 Harald Gille arrived in Norway from Ireland or the Hebrides and claimed to be the natural son of King Magnus Barefoot whose reign was marked by aggressive military campaigns and conquest, particularly in the Norse-dominated parts of the British Isles.From historical sources, his claim seems to have been based largely upon stories told by his mother and her family during his youth.Approximately from the accession of Harald to the throne, the civil war era in Norway ("Borgerkrigstida") lasted from 1130 to 1240.