Notes |
- From Leo van de Pas:
Harald was only fifteen when he fought beside his half-brother at the battle of Stiklestad. He fled from Norway to Gardariket (Russia) then travelled on to Constantinople, known to the Vikings as Miklagard, where he served in the emperor's personal guard.
In 1034 he returned to the Nordic countries a wealthy man. He gave some of his wealth to King Magnus, and as a reward he was given part of Norway. In 1047 when Magnus died, Harald became king of both Norway and Denmark. However in 1064, after numerous battles, he had to part with Denmark. In trying to make the Norwegian Church more independent from the archbishop of Bremen, Harald allowed his bishops to be ordained in England and France. From Harald's time both the Orkneys and Hjaltland were ruled from Norway.
After the death of the English King Edward 'the Confessor', Harald raided England but he was beaten by Edward's successor King Harold II and died in the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066.
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