Norwegian History: Haraldr Hárfagri (c.850-932), Part 1.

As promised, here is the next installment of my attempts to document the history of the kings of Norway. The next king in order of succession after Halfdan the Black (c. 810-c. 860) is also one of Norway's most famous, Harald Harfagre (Harald Fairhair), who lived from around 850-932 CE, the first king to unite Norway and rule it as one kingdom. Tellingly, Harald has one of the largest sections of the Heimskringla dedicated to his story (nearly 45 chapters!), and, as a result, I'll have to break his tale into different segments over the coming days.

So, after king Halfdan of Vestfold's death (mentioned in the previous historical post), as was typical for medieval kingdoms, a ten year-old king Harald found himself surrounded by enemies, as many of his father's allied chiefs and the kings that he had subdued made land-grabs for whatever territory they could, and especially any land that had been taken from them by Halfdan.

A wide-scale image of Norway and Oppland during Harald's time. Harald's lands are in red.

A closeup of 'Oppland' in the south of Norway, where most of the following battles took place.

Since Harald was too young to command, his maternal uncle Guthrom was elected as the ruler of Harald's household and armies, and it was he that led the charge against the family's abundant enemies. These included (as one might expect) the wily king Gandalf of Vingulmark and his surviving son Hake, the sons of the dead king Eystein of Hedemark, Hogne and Frode, and a newcomer, Hogne Karuson from Ringerike.

Gandalf's family struck first, with Hake sending 300 men through Vingulmark to the Vestfold territory to attempt to ambush and kill the young king Harald, while Gandalf assembled his army to cross the fjord separating Vingulmark from Vestfold.

Harald and Guthrum met Hake on the march and were victorious in battle. The two then turned their army back and then made for Hedemark, where word had reached them that other kings of the Oppland regions were meeting to conspire against king Harald at the residence on Hogne Karuson.

Accordingly, Harald and Guthrom approached Hogne Karuson's house in the night with their army, barricaded all the doors, and then set fire to it while he and Eystein's sons slept.

While Hogne Karuson and his household burned, Hogne and Frode Eysteinson managed to slip out with some men, and fought until they were killed. Harald and Guthrom then went on a large campaign and (re)captured  the territories of Hedemark, Ringerike, Gudbrandsdal, Hadeland, Thoten, and Romerike. They also fought king Gandalf in several battles and eventually killed him as well, and took the northern part of Vingulsmark, up to the river Raum.

'Raum' river, now known as the modern Glomma river.

After all of his wars had been fought (for the time being; there were many more to come, as we will see), Harald turned his mind to love, and set the grounds for the anecdote for which he would be best remembered.

For the young king soon sent an embassy to Gyda, daughter of king Eirik of Hordaland and a woman of great beauty and spirit, requesting her hand. Unfortunately for him, however, she refused to be the wife of any man who was not king of the entirety of Norway, as her words are recorded in the Heimskringla:

 "Now tell to King Harald these my words. I will only agree to be his lawful wife upon the condition that he shall first, for my sake, subject to himself the whole of Norway, so that he may rule over that kingdom as freely and fully as King Eirik over the Swedish dominions, or King Gorm over Denmark; for only then, methinks, can he be called the king of a people."

King Harald's diplomats were stunned at the girl's audacity, but returned to their liege with the news regardless. Yet he was not enraged, as they expected he would be; instead, he seemed strangely delighted.

A medieval rendition of King Harald.

"This girl has not spoken or done so much amiss that she should be punished, but rather she should be thanked for her words. She has reminded me of something which it appears to me wonderful I did not think of before. And now, I make the solemn vow, and take God to witness, who made me and rules over all things, that never shall I clip or comb my hair until I have subdued the whole of Norway, with the land-tax, and duties, and domains; or if not, have died in the attempt."

And from that day forward, Harald stayed true to his promise, never cutting or combing his hair during all the many years of warfare that followed, and so was he given the title 'Harfagri,' or 'Fair-hair' (also sometimes known as 'Tangle-hair'), for the great mane of hair that he grew to win Gyda's hand.

But more on that to come!

The king and his hair in all of its splendor! (Credits: karmsundavis.no)