 The "Strategikon" indicates that the ranks awarded to Harald were rather low, since Harald reportedly was "not angry for just having been appointed to "manglabites" or "spatharokandidatos"".According to his skald Tjodolv Arnorsson, Harald had participated in eighteen greater battles during his Byzantine service.Harald's favour at the imperial court quickly declined after the death of Michael IV in December 1041, which was followed by conflicts between the new emperor Michael V and the powerful empress Zoe.