General Notes

First King of Norway

Little is known of the historical Harald. The only contemporary sources mentioning him are the two skaldic poems Haraldskvæði and Glymdrápa, by Þorbjörn Hornklofi. The first poem describes life at Harald's court, mentions that he took a Danish wife, and that he won a victory at Hafrsfjord. The second relates a series of battles Harald has won. He is not mentioned in any contemporary foreign sources. His life was described in several of the Kings' sagas, but the first of these were not written until the end of the 12th century, over 250 years after his death. Their accounts of Harald and his life differ on several points, and much of the content is clearly mythological. He is credited with having unified Norway into one kingdom. Modern historians assume that his rule was limited to the coastal areas of southern Norway.

SOURCES
Norges kongesagaer av Snorre Sturluson (1179 - 1241)


Notes for Harald Hårfagre
Konge ca år 870 til 933.

Etterkommere av Harald Hårfagre er tatt ut av hefte til Ola Aurenes om "Selvåg-ætta II" fra juli 1938.

1. HARALD'S STRIFE WITH HAKE AND HIS FATHER GANDALF.

Harald (1) was but ten years old when he succeeded his father (Halfdan the Black). He became a stout, strong, and comely man,
and withal prudent and manly. His mother's brother, Guthorm, was leader of the hird, at the head of the government, and commander
(`hertogi') of the army. After Halfdan the Black's death, many chiefs coveted the dominions he had left. Among these King
Gandalf was the first; then Hogne and Frode, sons of Eystein, king of Hedemark; and also Hogne Karuson came from Ringerike.
Hake, the son of Gandalf, began with an expedition of 300 men against Vestfold, marched by the main road through some valleys,
and expected to come suddenly upon King Harald; while his father Gandalf sat at home with his army, and prepared to cross over the
fiord into Vestfold. When Duke Guthorm heard of this he gathered an army, and marched up the country with King Harald against
Hake. They met in a valley, in which they fought a great battle, and King Harald was victorious; and there fell King Hake and most
of his people. The place has since been called Hakadale. Then King Harald and Duke Guthorm turned back, but they found King
Gandalf had come to Vestfold. The two armies marched against each other, and met, and had a great battle; and it ended in King
Gandalf flying, after leaving most of his men dead on the spot, and in that state he came back to his kingdom. Now when the sons
of King Eystein in Hedemark heard the news, they expected the war would come upon them, and they sent a message to Hogne Karuson
and to Herse Gudbrand, and appointed a meeting with them at Ringsaker in Hedemark.

ENDNOTES:
(1) The first twenty chapters of this saga refer to Harald's youth and his conquest of Norway. This portion of the saga
is of great importance to the Icelanders, as the settlement of their Isle was a result of Harald's wars. The second
part of the saga (chaps. 21-46) treats of the disputes between Harald's sons, of the jarls of Orkney, and of the
jarls of More. With this saga we enter the domain of history. -- Ed.


2. KING HARALD OVERCOMES FIVE KINGS.

After the battle King Harald and Guthorm turned back, and went with all the men they could gather through the forests towards
the Uplands. They found out where the Upland kings had appointed their meeting-place, and came there about the time of midnight,
without the watchmen observing them until their army was before the door of the house in which Hogne Karuson was, as well as that
in which Gudbrand slept. They set fire to both houses; but King Eystein's two sons slipped out with their men, and fought for a
while, until both Hogne and Frode fell. After the fall of these four chiefs, King Harald, by his relation Guthorm's success and
powers, subdued Hedemark, Ringerike, Gudbrandsdal, Hadeland, Thoten, Raumarike, and the whole northern part of Vingulmark.
King Harald and Guthorm had thereafter war with King Gandalf, and fought several battles with him; and in the last of them King
Gandalf was slain, and King Harald took the whole of his kingdom as far south as the river Raum.


3. OF GYDA, DAUGHTER OF EIRIE.

King Harald sent his men to a girl called Gyda, daughter of King Eirik of Hordaland, who was brought up as foster-child in the
house of a great bonde in Valdres. The king wanted her for his concubine; for she was a remarkably handsome girl, but of high
spirit withal. Now when the messengers came there, and delivered their errand to the girl, she answered, that she would not throw
herself away even to take a king for her husband, who had no greater kingdom to rule over than a few districts. "And
methinks," said she, "it is wonderful that no king here in Norway will make the whole country subject to him, in the same way as
Gorm the Old did in Denmark, or Eirik at Upsala." The messengers thought her answer was dreadfully haughty, and asked what she
thought would come of such an answer; for Harald was so mighty a man, that his invitation was good enough for her. But although
she had replied to their errand differently from what they wished, they saw no chance, on this occasion, of taking her with
them against her will; so they prepared to return. When they were ready, and the people followed them out, Gyda said to the
messengers, "Now tell to King Harald these my words. I will only agree to be his 1awful wife upon the condition that he shall
first, for my sake, subject to himself the whole of Norway, so that he may rule over that kingdom as freely and fully as King
Eirik over the Swedish dominions, or King Gorm over Denmark; for only then, methinks, can he be called the king of a people."


4. KING HARALD'S VOW.

Now came the messengers back to King Harald, bringing him the words of the girl, and saying she was so bold and foolish that
she well deserved that the king should send a greater troop of people for her, and inflict on her some disgrace. Then answered
the king, "This girl has not spoken or done so much amiss that she should be punished, but rather she should be thanked for her
words. She has reminded me," said he, "of something which it appears to me wonderful I did not think of before. And now,"
added he, "I make the solemn vow, and take God to witness, who made me and rules over all things, that never shall I clip or
comb my hair until I have subdued the whole of Norway, with scat (1), and duties, and domains; or if not, have died in the
attempt." Guthorm thanked the king warmly for his vow; adding, that it was royal work to fulfil royal words.

ENDNOTES:
(1) Scat was a land-tax, paid to the king in money, malt, meal, or flesh-meat, from all lands, and was adjudged by the Thing
to each king upon his accession, and being proposed and accepted as king.


5. THE BATTLE IN ORKADAL.

After this the two relations gather together a great force, and prepare for an expedition to the Uplands, and northwards up the
valley (Gudbrandsdal), and north over Dovrefjeld; and when the king came down to the inhabited land he ordered all the men to be
killed, and everything wide around to be delivered to the flames. And when the people came to know this, they fled every one where
he could; some down the country to Orkadal, some to Gaulardal, some to the forests. But some begged for peace, and obtained it,
on condition of joining the king and becoming his men. He met no opposition until he came to Orkadal. There a crowd of people had
assembled, and he had his first battle with a king called Gryting. Harald won the victory, and King Gryting was made
prisoner, and most of his people killed. He took service himself under the king, and swore fidelity to him. Thereafer all the
people in Orkadal district went under King Harald, and became his men.


6. KING HARALD S LAWS FOR LAND PROPERTY.

King Harald made this law over all the lands he conquered, that all the udal property should belong to him; and that the bondes,
both great and small, should pay him land dues for their possessions. Over every district he set an earl to judge
according to the law of the land and to justice, and also to collect the land dues and the fines; and for this each earl
received a third part of the dues, and services, and fines, for the support of his table and other expenses. Each earl had under
him four or more herses, each of whom had an estate of twenty marks yearly income bestowed on him and was bound to support
twenty men-at-arms, and the earl sixty men, at their own expenses. The king had increased the land dues and burdens so
much, that each of his earls had greater power and income than the kings had before; and when that became known at Throndhjem,
many great men joined the king and took his service.


7. BATTLE IN GAULARDAL.

It is told that Earl Hakon Grjotgardson came to King Harald from Yrjar, and brought a great crowd of men to his service. Then
King Harald went into Gaulardal, and had a great battle, in which he slew two kings, and conquered their dominions; and these were
Gaulardal district and Strind district. He gave Earl Hakon Strind district to rule over as earl. King Harald then proceeded
to Stjoradal, and had a third battle, in which he gained the victory, and took that district also. There upon the Throndhjem
people assembled, and four kings met together with their troops. The one ruled over Veradal, the second over Skaun, third over the
Sparbyggja district, and the fourth over Eyin Idre (Inderoen); and this latter had also Eyna district. These four kings marched
with their men against King Harald, but he won the battle; and some of these kings fell, and some fled. In all, King Harald
fought at the least eight battles, and slew eight kings, in the Throndhjem district, and laid the whole of it under him.


8. HARALD SEIZES NAUMUDAL DISTRICT.

North in Naumudal were two brothers, kings, -- Herlaug and Hrollaug; and they had been for three summers raising a mound or
tomb of stone and lime and of wood. Just as the work was finished, the brothers got the news that King Harald was coming
upon them with his army. Then King Herlaug had a great quantity of meat and drink brought into the mound, and went into it
himself, with eleven companions, and ordered the mound to be covered up. King Hrollaug, on the contrary, went upon the summit
of the mound, on which the kings were wont to sit, and made a throne to be erected, upon which he seated himself. Then he
ordered feather-beds to be laid upon the bench below, on which the earls were wont to be seated, and threw himself down from his
high seat or throne into the earl's seat, giving himself the title of earl. Now Hrollaug went to meet King Harald, gave up to
him his whole kingdom, offered to enter into his service, and told him his whole proceeding. Then took King Harald a sword,
fastened it to Hrollaug's belt, bound a shield to his neck, and made him thereupon an earl, and led him to his earl's seat; and
therewith gave him the district Naumudal, and set him as earl over it ((A.D. 866)). (1)

ENDNOTES:
(1) Before writing was in general use, this symbolical way of performing all important legal acts appears to have entered
into the jurisprudence of all savage nations; and according to Gibbon, chap. 44, "the jurisprudence of the first Romans
exhibited the scenes of a pantomime; the words were adapted to the gestures, and the slightest error or neglect in the
forms of proceeding was sufficient to annul the substance of the fairest claims." -- Ed.


9. KING HARALD'S HOME AFFAIRS.

King Harald then returned to Throndhjem, where he dwelt during the winter, and always afterwards called it his home. He fixed
here his head residence, which is called Lade. This winter he took to wife Asa, a daughter of Earl Hakon Grjotgardson, who then
stood in great favour and honour with the king. In spring the king fitted out his ships. In winter he had caused a great
frigate (a dragon) to be built, and had it fitted-out in the most splendid way, and brought his house-troops and his berserks on
board. The forecastle men were picked men, for they had the king's banner. From the stem to the mid-hold was called rausn,
or the fore-defence; and there were the berserks. Such men only were received into King Harald's house-troop as were remarkable
for strength, courage, and all kinds of dexterity; and they alone got place in his ship, for he had a good choice of house-troops
from the best men of every district. King Harald had a great army, many large ships, and many men of might followed him.
Hornklofe, in his poem called "Glymdrapa", tells of this; and also that King Harald had a battle with the people of Orkadal, at
Opdal forest, before he went upon this expedition.

"O'er the broad heath the bowstrings twang,
While high in air the arrows sang.
The iron shower drives to flight
The foeman from the bloody fight.
The warder of great Odin's shrine,
The fair-haired son of Odin's line,
Raises the voice which gives the cheer,
First in the track of wolf or bear.
His master voice drives them along
To Hel -- a destined, trembling throng;
And Nokve's ship, with glancing sides,
Must fly to the wild ocean's tides. --
Must fly before the king who leads
Norse axe-men on their ocean steeds."


10. BATTLE AT SOLSKEL

King Harald moved out with his army from Throndhjem, and went southwards to More. Hunthiof was the name of the king who ruled
over the district of More. Solve Klofe was the name of his son, and both were great warriors. King Nokve, who ruled over
Raumsdal, was the brother of Solve's mother. Those chiefs gathered a great force when they heard of King Harald, and came
against him. They met at Solskel, and there was a great battle, which was gained by King Harald (A.D. 867). Hornklofe tells of this battle: --

"Thus did the hero known to fame,
The leader of the shields, whose name
Strikes every heart with dire dismay,
Launch forth his war-ships to the fray.
Two kings he fought; but little strife
Was needed to cut short their life.
A clang of arms by the sea-shore, --
And the shields' sound was heard no more."

The two kings were slain, but Solve escaped by flight; and King Harald laid both districts under his power. He stayed here long
in summer to establish law and order for the country people, and set men to rule them, and keep them faithful to him; and in
autumn he prepared to return northwards to Throndhjem. Ragnvald Earl of More, a son of Eystein Glumra, had the summer before
become one of Harald's men; and the king set him as chief over these two districts, North More and Raumsdal; strengthened him
both with men of might and bondes, and gave him the help of ships to defend the coast against enemies. He was called
Ragnvald the Mighty, or the Wise; and people say both names suited him well. King Harald came back to Throndhjem about winter.


11. FALL OF KINGS ARNVID AND AUDBJORN.

The following spring (A.D. 868) King Harald raised a great force in Throndhjem, and gave out that he would proceed to South More.
Solve Klofe had passed the winter in his ships of war, plundering in North More, and had killed many of King Harald's men;
pillaging some places, burning others, and making great ravage; but sometimes he had been, during the winter, with his friend
King Arnvid in South More. Now when he heard that King Harald was come with ships and a great army, he gathered people, and was
strong in men-at-arms; for many thought they had to take vengeance of King Harald. Solve Klofe went southwards to
Firdafylke (the Fjord district), which King Audbjorn ruled over, to ask him to help, and join his force to King Arnvid's and his
own. "For," said he, "it is now clear that we all have but one course to take; and that is to rise, all as one man, against King
Harald, for we have strength enough, and fate must decide the victory; for as to the other condition of becoming his servants,
that is no condition for us, who are not less noble than Harald. My father thought it better to fall in battle for his kingdom,
than to go willingly into King Harald's service, or not to abide the chance of weapons like the Naumudal kings." King Solve's
speech was such that King Audbjorn promised his help, and gathered a great force together and went with it to King Arnvid,
and they had a great army. Now, they got news that King Harald was come from the north, and they met within Solskel. And it was
the custom to lash the ships together, stem to stem; so it was done now. King Harald laid his ship against King Arnvid's, and
there was the sharpest fight, and many men fell on both sides. At last King Harald was raging with anger, and went forward to
the fore-deck, and slew so dreadfully that all the forecastle men of Arnvid's ship were driven aft of the mast, and some fell.
Thereupon Harald boarded the ship, and King Arnvid's men tried to save themselves by flight, and he himself was slain in his ship.
King Audbjorn also fell; but Solve fled. So says Hornklofe: --

"Against the hero's shield in vain
The arrow-storm fierce pours its rain.
The king stands on the blood-stained deck,
Trampling on many a stout foe's neck;
And high above the dinning stound
Of helm and axe, and ringing sound
Of blade and shield, and raven's cry,
Is heard his shout of `Victory!'"

Of King Harald's men, fell his earls Asgaut and Asbjorn, together with his brothers-in-law, Grjotgard and Herlaug, the sons of Earl
Hakon of Lade. Solve became afterwards a great sea-king, and often did great damage in King Harald's dominions.


12. KING VEMUND BURNT TO DEATH.

After this battle (A.D. 868) King Harald subdued South More; but Vemund, King Audbjorn's brother, still had Firdafylke. It was
now late in harvest, and King Harald's men gave him the counsel not to proceed south-wards round Stad. Then King Harald set Earl
Ragnvald over South and North More and also Raumsdal, and he had many people about him. King Harald returned to Throndhjem. The
same winter (A.D. 869) Ragnvald went over Eid, and southwards to the Fjord district. There he heard news of King Vemund, and came
by night to a place called Naustdal, where King Vemund was living in guest-quarters. Earl Ragnvald surrounded the house in which
they were quartered, and burnt the king in it, together with ninety men. The came Berdlukare to Earl Ragnvald with a complete
armed long-ship, and they both returned to More. The earl took all the ships Vemund had, and all the goods he could get hold of.
Berdlukare proceeded north to Throndhjem to King Harald, and became his man; and dreadful berserk he was.


13. DEATH OF EARLS HAKON, AND ATLE MJOVE.

The following spring (A.D. 869) King Harald went southwards with his fleet along the coast, and subdued Firdafylke. Then he
sailed eastward along the land until he came to Vik; but he left Earl Hakon Grjotgardson behind, and set him over the Fjord
district. Earl Hakon sent word to Earl Atle Mjove that he should leave Sogn district, and be earl over Gaular district, as he had
been before, alleging that King Harald had given Sogn district to him. Earl Atle sent word that he would keep both Sogn district
and Gaular district, until he met King Harald. The two earls quarreled about this so long, that both gathered troops. They
met at Fialar, in Stavanger fiord, and had a great battle, in which Earl Hakon fell, and Earl Atle got a mortal wound, and his
men carried him to the island of Atley, where he died. So says Eyvind Skaldaspiller: --

"He who stood a rooted oak,
Unshaken by the swordsman's stroke,
Amidst the whiz of arrows slain,
Has fallen upon Fjalar's plain.
There, by the ocean's rocky shore,
The waves are stained with the red gore
Of stout Earl Hakon Grjotgard's son,
And of brave warriors many a one."


14. HARALD AND THE SWEDISH KING EIRIK.

King Harald came with his fleet eastward to Viken and landed at Tunsberg, which was then a trading town. He had then been four
years in Throndhjem, and in all that time had not been in Viken. Here he heard the news that Eirik Eymundson, king of Sweden, had
laid under him Vermaland, and was taking scat or land-tax from all the forest settlers; and also that he called the whole
country north to Svinasund, and west along the sea, West Gautland; and which altogether he reckoned to his kingdom, and
took land-tax from it. Over this country he had set an earl, by name Hrane Gauzke, who had the earldom between Svinasund and the
Gaut river, and was a mighty earl. And it was told to King Harald that the Swedish king said he would not rest until he had
as great a kingdom in Viken as Sigurd Hring, or his son Ragnar Lodbrok, had possessed; and that was Raumarike and Vestfold, all
the way to the isle Grenmar, and also Vingulmark, and all that lay south of it. In all these districts many chiefs, and many
other people, had given obedience to the Swedish king. King Harald was very angry at this, and summoned the bondes to a Thing
at Fold, where he laid an accusation against them for treason towards him. Some bondes defended themselves from the
accusation, some paid fines, some were punished. He went thus through the whole district during the summer, and in harvest he
did the same in Raumarike, and laid the two districts under his power. Towards winter he heard that Eirik king of Sweden was,
with his court, going about in Vermaland in guest-quarters.


15. HARALD AT A FEAST OF THE PEASANT AKE.

King Harald takes his way across the Eid forest eastward, and comes out in Vermaland, where he also orders feasts to be
prepared for himself. There was a man by name Ake, who was the greatest of the bondes of Vermaland, very rich, and at that time
very aged. He sent men to King Harald, and invited him to a feast, and the king promised to come on the day appointed. Ake
invited also King Eirik to a feast, and appointed the same day. Ake had a great feasting hall, but it was old; and he made a new
hall, not less than the old one, and had it ornamented in the most splendid way. The new hall he had hung with new hangings,
but the old had only its old ornaments. Now when the kings came to the feast, King Eirik with his court was taken into the old
hall; but Harald with his followers into the new. The same difference was in all the table furniture, and King Eirik and his
men had the old-fashioned vessels and horns, but all gilded and splendid; while King Harald and his men had entirely new vessels
and horns adorned with gold, all with carved figures, and shining like glass; and both companies had the best of liquor. Ake the
bonde had formerly been King Halfdan the Black s man. Now when daylight came, and the feast was quite ended, and the kings made
themselves ready for their journey, and the horses were saddled, came Ake before King Harald, leading in his hand his son Ubbe, a
boy of twelve years of age, and said, "If the goodwill I have shown to thee, sire, in my feast, be worth thy friendship, show
it hereafter to my son. I give him to thee now for thy service." The king thanked him with many agreeable words for his friendly
entertainment, and promised him his full friendship in return. Then Ake brought out great presents, which he gave to the king,
and they gave each other thereafter the parting kiss. Ake went next to the Swedish king, who was dressed and ready for the road,
but not in the best humour. Ake gave to him also good and valuable gifts; but the king answered only with few words, and
mounted his horse. Ake followed the king on the road and talked with him. The road led through a wood which was near to the
house; and when Ake came to the wood, the king said to him, "How was it that thou madest such a difference between me and King
Harald as to give him the best of everything, although thou knowest thou art my man?" "I think" answered Ake, "that there
failed in it nothing, king, either to you or to your attendants, in friendly entertainment at this feast. But that all the
utensils for your drinking were old, was because you are now old; but King Harald is in the bloom of youth, and therefore I gave
him the new things. And as to my being thy man, thou art just as much my man." On this the king out with his sword, and gave Ake
his deathwound. King Harald was ready now also to mount his horse, and desired that Ake should be called. The people went to
seek him; and some ran up the road that King Eirik had taken, and found Ake there dead. They came back, and told the news to King
Harald, and he bids his men to be up, and avenge Ake the bonde. And away rode he and his men the way King Eirik had taken, until
they came in sight of each other. Each for himself rode as hard as he could, until Eirik came into the wood which divides
Gautland and Vermaland. There King Harald wheels about, and returns to Vermaland, and lays the country under him, and kills
King Eirik's men wheresoever he can find them. In winter King Harald returned to Raumarike, and dwelt there a while.


16. HARALD'S JOURNEY TO TUNSBERG.

King Harald went out in winter to his ships at Tunsberg, rigged them, and sailed away eastward over the fiord, and subjected all
Vingulmark to his dominion. All winter he was out with his ships, and marauded in Ranrike; so says Thorbjorn Hornklofe: --

"The Norseman's king is on the sea,
Tho' bitter wintry cold it be. --
On the wild waves his Yule keeps he.
When our brisk king can get his way,
He'll no more by the fireside stay
Than the young sun; he makes us play
The game of the bright sun-god Frey.
But the soft Swede loves well the fire
The well-stuffed couch, the doway glove,
And from the hearth-seat will not move."

The Gautlanders gathered people together all over the country.


17. THE BATTLE IN GAUTLAND.

In spring, when the ice was breaking up, the Gautlanders drove stakes into the Gaut river to hinder King Harald with his ships
from coming to the land. But King Harald laid his ships alongside the stakes, and plundered the country, and burnt all around; so says Horn klofe: --

"The king who finds a dainty feast,
For battle-bird and prowling beast,
Has won in war the southern land
That lies along the ocean's strand.
The leader of the helmets, he
Who leads his ships o'er the dark sea,
Harald, whose high-rigged masts appear
Like antlered fronts of the wild deer,
Has laid his ships close alongside
Of the foe's piles with daring pride."

Afterwards the Gautlanders came down to the strand with a great army, and gave battle to King Harald, and great was the fall of men.
But it was King Harald who gained the day. Thus says Hornklofe: --

"Whistles the battle-axe in its swing
O'er head the whizzing javelins sing,
Helmet and shield and hauberk ring;
The air-song of the lance is loud,
The arrows pipe in darkening cloud;
Through helm and mail the foemen feel
The blue edge of our king's good steel
Who can withstand our gallant king?
The Gautland men their flight must wing."


18. HRANE GAUZKE'S DEATH.

King Harald went far and wide through Gautland, and many were the battles he fought there on both sides of the river, and in
general he was victorious. In one of these battles fell Hrane Gauzke; and then the king took his whole land north of the river
and west of the Veneren, and also Vermaland. And after he turned back there-from, he set Duke Guthorm as chief to defend the
country, and left a great force with him. King Harald himself went first to the Uplands, where he remained a while, and then
proceeded northwards over the Dovrefjeld to Trondhjem, where he dwelt for a long time. Harald began to have children. By Asa he
had four sons. The eldest was Guthorm. Halfdan the Black and Halfdan the White were twins. Sigfrod was the fourth. They were
all brought up in Trondhjem with all honour.


19. BATTLE IN HAFRSFJORD.

News came in from the south land that the people of Hordaland and Rogaland, Agder and Telemark, were gathering, and bringing
together ships and weapons, and a great body of men. The leaders of this were Eirik king of Hordaland; Sulke king of Rogaland, and
his brother Earl Sote: Kjotve the Rich, king of Agder, and his son Thor Haklang; and from Telemark two brothers, Hroald Hryg
and Had the Hard. Now when Harald got certain news of this, he assembled his forces, set his ships on the water, made himself
ready with his men, and set out southwards along the coast, gathering many people from every district. King Eirik heard of
this when he same south of Stad; and having assembled all the men he could expect, he proceeded southwards to meet the force which
he knew was coming to his help from the east. The whole met together north of Jadar, and went into Hafersfjord, where King
Harald was waiting with his forces. A great battle began, which was both hard and long; but at last King Harald gained the day.
There King Eirik fell, and King Sulke, with his brother Earl Sote. Thor Haklang, who was a great berserk, had laid his ship
against King Harald's, and there was above all measure a desperate attack, until Thor Haklang fell, and his whole ship was
cleared of men. Then King Kjotve fled to a little isle outside, on which there was a good place of strength. Thereafter all his
men fled, some to their ships, some up to the land; and the latter ran southwards over the country of Jadar. So says Hornklove, viz.: --

"Has the news reached you? -- have you heard
Of the great fight at Hafersfjord,
Between our noble king brave Harald
And King Kjotve rich in gold?
The foeman came from out the East,
Keen for the fray as for a feast.
A gallant sight it was to see
Their fleet sweep o'er the dark-blue sea:
Each war-ship, with its threatening throat
Of dragon fierce or ravenous brute (1)
Grim gaping from the prow; its wales
Glittering with burnished shields, (2) like scales
Its crew of udal men of war,
Whose snow-white targets shone from far
And many a mailed spearman stout
From the West countries round about,
English and Scotch, a foreign host,
And swordamen from the far French coast.

# Abbrev: The Saga Library
Title: The Saga Library
REFN: 61
TYPE: ROOTS III
_MASTER: Y
# Abbrev: Norwegian Encyclopedia
Title: Aschehougs Konversasjons Leksikon
REFN: 61
TYPE: ROOTS III
_MASTER: Y
# Abbrev: History of the Vikings
Title: A History of the Vikings
# Abbrev: Hagen.GED
Title: GEDCOM file imported on 26 Jul 1999.
Author: Greg Hagen


    Harold I (ca. 840-933), the first king of Norway, reigned from 860 to 930. He became the ideal for unification at the time of his great-grandson Olaf I Tryggvason.

Harold Haarfarer ("Fairhair") was a catalyst in his day and place. On the death of his father, Halfdan the Black in 860, Harold succeeded to the sovereignty of several small and somewhat scattered kingdoms which had come into his father's hands through conquest and inheritance. After his father's accidental death by drowning, his mother's brother, Guthorm, held his father's enemies at bay.

Harold was a man of legends. His mother, Ragnhild, perceived his rise to power from a thorn. The daughter of a neighboring king induced Harold to take a vow not to cut or comb his hair until he was the sole ruler of Norway. Two years later he was justified in trimming it, and henceforth he was known as "Fairhair" rather than "Shockhead."

From his ancestral lands in southeast Norway, Harold began in 866 a series of conquests over the many petty kingdoms which Norway then comprised. A smashing victory in 872 at Hafrisfjord near Stavanger made him king of the entire country. That battle was one of the most decisive battles in medieval Scandinavian history. There Harold met enemies from Iceland, the Orkneys, Shetlands, Hebrides, and Faeroes and from Scotland who were aided by malcontents who opposed Harold's land taxes.

As Snorri Sturluson pointed out, Hafrisfjord did not make it possible for Harold to trim his hair with royal ease. Norway was not accustomed to one-man rule. When Harold gained power, he appropriated hereditary estates, and all farmers were taxed. He appointed a jarl in each shire (fylki) to administer law and justice and to collect fines, one-third reserved for the Crown.

Actually Harold's policies in some ways added to the power of the jarls. Landlords who supported him held their hereditary rights, and he used assemblies of the strong to confirm his position and his authority. Thus the power of the assembled congregations was enhanced. Wealthy in his own right, Harold adopted measures to strengthen coastal defenses by increasing ship service. During his reign the Scottish islands came under Norwegian rule.

The latter part of Harold's reign was troubled by strife among his sons, who numbered between 16 and 20. One, Haakon the Good, was fostered in England under Athelstan. To all Harold assigned titles, lands, and rights of governing in designated areas. Toward the end of his life, he bestowed supreme authority upon a child of his old age, Erik "Bloody Axe."

Harold was the greatest Viking warrior chief of the 9th century. He controlled trade and collected gifts from traders. He confiscated estates but recognized the rights of legislative assemblies. He withdrew support from the Vikings in Northumbria, England, and was the only heathen able to claim kingship of all Norway. Under him the old Viking civilization of the 9th century reached a climax. His ideal for a united Norway became imperishable.