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- Born in 1015, Harald was the youngest of Olaf II's three half-brothers. When the King was killed in 1030 while defending his throne from Canute the Great, Harald was wounded and left Norway in exile. He was able to form a band of warriors out of men who had also been exiled as a result of Olaf's death. In 1031 Harald and his men reached the land of the Rus where they served the armies of the King of the Rus. Some years after Harald and his men had entered the land of the Rus, they packed up and left for the heart of the Byzantine Empire, the city of Constantinople. At the time, the Byzantine Empire was the wealthiest empire in Medieval Europe and the Near East. Harald and his men pledged themselves to the service of the armies of the empire. Harald's forces joined the elite mercenary unit known as the Varangian Guard. It was not long until Harald had proven himself in battle and gained the respect of his fellow guardsmen. Harald became the leader of the entire force and used this power to undertake his own missions. Harald's forces won a great many victories in North Africa, Syria and Sicily. Harald was able to build a large fortune in plunder from his victories. Using the wealth he had built during his service to the Byzantine Empire, Harald returned to Norway in 1045. Harald brought with him a number of men who served with him, and, as a result, became an immediate threat to the sitting King of Norway. Magnus I of Norway was the son of Olaf II and nephew of Harald. He had returned from exile in 1035 to reclaim his father's throne after the death of Canute the Great. Magnus I agreed to share power with his uncle Harald and the two became co-rulers. However, it was only a year later that Magnus would die. The circumstances surrounding his death were never truly explained. Speculation led to the widespread belief that Magnus was killed by Harald so that he alone would control Norway. Harald was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, outside the city of York, England. The battle took place in late September 1066. Harald died fighting against the forces of King Harold Godwinson of England. He had come to England with the idea of claiming the English Throne as his own. He landed in Northern England with a force of around 5,000 men and 300 longboats, and had won a great victory just a few days earlier against the first English forces he met. Some speculate that Harald's defeat at York was the result of his belief that King Harold Godwinson was prepared to surrender. This was not the case, and Harald's army was destroyed at Stamford Bridge. His army was so heavily beaten that less than 30 of the 300 recorded longboats Harald used to transport his forces to England were used to carry the survivors back to Norway. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
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1015 - 1066 (51 years)