Harald Hardrada: The Last Great Viking and Formidable Warrior of His Era

We commonly associate names like Ragnar Lodbrok, Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Erik the Red, and Eric “Bloodaxe” Haraldsson with the image of courageous and fearsome Viking warriors.

However, when it comes to the greatest Viking warrior of all, none can surpass the legendary King Harald Hardrada.

The formidable King Harald Hardrada stands as the epitome of Viking prowess, marking the culmination of an era dominated by fearsome warriors.

Harald Hardrada, the last great Viking, was renowned as the most feared warrior of his time, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

This extraordinary Viking lived a life of adventure, showcasing unparalleled courage and combat skills. His military leadership was evident in his roles within the Varangian Guard and Kievan Rus’.

He fought in the deadliest battles and traveled to distant lands where he met exotic and influential people.

Hardrada spent all his life as a professional soldier, and his reputation preceded him.

In the Icelandic Sagas, Viking Hardrada is portrayed as a great hero. Still, behind all the ancient legends, we find a very complex figure, a charismatic, daring, and resourceful man. Viking warrior Hardrada became a patron of poets, and he was known as the ‘feeder of ravens.’

Harald Hardrada – A Great Viking Warrior Is Born

The most comprehensive accounts of King Harald Hardrada’s life can be found in the thirteenth-century collections of sagas of the Norwegian kings, of which the most respected is the one known as Heimskringla and reliably attributed to the Icelandic historian, poet, and politician Snorri Sturluson (1179 – 1241).

German churchman Adam of Bremen also documented some of King Hardrada’s expeditions, but the cleric’s writings are hostile and far from objective. He does, however, confirm the great Viking’s military skills and warlike reputation when he refers to Hardrada as the ‘thunderbolt of the north.’

Born as Harald Sigurdsson in Ringerike, Norway, in 1015, he was the child of Åsta Gudbrandsdatter and her second husband Sigurd Syr, a king of Ringerike and one of the wealthiest chieftains of Upplands, the lands and forest regions to the north of Oslo in Norway. After his death, he was given the title “Hardrada,” which means “hard ruler.”

From her first marriage, Åsta Gudbrandsdatter was also the mother of King Olaf Haraldsson of Norway, who was later to become St. Olaf.

Hardrada admired his half-brother, King Olaf, very much, and it could not have been easy to see him die in a battle. This event was significant to Hardrada’s personal destiny and changed his life. Hardrada was loyal to his half-brother until the end.

Harald Hardrada Fought In The Battle Of Stiklestad When He Was 15 Years

When Hardrada was 15 years old, he engaged in his first battle under the command of his half-brother and hero, King Olaf.  Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla describes what happened during the war of Stiklestad, and one can say this was the beginning of Viking Hardrada’s military career.

In 1028, there was a revolt, and King Olaf lost the Norwegian throne to Cnut the Great, England’s Danish king and ruler of one of the largest Nordic Empires.

King Olaf, who had been baptized, did his best to convert Norway to Christianity. He also revived and revised the law code of Harald Fairhair, the king who united Norway into one kingdom in 872 AD. He affirmed his influence in the North Atlantic colonies, most notably in the jarldom of Orkney, and he prohibited plundering, but only within the country.

There is no doubt that King Olaf made many crucial changes, but his days numbered. Cnut the Great had other plans. He wanted to reclaim Norway’s throne, and King Olaf was forced into exile.

Two years later, in 1030, King Olaf returned to Norway with a force of more than fourteen hundred strong, and he was joined by Hardrada and his group of 700 hundred warriors. Together, they engaged the army of Cnut the Great, but the battle did not end well. King Olaf was killed, and Hardrada was severely wounded and forced to flee. Though he was only 15 years old, he showed excellent combat skills during the battle.

Snorri Sturluson described Harald Hardrada as physically “larger than other men and stronger.” His appearance must have been striking to some. He is said to have had light hair and beard, an extended “upper beard” (mustache), and one of his eyebrows was somewhat higher situated than the other. He reportedly had big hands and feet and could measure five ells in height.

Viking Hardrada Joins Kievan Rus And The Varangian Guard

Hardrada managed to cross the Baltic with other survivors of Olaf’s defeated army in one year. After arriving in Russia, he visited his distant relative Yaroslav I, Grand Prince of Rus, known as Yaroslav the Wise. 

The prince had helped King Olaf after the revolt. Needing skilled warriors, he employed Viking Hardrada, who became captain of the forces of Prince Yaroslav of Kievan Rus. Hardrada fought many battles for Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise.

After spending some years in Prince Yaroslav’s army, Hardrada left Kyiv with his warriors and traveled to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. ‘

His goal was to join the impressive Varangian Guard representing the elite heavy infantry regiment of the Roman (‘Byzantine’) Empire from AD 988 AD to around 1404 AD.

They were Vikings for hire who successfully conquered territories across the Empire. They fought in Crete, Italy, and Asia Minor.

These professional warriors were highly valued for their courage and loyalty; they also had high fighting skills and the ability to carry out commands efficiently and without unnecessary questions. Harald Hardrada joined the Varangian Guard. He was the best berserker who became the “leader over all the Varangians.” Berserkers (in Old Norse: ‘berserkr’) were Icelandic Viking warriors who feared enemies and even their battle companions

As commander, he fought in places as far apart as the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Sicily, and the Holy Land. He was a famous and respected military leader. Hardrada now had enough earnings to marry Yaroslav’s daughter Princess Elisaveta (Elisiv), something he could not do earlier because he was too poor.

Rich in combat experience and wealth, Hardrada returned to Scandinavia in 1046. He had carefully prepared his campaign of reclaiming the Norwegian throne. Cnut the Great had died, and Magnus I, also known as Magnus the Good, was now king of Norway.

Harada reached an agreement to share the rule of Norway with Magnus I. When Magnus I died, Harada became the sole King of Norway.

Harada was not happy with only being the king of Norway. He also wanted to rule Denmark, and he and his warriors plundered the country repeatedly. Still, the Danish King Svein Estridsson, who lost almost every battle against Harald, managed to stay in power. In 1064, Harald and Sweyn reached a peace agreement.

Knowing Denmark could not be his, the warrior King Hardrada sought new grounds that he and his men could conquer. Hardrada was now keeping his eye on England.

Battle At Stamford Bridge And The Death Of King Hardrada

After the death of Edward the Confessor, the English throne passed to Harold Godwinson. King Hardrada allied himself with Tostig Godwinson, Harold’s brother, who had been deprived of the earldom of Northumbria by Edward in 1065.

In 1066, Saxon troops of Mercia and Northumbria, commanded by brothers Earl Edwin and Earl Morcar, met a Norse army under King Harald Hardrada accompanied by Earl Tostig.

King Hardrada and William, Duke of Normandy, wanted the throne of England. William gathered a fleet and was ready to sail across the Channel to the south coast of England; Harald gathered an invasion force in the north. The Norman army had only 7,000 men. King Hardrada’s Viking warriors met the troops from Mercia and Northumbria, at Fulford, on the outskirts of York, and the battle took place.

It was a terrible fight in which the armies of Mercia and Northumbria were defeated. York surrendered to the invaders, and Harald did not enter the city but retired to Stamford Bridge to await the gathering of hostages from around the region.

It was a huge mistake. The Norse warriors had only five days to enjoy their victory at Fulford.

On 25 September, King Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, surprised Harald Hardrada of Norway at Stamford Bridge and defeated the Norsemen. Hardrada and Tostig were killed.

Harald Hardrada’s death was caused by an arrow that struck his neck. He was buried at the Mary Church in Nidaros, Norway.

In a way, it’s a bit ironic that a great warrior like Hardrada, who traveled to distant lands and fought in the deadliest battles, died after spending only a few days on British soil.

Mighty Warrior King Hardrada As A Person

With the death of King Hardrada, the Viking Age ended. Hardrada was a harsh ruler who often solved disputes with force, but his reign was one of peace and progress for Norway.

He advanced Christianity in Norway and built churches and imported bishops. He developed a Norwegian currency and viable coin economics. His contacts with the Byzantine Empire and Kyiv helped Norway to expand its international trade. King Hardrada also founded the capital, Oslo.

Harald Hardrada was the last great Viking.