Harald Hardrada

Harald Hardrada Is a very important person in Norse history. Not only for what he did, but for what he failed to do. In fact the battle he is most remembered for is one he lost, and in fact died in. He is known to history as the King who ended the Viking age.

Harald Sigurdsson was born in 1016 the half brother of Olaf the II ,King of norway. In 1030 after the battle of stikestad, in which Olaf was killed and Harald wounded, he went to the Russian court, where he gathered a number of followers. He then took his followers to Constantinople, or "the great Miklagard" where he offered himself and his troops as part of the varangian guard. This was an elite bodyguard unite for the emperor made up exclusively of Norsemen. After serving with the Byzantines and the Greeks he went and harried the coast of the Mediterranean sea. He took over 80 castles and exacted tribute from many cities.

So, what happened in 1066 to make this formerly heroic and epic leader a tragic hero?
The battle of Stamford bridge. Harald thought he had a pretty strong case for the throne of England in that fateful year. Also ,he was supported by Tosti Godwinson, the brother of Harold Godwinson who the Witangemot had proclaimed king. Tosti had been stripped of his lands by Edward the confessor a few years previously because of a revolt, and he sided against his brother in an attempt to get his lands back. Harald Hardrata took 360 ships full of men to claim the English throne that fateful day. They succesfully captured the city of York, which had been the capital of a danish kingdom under Knut or Canute, a distant relative of Hardrata. The vikings arranged for a tribute and a hostage exchange the next day from the men of York. As Hardrata and his men lay about in the meadow above Stamford Bridge sunning themselves the other Harold, Godwinson, was marching his army into the pages of history. Hardrata's army had left their chain mail armor behind at the ships and did not expect any more resitance when a dust cloud in the distance signaled Godwinson's arrival whith his entire army. Hardrata's army put up a good fight, including a legendary ,but unnamed, warrior who single handed held the bridge while Hardrata arranged the rest of his men into a battle line. Hardrata was killed by an arrow in the throat. Tostig was also killed in the battle. yet the vikings heroically fought on as they retreated to their ships. Only surrendering after reaching their ships and getting a promise of safe return to their homelands. Only 36 of the 360 ships were needed to transport the army home. They had suffered a 90% casualty rate yet had not surrendered until they reached their ships rather than be taken prisoner. That battle is considered the end of the viking age, for after that the Norse lands became more assimilated into the general European culture and engaged in trade more,and raiding less. Perhaps that is a fitting end for a culture that valued battle valour so much. The whole culture died valiantly in battle.


sources:
www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/MEDhardrada.htm
http://members.tripod.com/~GeoffBoxell/hardrada.htm