Haraldr Sigurdsson, aka Hardrada, grew up in the shadow of his older half brother Olaf Haraldsson. Olaf is also known as St Olaf because he was canonised a year after his death, and he is known as Olaf II because he was also king of Norway. It must not have been easy for Haraldr to have been following in the footsteps of a brother who was both a saint and a king. Both brothers were the sons of Åsta Gudbrandsdatter, and both their fathers claimed descent from king Harald Fairhair through different lines. According to King Olaf Trygvason’s Saga, when Asta was pregnant with Olaf, her husband, Harald Grenske, decided it was time to try and trade up his wife. The King of Sweden, Olaf the Victorious, had died and his widow, Sigrid, was interviewing for replacement husbands. When Harold proposed to Sigrid she refused him saying that he was already well married to Asta. Olaf’s saga tells us that ‘Sigrid was a woman of the greatest understanding, and clever in many things.’
But Haradr was not satisfied with her response and a short time later he showed up at her house to press his suit although many people had persuaded him otherwise. Another king from Russia had arrived at the same time with the same intent. Sigrid lodged them together in an old hall furnished with old furniture and she plied them with strong drink until they and their guards fell into a drunken stupor. Then she torched the hall and burned them alive within it. “Then Queen Sigrid ordered an attack on them in the night, both with fire and sword. The house was burnt, with all who were in it and those who slipped out were put to the sword. Sigrid said that she would make these small kings tired of coming to court her. She was afterwards called Sigrid the Haughty (Storrada).’
After also refusing King Olaf Trygvasson, Sigrid went on to marry King Sweyn Forkbeard of Denmark, who conquered and ruled England for several months in 1013-14. She was step-mother to Sweyn’s son, King Canute, who ruled England after him from 1016 to 1035. Because Sigrid was married to Sweyn during his reign of England she was technically Queen of England for this period, but we hear little of this in the history books.
Needless to say when Asta heard the news of her husband’s death she was not impressed and she returned home to her father’s house where she gave birth to Olaf Haraldsson. Asta then married Sigurd Syr who claimed descent from King Harald Fairhair and Ragnar Lodbrok. All three were said to be tall. Harald Fairhair had many sons, but his son Sigurd Rise was so tall he was known as Sigurd Giant and as he was the grandfather of Sigurd Syr, it is not surprising that Haraldr Sigurdsson was renowned for his height. Haraldr’s saga says he was five ells tall. A viking ell was approximately eighteen inches, making Haraldr around seven foot six.
Sigurd was the king of Vik and he was known as Syr because he kept pigs. Haraldr Hardrada was very sensitive about this and there are accounts of his taking revenge against those who baited him about it. “Sigurd his [Olaf’s] stepfather was a careful householder, who kept his people closely to their work, and often went about himself to inspect his corn-rigs and meadowland, the cattle, and also the smith-work, or whatsoever his people had on hand to do.”
At the age of twelve Olaf Haraldsson was sent on his viking gap years with his foster father Hrane the Far Travelled. He fought in England in the conflict between King Ethelred and King Sweyn Forkbeard. When Sweyn’s son, Canute, raised his invasion force in 1015-16 he emptied the north of fighting men. With them came Erik Hakonsson who had been ruling Norway since the fall of Olaf Trygvasson in 1000. Hearing that Erik had left the north taking his forces with him, Olaf Haroldsson saw his opportunity and legged it back to Norway. Once there he did what any returning viking son would do, he went to see his mother and declared his intention to replace Erik and become King of Norway.
He took advice from Sigurd, Hrane and Asta. She said “For my part, my son, I am rejoiced at thy arrival, but much more at thy advancing thy honour. I will spare nothing for that purpose that stands in my power, although it be but little help that can be expected from me. But if a choice could be made, I would rather that thou shouldst be the supreme king of Norway, even if thou shouldst not sit longer in thy kingdom than Olaf Trygvason did, than that thou shouldst not be a greater king than Sigurd Syr is, and die the death of old age.”
Around 1018 when Haraldr Hardrada was three years old, Olaf visited his mother Asta and her new sons Halfdan, Guthorm and Haraldr. A bard’s tale about Olaf and Haraldr predicts Haraldr’s kingship. “Then Asta brought her youngest son, called Harald, who was three years old, to him. The king [Olaf] made a wry face at him also; but he looked the king in the face without regarding it. The king took the boy by the hair, and plucked it; but the boy seized the king's whiskers, and gave them a tug. "Then," said the king, "thou wilt be revengeful, my friend, some day.” In the second part of the story, Olaf finds Haradr sailing toy ships. ‘Harald was busy with chips of wood, sailing them, in his sport along the edge. The king asked him what these were; and he answered, these were his ships of war. The king laughed, and said, "The time may come, friend, when thou wilt command ships.”’ In the final part of the story Harald’s brothers Halfdan and Guthorm were asked what they would most like to have. Halfdan replied that he wanted ten farm’s worth of corn, and Guthorm that he wanted enough cows to encircle the lake. But Haraldr replied that he wanted enough personal housecarls, i.e. men at arms, to eat Guthorm’s cows in a single sitting. ‘The king laughed, and said to Asta, "Here, mother, thou art bringing up a king.”
Olaf was known as Olaf the Thick, not because he was stupid, but because he was stocky and stout. He apparently did not inherit the tall gene from Harold Fairhair. His saga describes him in the first two chapters.
“Olaf came early to manhood, was handsome in countenance, middle-sized in growth, and was even when very young of good understanding and ready speech.”
‘When Olaf Haraldson grew up he was not tall, but middle-sized in height, although very thick, and of good strength. He had light brown hair, and a broad face, which was white and red. He had particularly fine eyes, which were beautiful and piercing, so that one was afraid to look him in the face when he was angry. Olaf was very expert in all bodily exercises, understood well to handle his bow, and was distinguished particularly in throwing his spear by hand: he was a great swimmer, and very handy, and very exact and knowing in all kinds of smithwork, whether he himself or others made the thing. He was distinct and acute in conversation, and was soon perfect in understanding and strength. He was beloved by his friends and acquaintances, eager in his amusements, and one who always liked to be the first, as it was suitable he should be from his birth and dignity.’
Olaf commenced a campaign of Christian conversion at swordpoint, murdering and torturing the pagan population as he conquered the regions of Norway. He was politically inept and as he made advances across Norway in gaining territory and followers, Canute’s representatives followed, using the same espionage strategies that his father Sweyn Forkbeard had used on Ethelred’s nobles to buy them back.
Olaf’s attempts to negotiate with Sweden over territory and the hand of the King’s daughter, Ingegerd, were unsuccessful. Ingegerd was married off to the the ruler of Russia, Yaroslav, and Olaf was forced to accept her sister Astrid instead. Olaf was an adulterer who serially raped his wife Astrid’s serving girl until she eventually produced Olaf’s son and heir, the illegitimate Magnus the Good.
By 1029, Olaf was forced to retreat from Norway, to the court of his sister-in-law, Ingegerd and her husband Yaroslav of Russia. “and without stopping went on to Russia to King Jarisleif and his queen Ingegerd; but his own queen Astrid, and their daughter Ulfhild, remained behind in Svithjod [Sweden], and the king took his son Magnus eastward with him.” Olaf stayed in Russia for a while but following a dream from God he decided to return and attempt to retake Norway.
He was met on his return to Sweden by his loyal followers. Most notable was his half-brother Haraldr, now fifteen, with a force of 600 men. “Now when it was reported in Norway that King Olaf was come from the East to Svithjod, his friends gathered together to give him aid. The most distinguished man in this flock was Harald Sigurdson, a brother of King Olaf, who then was fifteen years of age, very stout, and manly of growth as if he were full-grown. Many other brave men were there also; and there were in all 600 men when they proceeded from the uplands, and went eastward with their force through Eid forest to Vermaland. From thence they went eastward through the forests to Svithjod and made inquiry about King Olaf's proceedings.”
Eventually there was battle for control of Norway at a place named Stiklestad. Prior to the battle, Olaf suggested that Haraldr was too young and should not fight.
"It appears to me advisable," says the king, "that Harald my brother should not be in the battle, for he is still in the years of childhood only."
Harald replies, "Certainly I shall be in the battle, for I am not so weak that I cannot handle the sword; and as to that, I have a notion of tying the sword-handle to my hand. None is more willing than I am to give the bondes a blow; so I shall go with my comrades."
Haraldr was allowed to fight, but the battle did not go well for Olaf and he was killed. "King Olaf fell on Wednesday, the 29th of July (A.D. 1030)."
Haraldr was injured and forced to retreat in exile to Russia.
“Harald Sigurdson was severely wounded; but Ragnvald Brusason brought him to a bonde's the night after the battle, and the bonde took in Harald, and healed his wound in secret, and afterwards gave him his son to attend him. They went secretly over the mountains, and through the waste forests, and came out in Jamtaland. Harald Sigurdson was fifteen years old when King Olaf fell. In Jamtaland Harald found Ragnvald Brusason; and they went both east to King Jarisleif in Russia, as is related in the Saga of Harald Sigurdson.”
Haraldr Sigurdsson is described in his obituary at the end of his saga.
“It was a common observation that King Harald distinguished himself above all other men by wisdom and resources of mind; whether he had to take a resolution suddenly for himself and others, or after long deliberation. He was, also, above all other men, bold, brave, and lucky, until his dying day, as above related; and bravery is half victory.
King Harald was a handsome man, of noble appearance; his hair and beard yellow. He had a short beard, and long mustaches. The one eyebrow was somewhat higher than the other. He had large hands and feet; but these were well made. His height was five ells.
He was stern and severe to his enemies, and avenged cruelly all opposition or misdeed. King Harald was most greedy of power, and of all distinction and honour. He was bountiful to the friends who suited him. King Harald never fled from battle, but often tried cunning ways to escape when he had to do with great superiority of forces. All the men who followed King Harald in battle or skirmish said that when he stood in great danger, or anything came suddenly upon him, he always took that course which all afterwards saw gave the best hope of a fortunate issue.”
Haraldr remained in Russia under the tutelage of Yaroslav for three or four years before he travelled south and ended up serving in the Emperor’s court in Constantinople.
All 265 chapters of Olaf Haraldsson’s Saga can be found on Project Gutenberg.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/598/598-h/598-h.htm#link2H_4_0233\
