Harald III Hardrada of Norway (1015-25 September 1066) was the King of Norway from 1046 to 25 September 1066, succeeding Magnus I of Norway and preceding Magnus II of Norway.
Biography[]
Harald Hardrada was born in 1015, the son of petty king Sigurd Syr and Asta Gudbrandsdatter. In 1030, he fought at the Battle of Stiklestad alongside his brother Olaf II of Norway, and he was forced into exile in the Kievan Rus after the defeat at the hands of King Canute of Denmark. From 1030 to 1034, he served Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev, but he would head to Constantinople in 1034 to join the Byzantine Empire's viking Varangian Guard. Harald saw action across the Mediterranean, and he became a wealthy man. In 1042, he returned to the Kievan Rus, and he arrived in Denmark in 1046, joining Sweyn II of Denmark's army during its fight against his nephew, King Magnus I of Norway. Magnus decided to divide his realm between Sweyn and Harald on his deathbed in 1047, and Harald gained Norway. From 1046 to 1064, he frequently raided the Danish shore and fought against his former ally Sweyn in hopes of conquering Denmark, but this failed. In 1066, Harald decided to embark on the conquest of England when Tostig Godwinson invited him to invade the country, and Harald defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Fulford. However, he was defeated at the Battle of Stamford Bridge on 25 September 1066, and he was struck in the throat with an arrow, killing him.
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