Ian Schwalbe

Harald Sigurdsson, frequently referred to as Hardrada, was the King of Norway from 1046 to 1066, and has been dubbed “the last real Viking.” He was a military prodigy, and lived a very violent life; his first taste of combat came in the year 1030, when he fought in the Battle of Stiklestad alongside his half-brother, Olaf, who had been living in exile. Upon returning home, the two men attempted to recapture Olaf’s position on the Norwegian throne, but the battle tragically culminated in Olaf’s death and Harald’s exile. Harald fled to the Grand Prince of Kiev, Yaroslav the Wise, who had also been the benefactor of Olaf during his exile. After several years in Kiev, Harald had amassed an army, and together they travelled to the Byzantine Empire, where they joined the Varangian Guard. After fighting in battles from Constantinople to Jerusalem, Harald was imprisoned by the Byzantine Emperor. Only a revolt amongst the Varangians allowed Harald to escape—he and those who were loyal to him stole several ships from the Empire and sailed back to Scandinavia. Upon his return to Norway, Harald sought to retake the throne lost by his brother, but rather found Olaf’s illegitimate son, Magnus the Good, to be the present King. The two agreed to rule Norway together, but nevertheless frequently fought one another, until Magnus died just a few years later. With his rightful place on the throne finally secure, Harald desired to expand his empire further. The new King invaded several neighboring countries, with little success. His most ambitious campaign, however, was his invasion of England. He and his army had initial success, forcing their way deeper into the country. Upon arriving in Yorkshire, Harald expected to meet with its citizens to negotiate, but was instead greeted by a fully armed militia. This surprising act of betrayal led to Harald and his army being crushingly defeated. It was during this conflict—the Battle of Stamford Bridge—that Harald was killed by an arrow shot to the throat.