Modern historians have often considered Harald's death, which brought an end to his invasion, as the end of the Viking Age. Harald is also commonly held to have been the last great Viking king, or even the last great Viking It is the period of history when Scandinavian Norsemen explored Europe by its seas and ri Harold reigned from 6 January until his death at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the Conqueror during the Norma William I usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first Norman King of England, reigning from until his death in The descendant of Viking raiders, he had been Duke of Normandy since under the The year is synonymous with the Norman Conquest and the violent end of Anglo-Saxon rule in England.
His death is now regarded as marking the end of the Viking Age — but just who was this remarkable figure whose failed invasion of England has been overshadowed ever since by the exploits of William the Conqueror? The half-siblings fought to regain the throne for Olaf at the Battle of Stiklestad in , where Olaf himself was killed.
Harald was injured but managed to go on the run, feeling rather sorry for himself. It was the start of a new life as a wandering adventurer and warrior. He wound up in the Byzantine capital of Constantinople, which was the Rome, Paris, London or New York of its time: a sprawling, bustling, cosmopolitan metropolis of wealth and intrigue.
Here, Harald joined the Varangian Guard — an elite class of largely Norse fighters who protected the Byzantine. Read more about: Vikings Who were the Varangian Guard? Harald distinguished himself in the Varangian Guard, seeing action against pirates on the Mediterranean, and perhaps battling Arab forces as far east as Mesopotamia the region which encompasses the likes of Iraq and Syria.
Michael V was blinded and exiled to a monastery and Empress Zoe took the throne. In , Harald requested to return to Norway and although Zoe refused, he managed to escape with two ships and some loyal followers. During his time in the Byzantine Empire, Harald had amassed enormous wealth and upon his return Harald married Elisiv. In Harald looked to reclaim the Norwegian throne that Olaf had died fighting for. However instead of war a compromise was made through which Harald and Magnus would jointly rule Norway and Harald would share half of his sizeable wealth with the bankrupt Magnus.
In , within a year of co-rule, Magnus died with no heir. He willed Harald to be king of Norway and Sweyn of Denmark.
Harald was however not content and in the next two decades there was constant warfare between Harald and Sweyn over Denmark. Despite losing nearly every battle against Harald, Sweyn held on to Denmark. Fatigue and huge costs of these indecisive battles ultimately led to the two kings agreeing to unconditional peace in Harald remained king of Norway till his death in He was buried at the Mary Church in Nidaros, Norway.
Olaf died during this battle and Harald fled to eastern Norway before heading to Sweden and then out to Kievan Res, where he stayed with Yaroslav the wise who had helped his brother survive when he had been exiled. Quickly thought of as a renowned military leader, he became well respected by the Byzantines.
However, a breakdown in their relationship in saw Harald return to the north and is thought to have advised Yaroslav of how to exploit the weaknesses of his former allies. Having gained support across Sweden and Denmark, Harald headed to Norway and made a compromise with his nephew; they would share the rule of Norway if Harald shared his wealth.
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