old norse september given epithet roughly translated stern counsel hard ruler king norway addition unsuccessfully claimed danish throne english throne prior king spent years exile mercenary military commander byzantine_empire years old fought battle half brother later saint sought reclaim norwegian throne lost danish king great years prior battle defeated forces loyal forced exile spent time army grand prince wise eventually obtaining rank captain moved constantinople companions constantinople soon rose commander saw action mediterranean_sea sicily possibly bulgaria constantinople involved imperial disputes amassed considerable wealth time byzantine_empire shipped finally left byzantines arrived order prepare campaign norwegian throne possibly knowledge absence norwegian throne restored illegitimate son good joined forces rival denmark king denmark denmark started raiding danish coast unwilling fight uncle agreed share turn share wealth rule ended abruptly year died sole ruler norway domestically crushed local regional opposition outlined territorial unification norway national governance reign probably relative peace stability instituted viable coin economy foreign trade probably seeking restore claimed danish throne spent nearly year raiding danish coast fighting ally campaigns successful able conquer denmark long claim denmark earl brother newly chosen english king pledged allegiance invited claim english throne went entered september raided coast defeated english regional forces near york initially successful defeated killed attack forces battle bridge modern historians considered death bridge brought end invasion end viking age commonly held great viking king great viking early life born norway possibly second husband petty king strongest wealthiest mother youngest later saint half brothers youth displayed traits typical rebel big ambitions admired role model differed older brothers similar father earth concerned maintaining farm particular claim like father great grandson king male line modern scholars believe ancestors attributed father parts reflecting political social expectations time authors centuries lifetime historical reality alleged descent mentioned played time odd considering provided significant legitimacy connection claim norwegian throne following revolt brother forced exile returned norway early hearing news planned return gathered men meet men arrival east norway friendly welcome went gather army eventually fight july took brother battle attempt restore norwegian throne captured danish king great battle resulted defeat brothers hands loyal killed badly wounded nonetheless remarked shown considerable military talent battle exile east defeat battle managed escape aid later earl remote farm stayed time heal wounds possibly month later north mountains sweden year arrived referred likely spent time town arriving half men welcomed grand prince wise wife distant relative badly need military leaders recognised military potential captain forces brother previously exile following revolt says embraced foremost brother took campaign poles possibly fought enemies rivals estonia byzantines people byzantine service years force men moved south capital byzantine_empire probably joined maintains sought royal identity secret sources agree men reputation known east time primarily meant function emperor bodyguard found fighting nearly frontier empire saw action campaigns arab pirates mediterranean inland towns asia minor supported pirates time according leader byzantines pushed arabs asia minor took campaigns went far east according recounted participated capture eighty arab strongholds number historians particular reason question holding independent command army imply unlikely times sent capture castle town years reign byzantine emperor probably fought campaigns reported gone jerusalem fought battles area place expedition sicily historian questioned chronology trip military peaceful nature depend took place peace treaty reality mother originally byzantine christian minor considered unlikely modern historians speculated party sent escort pilgrims jerusalem possibly including members imperial family following peace agreement agreed byzantines allowed repair furthermore turn presented opportunities fight preyed christian pilgrims joined byzantines expedition sicily attempt island established island campaign fought alongside norman mercenaries according captured towns sicily byzantine expedition sicily revolt erupted southern italy led multiple battles fought italy initial success led ally defeated byzantines battle march battle defeat called constantinople following imprisonment emperor onset pressing issues sent fight bulgaria arrived late fought army campaign bulgarian uprising led later gained nickname affected conflict received honours respect return constantinople greek book written said won favour emperor book says byzantine emperor appointed possibly identified title soldier imperial guard campaign following campaign served distinction received rank identified promotion possibly highest byzantine rank lesser rank awarded foreign allies emperor indicates ranks awarded low reportedly angry having appointed according participated eighteen greater battles byzantine service favour imperial court quickly declined death december followed conflicts new emperor powerful empress turmoil arrested imprisoned sources disagree grounds state arrested emperor treasure requesting marriage apparently fictional niece granddaughter called maria suit supposedly turned empress wanted marry william states arrested noble woman according imprisoned murder suggests new emperor feared loyalty previous emperor sources disagree got prison helped outside escape midst revolt begun new emperor helped guard emperor leader supported revolt emperor end dragged sanctuary blinded exiled monastery claim blinded claimed extremely rich time east secured wealth collected constantinople shipments wise acting fortune note aside significant battle retained participated times loosely translated palace term implies palace death emperor funds new emperor order ensure loyalty likely money serving constantinople allowed fund claim crown norway participated times occasions deaths opportunities legitimate revenues carry immense wealth restored throne june requested allowed return norway refused allow managed escape ships loyal followers second ship destroyed byzantine cross iron chains ship sailed safely black_sea successfully barrier despite loyalty love empire reportedly maintained returned norway king following escape constantinople arrived later second stay married referred scandinavian sources daughter wise granddaughter swedish king shortly arrival attacked constantinople considered likely provided valuable information state empire possible marriage agreed time acquainted service byzantine_empire composed love poem included verse goddess russia accept gold rings identifies claims remind promised marriage returned according source spoken time requesting marry rejected wealthy case significant allowed marry daughter children married figures henry france andrew hungary daughter constantine king norway return scandinavia seeking regain kingdom lost half brother began journey westwards early departing obtained ship journey went baltic_sea arrived sweden probably end early arrived sweden according ship heavy load gold absence throne norway restored good illegitimate son actually known reason wanted return norway place great sons chosen abandon norway instead fight england sons successors died young position king secured domestic threats recorded occurred year reign death left danish throne vacant addition selected king denmark managed defeat danish royal having heard defeat met fellow exile sweden nephew swedish king joined forces military exploit consisted raiding danish coast effort impress natives demonstrating offered protection leading submit learning actions knew target norway planned taken king father petty kingdom claim rest country case people unwilling turn hearing news schemes abroad time went home norway entire army instead going war advisors recommended young king fight uncle compromise reached rule norway denmark jointly precedence notably agree share half wealth time effectively bankrupt badly need funds short rule separate courts kept recorded meetings nearly ended physical clashes went denmark forces later year year rule died heir death decided inherit denmark inherit norway hearing news death quickly gathered local leaders norway declared king norway denmark appointed successor king denmark immediately announced plans gather army ally country response army headed opposed plans invading denmark objected bringing body norway norwegian army prepared transport body trondheim buried late opponent claimed follow dead better follow king alive wanted establish rule denmark long term probably sought restore great entirety proposal invade denmark fell year embarked turn constant warfare yearly similar campaigns rule denmark campaigns consisted swift violent raids danish coasts plundered jutland burned time important danish trade center best protected populous towns scandinavia civil town recovered destruction left completely remained looted slavic tribes conventional battles set fought kings later year according smaller army frightened approached chose jump water trying escape drowned victorious engagements successful occupying denmark second significant battle naval encounter august able conquer denmark despite raids wanted win decisive victory eventually set norway great army fleet ships prepared battle time place appear agreed time sent home non professional soldiers half forces dismissed ships reach fleet finally appeared possibly ships battle resulted great defeated danish ships reportedly left ships men managed escape including battle actively bow archer like early phase battle fatigue huge cost battles eventually led seek peace according kings agreed peace agreement agreement retained respective kingdoms boundaries payments subsequent winter travelled realm accused farmers taxes response acted brutality killed warning maintained control nation use private standing army maintained norwegian lords contribution strengthening norway monarchy enforcement policy king retain power away local domestic opposition according historian completed phase termed national territorial unification norway having forced way convince aristocracy right person rule norway establish domestic alliances married powerful norwegian families primary opposition rule descendants powerful dynasty controlled autonomy norwegian king ruled norway nominally danish king killed takeover death offspring held certain degree sovereignty north early reign family headed married daughter family maintained good relations consolidation soon led conflict power struggle norwegian aristocracy got reputation gave nickname hard ruler relationship poor start confrontation occur went north court time arrived court display power accompanied men obviously seeking confrontation provoked incident sources differ circumstances event nonetheless led murder men threatened throw norway state civil war remaining descendants considered rebellion king eventually managed negotiate peace secured family submission remainder reign death son role base opposition definitely national kingdom joined distinguished battle gained favour reportedly considering title earl greatly upset later backed promise strong hold additionally given swedish king early entered collected taxes region effectively threatening renounce loyalty revolt farmers main reason finally willing enter peace agreement agreement went oslo sent tax collectors find farmers taxes arrived response entered sweden army quickly defeated facing opposition farmers embarked campaign crush areas withheld taxes remote location region interior country integrated norwegian king realm harsh measures burned farms small villages people killed starting campaign continued regions contained rich rural communities strengthened economic position farming estates end probably peace norway opposition killed chased exile policies reign marked background military commander solved disputes harsh force boasted broke settlements battles mediterranean largely focus war invasion england little said domestic policies modern historians taken sign despite reign peace progress norway considered instituted good economic policies developed norwegian currency viable coin economy turn allowed norway participate international trade initiated trade byzantine_empire connections scotland ireland according later founded oslo spent time continued advance christianity norway archaeological excavations churches built improved reign imported bishops priests monks abroad especially byzantine_empire slightly different form christianity introduced norway rest northern europe noted east west taken place clergy ordained england france nonetheless caused controversy visited papal protests led throw catholic clergy court reportedly stated know archbishop lord norway king norwegian historian remarked words spoken byzantine possible maintained contacts byzantine emperors king suggest background church policies northern returned norway displayed interest exploring realm instance recounts trip said explored seas kingdom contemporary adam bremen reports naval expeditions conducted kelly suggested known sought legendary land called viking sailors discovered short time adam mentions earlier passage widely reported denmark norway hand proposed land reached background preparations truce recognition conquer denmark turned attention england england belonged son great died childless based claim throne england agreement stated died inherit throne lands deceased died assumed crown denmark considered heir edward crowned english king absence planned invade england forced turn fleet denmark uprising threat temporarily death edward negotiations enemies gave william normandy impression possible heir edward edward died january dismay succeeded son edward advisors son previously involved war english king norwegian fleet possibly indicating tested situation england long invasion find simultaneously war denmark england edward death allied brother deprived edward according sources asked assist invading england turning according finally pledged support including majority meeting norway historians doubt meeting took place william claims pledge support met indicate invasion originally plan joining forces merely later agreement met time scotland proposal historians meeting place norway instead early supporters fellow exile correct allow agreement norway personal meeting taken place britain mentions men claimed sent norway remained france plans invasion case completed start september possibly begun march april brought daughters son left sure oldest son hailed king gathering fleet departed norway august landed norwegian control places joined important lords soldiers including paul went met ally scotland according sources allocated couple thousand scottish soldiers according contemporary sources met september total force men mere ships soldiers mentioned accounted john worcester departed exile flanders june raided villages southern coast britain gathered large army response sailed north meet remained south expectation invasion william normandy long time openly claimed english throne invasion battle bridge embarking probably landed entered cleveland started coast encountered resistance demand surrender opposed end resorted burning town action led towns surrendering raiding sailed news invasion soon reached fought invading army miles south york battle september battle decisive victory led york surrender forces september time scandinavian army defeated english forces day york surrendered arrived army seven miles anchored norwegian fleet probably scouted norwegian fleet preparing surprise attack left forces york marched right town bridge early september departed landing place forces left forces brought light armour expected meet citizens york agreed day bridge decide manage town saw forces approaching heavily armed armoured greatly according non saga sources english forces held bridge time single norwegian allowing shield wall formation army end heavily beaten struck throat arrow killed early battle state having worn body armour fought aggressively hands sword battle reserve forces led finally appeared exhausted run way picked fallen banner initiated final counter attack moment appeared breach english line suddenly killed left rest men flee battlefield left battle allowed return home peacefully english forces son sources state remaining army filled ships return norway likely number accounts norwegian forces forces scotland probably remained battle paul certainly known stationed entire time counted traditional figure victory short lived weeks later defeated battle hastings fact forced march fight bridge speed south meet norman invasion weeks widely seen primary factor william victory hastings personal life described physically larger men stronger said light hair beard long upper beard somewhat higher situated reportedly big hands feet measure height known description physical appearance actually represents historical facts tall stature story relates battle bridge offered feet ground england seeing taller men according feet english ground seven feet taller men according composed poetry according composing poetry normal norwegian kings showed decided talent according poem mastered number activities considered sports including addition poetry horse riding swimming skiing shooting rowing playing state took break siege town enjoy sports regards religion according religious christianity publicly close influenced eastern christian culture russia byzantine_empire having spent life clearly interested advancing christianity norway seen continued building improvement churches reign despite notes personal morality appears matched christian ideal citing marriage arrangements issue married unknown number possibly children according daughters married future denmark death future maria died september promised away marriage brother reportedly died day died bridge according married modern historians disputed case marriage married nonetheless possible marriage place norway 11th century wives noted held title queen children reigned king norway iii reigned king norway legacy burial year death bridge body moved norway buried trondheim years burial body demolished 17th century september anniversary death newspaper published article poor state norway ancient royal burial sites including reportedly located underneath road built monastery site follow article september municipality trondheim revealed examining possibility king currently burial place norwegian kings good predecessor successor respectively month later reported proposal king scrapped modern memorials monuments raised honour oslo city traditionally held founded bronze relief granite depicting horseback raised named square large relief horseback unveiled western façade fiction appears number historical fiction books second conquest trilogy tells life voice serves protagonist children books swords appears protagonist trilogy viking byzantium chronicles career byzantine_empire alternative history book gold marine features key figure follows acquiring lost treasures service makes appearances film portrayed episode bbc series titled explores background unorthodox departure constantinople featured music finnish folk metal band song great escape addition followed loosely story albums stand fight
Harald Hardrada