King of Norway: Harald Hardrada Quiz

Answer: Ringerike

Situated northwest of Oslo, Ringerike is a traditional district of Norway with a long history associated with Norwegian monarchs. Ringerike was a Viking petty kingdom throughout the 8th-10th centuries. Since Ringerike was so highly influenced by Viking culture at the time, it set the stage for Harald's life.

His brothers grew up to be more interested in farming, whereas Harald craved the life of a Viking.

Answer: Åsta Gudbrandsdatter

Sigurd Syr (died in 1018) was a petty king. Before the Norway was a unified kingdom in 872, the land was divided into smaller, less powerful and significant kingdoms, one of which was ruled by Sigurd Syr in Ringerike.

Åsta Gudbrandsdatter was born 975-980. Most of the surviving information about Åsta comes from the Heimskringla, which is a collection of sagas from the 13th century relating to Norwegian and Swedish kings. Åsta married Sigurd Syr soon after her first husband, Harald Grenske, a petty king from Vestfold, was murdered by the woman with whom he intended to replace with Åsta.

Åsta is recorded to have been a mother with grand dreams for her sons. She pushed them to seek power much more than their father did, who was happier remaining a petty king and tending to his farm. She gave both Olaf and Harald political advice in both military campaigns and bids for the throne. Harald's ambition and refusal to spend his life farming was impressive to Åsta, and Harald admired her determination.

Answer: Battle of Stiklestad

Also known as Olaf the Stout and Saint Olaf, Olaf Haraldsson (995-1030) was King of Norway from 1015-1028. He and Harald Hardrada were the two kings Åsta Gudbrandsdatter produced from her children, with Olaf being a hero to Harald as he grew up. Harald was the youngest of Olaf II's half-brothers, and despite having different fathers, the two had a close bond.

Harald was just 15 when he joined Olaf in the Battle of Stiklestad on July 29, 1030. Harald gathered 600 men to assist his brother in reclaiming the throne of Norway from Danish king, Cnut the Great. King Olaf II was killed in the battle, and Harald, although seriously wounded, managed to escape with his life by going into exile.

Although Olaf was renowned for his brutality during his efforts to Christianize Norway, dying at the Battle of Stiklestad endeared him to the people. This was helpful in getting him canonized as a saint in 1031. Olaf's body was also reportedly very well preserved, according to later sagas, which also led to him being recognised as the patron saint of Norway.

Saint Olaf is still hailed as a cultural hero in Norway, with "The Saint Olav Drama," a play performed at the end of July annually in the village Stiklestad, Verdal Municipality, Norway, commemorating the battle, Olaf's martyrdom, and the Christianisation of Norway. The play was written by Norwegian novelist and poet Olaf Gullvåg (1885-1961).

Answer: Rögnvald Brusason

Rögnvald Brusason was the Earl of Orkney, and a staunch ally of Olaf II. He had been in Olaf's court since he was a child, after being taken to Norway by his father, Brusi Sigurdsson, Earl of Orkney. After Olaf had died in battle and Harald was seriously injured, Rögnvald rescued Harald from the Stiklestad battlefield and helped him escape. Rögnvald transported a wounded and recovering Harald to a remote farm in the east of Norway.

Answer: Yaroslav the Wise

Yaroslav I Vladimirovich (978-1054), also known as Yaroslav the Wise, was the son of Vladimir the Great and the Grand Prince of Kiev from 1019 until he died in 1054.

Harald was no stranger to Yaroslav. Olaf II had sought exile from Yaroslav in 1028 following a rebellion, and Yaroslav carried a lot of respect for Harald's brother, giving him a warm welcome when he arrived. Yaroslav was also married to a distant relative of Harald, a Swedish princess named Ingegerd Olofsdotter (1001-1050). Yaroslav recognised the battle potential in Harald, and awarded him a position as captain in his army.

Answer: Constantinople

Harald Hardrada and his men marched to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, to join the Varangian Guard. The Varangian Guard served in the Byzantine army as bodyguards to the emperors. This was an eventful part of Harald's military career, a time which saw him traveling across Byzantine territories for combat, including Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), Sicily, and Bulgaria.

Harald commanded the Varangian Guard in battles against Arab pirates, with some sagas suggesting that he captured over 80 Arab fortifications. He is recorded to have captured Arab forts as far away as Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). Harald was handsomely paid for his service in the Varangian Guard, whose soldiers were allowed to keep plunder from military campaigns. Harald entrusted Yaroslav the Wise to keep his plunder safe.

Answer: Sicily

In 1038, Harald Hardrada led the Varangian Guard into Sicily, alongside Norman mercenaries including future legendary commander, William Iron Arm, who would later become Harald's adversary. Sicily had been under Islamic control from the 9th-11th centuries, with the the Kalbid Arabs controlling the island.

Harold's psychosocial warfare tactics would mirror those he would use in Stamford Bridge years later as King of Norway. Harald is said to have attached burning tapers to birds that would fly into thatched roofs and set fortifications on fire. He is said to have had his army tunnel into a cellar and take the enemy by surprise. He is also said to have faked his own death to conquer a town, having his men carry a coffin with his (purportedly) dead body inside. The inhabitants of the town allowed the men through the gate for a burial, only to be stormed by Harald's army once the gate was open.

Answer: Battle of Olivento and Battle of Montemaggiore

During the Battle of Olivento on March 17 1041, the Byzantine forces (including Varangian Guard) were defeated by the Norman and Lombard rebel army. The Byzantines were betrayed by Arduin the Lombard, a noble of Lombard, who had originally fought alongside the Byzantines in Sicily. A revolt took place and the Byzantines were defeated, with many troops drowning in the Olivento River.

The Battle of Montemaggiore took place on 4 May 1041, in the south-east of Italy. Although the Byzantines and Harald Hardrada had once fought alongside William of Hauteville (William Iron Arm) in Sicily, he led an army against them in revolt against the empire. The Byzantines suffered heavy casualties, with many again drowning in a nearby river while trying to flee.

These defeats marked a strong stain on Harald's military career, and were an unusual position for the typically unstoppable Varangian Guard to experience. Harald was summoned back to Constantinople with orders to crush a Bulgarian uprising.

Answer: Petar Delyan

The Bulgarians began revolting against the Byzantine Empire due to heavy taxation. They were also furious at the removal of the Bulgarian Archbishop of Ohrid, who was replaced with a Roman bishop who spoke Greek in 1037.

Petar Delyan led the revolt against the Byzantines and was declared Emperor of Bulgaria. He then painted himself as the grandson of Tsar Samuel, the legendary and beloved ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire. Delyan's followers took control of several territories from Belgrade to Larissa.

The Byzantine Emperor, Michael IV, arranged for his 40,000-strong army, including 500 Varangian mercenaries led by Harald Hardrada, to crush the rebellion. They faced the Bulgarians near Lake Ostrovo. Some sagas say that Harald killed Petar Delyan in battle, others sources state that Deylan was taken to Constantinople and executed. Bulgaria remained under the control of the Byzantine Empire until 1185.

Despite his success in crushing the Bulgarian rebellion, Harald Hardrada's position at the Byzantine court became more difficult to hold on to, given the death of his patron, Emperor Michael IV, in late 1041. Harald was imprisoned (on grounds which are disputed, with some suggesting he had defiled a noblewoman) but escaped and returned to Norway.

Answer: Einar Thambarskelfir

Hailing from the prestigious Earls of Lade Dynasty, Einar Thambarskelfir (980-1050) was a Norwegian chieftain and member of the nobility. It was Einar who traveled to Kievan Rus' to find Mangus, Olaf II's illegitimate son, and had him put onto the Norwegian throne, aged 11.

After Magnus' death, Harald Hardrada decided that Einar had too much power. Harald was hellbent on uniting Norway as one power, and had little patience for ambitious members of the nobility such as Einar. Harald was also informed that Einar was concocting a peasant rebellion against him. Under the guise of peace talks, Harald had Einar lured to him and then had both Einar and his son assassinated in 1050.

Answer: Elisiv of Kiev

Elisiv of Kiev (1025-1067) was daughter of Yaroslav the Wise. Harald had pined for Elisiv for years, and asked for her hand in marriage while he was in exile in Kievan Rus', but Yaroslav would not give his blessing until Harald was wealthier.

By 1044-1045, when Harald was finally allowed to marry Elisiv, he had accrued a substantial amount of wealth during his time in the Varangian Guard. During his various military campaigns he would compose poetry depicting his longing for Elisiv, with one poem stating "Yet the goddess in Gardarike / will not accept my gold rings."

The marriage between Harald and Elisiv forged a bond between the Norwegian Vikings and the Kievan Rus'. Elisiv's siblings were also married off to enforce political ties, marrying into royalty from France and Hungary. Elisiv was the first Norwegian Queen from outside of Scandinavia.

Answer: Magnus the Good

Magnus the Good (1024-1047) became king of Norway in 1035, aged 11. Magnus was the illegitimate son of Olaf, Harald's brother. Magnus had been taken to exile with Olaf in 1028, following King Cnut the Great ousting his Olaf from the throne. Magnus also became king of Denmark in 1042 when Harthacnut, son of Cnut, died in England, despite protests by Sweyn Estridsson, Cnut's nephew.

Harald Hardrada allied with Sweyn Estridsson and raided the Danish coast in order to frighten Magnus. Rather than engage in battle with his formidable and powerful uncle, Magnus chose to compromise. Harald was declared his co-king of Norway in 1046. Magnus died less than a year later, heirless and in unclear circumstances.

The years following this would see constant clashes between Norway and Denmark. From 1048 to 1064, the Norwegian Vikings conducted raids on Denmark that never fully took over the country, but did manage to decimate its economy.

Answer: Haakon Ivarsson

The Battle of Niså was a naval battle where, although Harald Hardrada won the conflict, he failed to capture Sweyn Estridsson. Harald won most of the battles against Sweyn, but never fully managed to capture his territory, leaving Sweyn shaken but still in control of Denmark.

Earl Haakon Ivarsson had a volatile relationship with Harald Hardrada. He was married to Ragnhild, the daughter of Magnus the Good. This political connection unnerved Harald, who subsequently went back on his promise to grant Haakon an earldom.

Haakon had found himself on the wrong side of Harald several times and had also contrastingly spent pleasant time with Sweyn Estridsson before returning to Harald's court. Sweyn approached Haakon's ship in the middle of the battle in disguise. Haakon would later insist that he did not recognise Sweyn when he helped him escape because of this disguise, but Harald Hardrada was both suspicious and enraged.

Haakon was originally declared a hero of the battle, until Harald found out that he had helped Sweyn escape. This led to Haakon fleeing Harald's territory for fear of the Norwegian king's retribution and threatening accusations of treason. Haakon lived the rest of his life in Denmark as Earl of Halland.

The ongoing raids were costly to both sides and Harald eventually agreed to make peace with Sweyn in 1064 without ever conquering Denmark.

Answer: Tora Torbergsdatter

Tora Torbergsdatter married Harald Hardrada in 1048. It is disputed as to whether his first wife was still alive at the time. Regardless, the marriage was a political arrangement, and there is no evidence of Harald devotedly writing Tora poetry as he had done for Elisiv.

Tora was never declared queen and was seen as more of a concubine. The marriage to Harald was likely a less official hand fasting ceremony rather than a Christian marriage. His marriage to Elisiv served as a foreign alliance, whereas his marriage to Tora gave satisfaction to Norwegian nobles.

Tora and Harald would have two sons who would later become kings of Norway.

Answer: Tostig Godwinson

Edward the Confessor died without an heir in January 1066. This led to a power vacuum with several men claiming to be the legitimate heir of England, including Harald Hardrada.

In 1065, Tostig Godwinson was Earl of Northumbria, but he was very unpopular due to his harsh taxes and rebellions against him became common. Rather than side with his brother, Harold Godwinson, who would be later chosen by the Witenagemot (the Anglo-Saxon council of nobles) to become the next king of England, Harold sided with the rebels and advised King Edward the Confessor to have Tostig exiled.

After his offer for an alliance was rebuffed by William, Duke of Normandy, Tostig sought to ally with Harald Hardrada. By assisting Harald's invasion of England, Tostig hoped to be reinstated as an earl and get revenge on his brother for having him exiled.

Answer: Battle of Fulford

The Battle of Fulford happened just south of York in the north of England.

Edwin and Morvar were brothers hailing from a prominent family, with their sister, Ealdgyth, being married to the new king, Harold Godwinson. Edwin held the title of Earl of Mercia, and Morcar held the title of Earl of Northumbria. The two brothers objected to Harold Godwinson's legitimacy until he married their sister, securing the family a strong alliance.

As earls of the north, Edwin and Morvar were responsible for defending York. When Harald Hardrada's army advanced on York, Edwin and Morcar were proficient in pushing back the invading Norwegian forces. However, they were leading inexperienced soldiers against Harald Hardrada's battle-hardened warriors.

Tostig Godwinson (who had been replaced as Earl of Northumbria by Morcar) faked a retreat in order to lure the English forces to lower ground into marshier conditions. The English army became stuck in the mud and less agile, which the Norwegian army took advantage of. Edwin and Morcar were able to flee to safety, but their army was destroyed.

York surrendered to Harald Hardrada and Tostig with no violent resistance.

Answer: Arrow to the throat

It is often said that Harald Hardrada's death was also a symbolic death of the Viking Age.

The Battle of Stamford Bridge saw the Norwegians taken by surprise. Many of Harald's soldiers had even left their heavy armour on their warships due to the hot weather. King Harold Godwinson had marched rapidly and caught the Vikings when they were not expecting trouble.

Harald Hardrada was killed in the Battle of Stamford Bridge when an arrow shot him in the throat. Tostig Godwinson was killed in this battle also. Although King Harold Godwinson's forces had won the battle, the army was exhausted and lacking in numbers. This was a deciding factor in Harold Godwinson's army losing to William the Conqueror in the Battle of Hastings weeks later.

Harald Hardrada's death and the defeat of his army led to the decline of Viking raids around Britain, and there were much fewer Norse claims to the English throne.

Answer: Magnus and Olaf

Magnus II and Olaf III were both sons of Harald Hardrada and Tora Torbergsdatter. They co-ruled Norway together after Harald's death at Stamford Bridge in 1066.

Magnus II was designated as regent of Norway in Harald's absence while he was attempting to conquer England. He reigned from 1066 until he fell ill in 1069 and died.

Olaf III was only 16 years old when he accompanied his father to the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Following Harald's death here, Olaf returned to Norway and ruled jointly with his brother, until Magnus' death in 1069. Until then, the two brothers had split the lands to rule between them - Olaf controlled the south-eastern part of Norway, and Magnus controlled the Uplands and the west and the north of Norway. Olaf III reigned Norway from 1067-1093.

Answer: Nidaros

After being killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Harald Hardrada's body was buried in the Mary Church in Nidaros, which is the present-day Norwegian city of Trondheim. This was at a church that Harald had constructed during his reign. Nidaros was the first capital city for Norway's Christian kings.

Nidaros Cathedral, which still stands, is where Olaf II is buried.

Answer: Helgeseter Priory

The precise reason for Harald Hardrada's exhumation and reburial has been lost to history. There is, however, a plausible explanation. When the Augustinian monastery, Helgeseter Priory, was opened in 1183, moving the body of a historical king to the grounds for burial could have heightened the priory's significance. During the Middle Ages it was common for the bodies of royalty to be dug up and reinterred if there were new, more prestigious grounds to store their bodies.

There are now no visible ruins of Helgeseter Priory, which was destroyed in a fire in 1564, and with it, the exact location of Harald's remains were also lost. It is believed his remains likely lie under Klostergata Street in Trondheim.