down on the southern neck of Danish mainland. It was a trading center and the pride of Danes. Harald took it with ease. His nick name became Harald, the Hammer of Denmark.
Dragon Ships
Harald was brave in the battle, but not to the point of suicide. He didn’t face the Danes this time. He run away. But Norwegian drakkar or dragon ships were big, but not that fast, so the chance to get away were slim.
Hard Ruler
King Harald was an absolute monarh.
Halidor went to Iceland and stayed there. Ulf Ospaksson became the king’s most trusted man.
Norway was dividing into two armed camps. On one side was Harald and Arnasons (minus Kalf, still in the Orkneys). On the other side was Einar Thambarskelfir, his son Eindridi and the old aristocracy descended from Jarl Hakon.
Harald had big issues at home with Hakon and Finn. Both of them went to Svein in the end.
Harald still didn’t catch Svein. In the winter of 1061-62, he commissioned one of the greatest ships of the Viking age. Ormen or Serpent or the Stor Dreki (Great Dragon).
The Battle of the Nisa
In 1062 Harald live for Denmark with 150 longships.
Finn Aranson decided to stay with Svein. Hakon Ivarsson on the other hand was trying to get back to Harald.
Harald went the coast of Halland, which is now Sweden, to the mouth of the Gautelf river. Svein now had 300 ships. Danes came to the mouth of the Nisa River (modern Nissan) on August 9.
The battle of Nisa was another important battle in Norwegian history. Svein lost again. But again run away.
Sweden
Hakon, his wife Ranghild (daughter of Magnus) and their people promptly absconded to Sweden. Sweden was now ruled by King Steinkel.
In 1063-64 people wanted peace and Svein and Harald tried to agree on compromise. Harald’s daughter Ingigerd was to be married to Svein’s son Olaf and Harald should stay in Norway and Svein in Denmark.
Peace between Sweden and Norway was agreed in 1020 between Olaf Harald’s brother and Sweden then-King Olaf Skautkonung. But now the war was close. Harald went to Sweden but he was not successful.
Harald now also turn on Norwegians and use the brute force to control them.
In 1066 Tostig Godwinson the outcast Earl of Northumbria, brother of the King of England, came to Harald.
England
Harald believed that he also have a claim to English throne through his nephew Magnus, to who Hardaknut promised the throne.
English aristocracy was always problematic. At Knut’s death in 1035, Tostig’s father, Earl Godwin of Wessex had invited the English claimant to throne, Alfred Aetheling, from exile in Normany and betrayed him, giving him to Knut’s son Harold Harefoot.
Harald eventually decided to go to England. He was supported by the troops from Orkney and Hebrides.
Peak of Roseberry Topping said to be the burial mound of Ivar the Boneless.
It was September 19, when word arrived in London that, whether or not an invasion was coming from Normandy, it had already come from Norway. The Vikings had returned to England.
On September 20, as Harald, Tostig and their army saw the banners of Mercia and Northumbria fluttering. And no one on that field could know that, on that very same Wednesday morning, King Harold II of England and this entire Anglo-Saxon army had set out from London on the road to York.
The Last Battle
Stamford Bridge
The forced march by Harold II of England and his army from London to York in September of 1066 – 200 miles in four or five days – was an achievement.
Viking won against Edwin and Morcar at Fuldord, the complete capitulation of York, and especially the Sunday night victory celebration in the Viking camp at Riccall. They were feeling safe and they went to Stamford Bridge. They left part of the army back in the camp.
Seven feet of English ground.
Vikings fought bravely. For the Vikings fearlessness was simply a state of mind.
Harold Godwinson shot King Harald in the throat. King Harald III of Norway died.
Anglo-Saxon army had been decimated at Stamford Bridge.
The Last Viking
By the time the would-be Viking conquerors arrived home, Harold Godwinson himself lay dead atop the ridge at Hastings – killed, like his brother Tostig, by an arrow in the eye.
Harald was a very successful soldier, through not a very successful conqueror, having failed to claim either Denmark or England.
