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Harald I Haarfagre, King of
Norway ca.865-933, ( 853- 940)
Born circa 853
Died 940
Married Ragnhild Eiriksdatter
Married (3) Swanhild, daughter of Eynstein, Jarl
von Hedemarken
Married (4) Snefried, daughter of Svase
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He was surnamed Haarfagre (Fairhair), the first king over all of Norway,
succeeded on the death of his father Halfdan the Black in 860 to the sovereignty
of several small and somewhat scattered kingdoms, which had come into his
father's hands through conquest and inheritance and lay chiefly in south-east
Norway.
In 866 he made the first of a series of conquests over the many petty
kingdoms which then composed Norway; and after a great victory at Hafrsfjord
near Stavanger, he found himself king over the whole country. For many
years it was assumed (from Icelandic literature
'Snorre Sturlason') that the battle of Hafrsfjord took place in 872.
This is mentioned in several encyclopaediae. More recent research, however,
(e.g. a closer scrutinizing of the sagas of Snorre Sturlasson) indicate
that this battle must have taken place more closely to the year 900 (890-900).
His realm was, however, threatened by dangers from without, as large
numbers of his opponents had taken refuge, not only in Iceland then recently
discovered but also in the Orkneys, Shetlands, Hebrides and Faeroes, and
in Scotland itself; and from these winter quarters they sallied forth to
harry Norway as well as the rest of northern Europe. Their numbers were
increased by malcontents from Norway, who resented Harald's claim to rights
of taxation over lands which the possessors appear to have previously held
in absolute ownership. At last Harald was forced to make an expedition
to the west to clear the islands and Scottish mainland of Vikings.
Numbers of them then fled to Iceland which grew into independent commonwealth,
while the Scottish isles fell under Norwegian rule. The latter part of
Harald's reign was disturbed by the strife of his many sons. When he grew
old he handed over the supreme power to his
favourite son, Erik "Blood Axe", whom he intended to be his successor.
Harald died in 936, in his 84th year. The tale goes that the scorn
of the daughter of a neighbouring king induced Harald to take a vow not
to cut or comb his hair until he was King of Norway and that ten years
later he was justified in trimming it.
Source: Leo van de Pas |
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