Haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids

Haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids: The world-renowned volcanologist, Haraldur

The battle was part of an attempt to restore Olaf to the Norwegian throne, which had been captured by the Danish king Cnut the Great Canute. The battle resulted in defeat for the brothers at the hands of those Norwegians who were loyal to Cnut, and Olaf was killed while Harald was badly wounded. Harald was nonetheless remarked to have shown considerable military talent during the battle.

He stayed there for some time to heal his wounds, and thereafter possibly up to a month later journeyed north over the mountains to Sweden.

Haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids: Harald III Sigurdsson was

He likely spent at least part of his time in the town of Staraya Ladoga Aldeigjuborgarriving there in the haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids half of Harald and his men were welcomed by Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wisewhose wife Ingegerd was a distant relative of Harald. Badly in need of military leaders, Yaroslav recognised a military potential in Harald and made him a captain of his forces.

Harald's brother Olaf Haraldsson had previously been in exile to Yaroslav following the revolt inand Morkinskinna says that Yaroslav embraced Harald first and foremost because he was the brother of Olaf. Harald took part in Yaroslav's campaign against the Poles inand possibly also fought against other s Kievan enemies and rivals such as the Chudes in Estoniaand the Byzantinesas well as the Pechenegs and other steppe nomad people.

After a few years in Kievan Rus', Harald and his force of around men moved on south to Constantinople Miklagardthe capital of the Eastern Roman Empire later known as the Byzantine Empireprobably in orwhere they joined the Varangian Guard. While the Varangian Guard was primarily meant to function as the emperor's bodyguard, Harald was found fighting on "nearly every frontier" of the empire.

By this time, he had, according to Snorri Sturluson a contemporary Icelandic historian, poet, and politicianbecome the "leader over all the Varangians". Although not holding independent command of an army as the sagas imply, it is not unlikely that King Harald and the Varangians at times could have been sent off to capture a castle or town.

During the first four years of the reign of Byzantine Emperor Michael IV the PaphlagonianHarald probably also fought in campaigns against the Pechenegs. Thereafter, Harald is reported in the sagas to have gone to Jerusalem and fought in battles in the area. Although the sagas place this after his expedition to Sicilyhistorian Kelly DeVries has questioned that chronology.

Whether his trip was of a military or peaceful nature would depend on whether it took place before or after the peace treaty between Michael IV and the Muslim Fatimid Caliph Ma'ad al-Mustansir Billah in reality the Caliph's mother, originally a Byzantine Christian, since the Caliph was a minoralthough it is considered unlikely to have been made before.

Modern historians have speculated that Harald may have been in a party sent to escort pilgrims to Jerusalem possibly including members of the Imperial family following the peace agreement, as it was also agreed that the Byzantines were allowed to repair the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Furthermore, this may in turn have presented Harald with opportunities to fight against bandits who preyed on Christian pilgrims.

InHarald joined the Byzantines in their expedition to Sicilyin George Maniakes 's the sagas' "Gyrge" attempt to reconquer the island from the Muslim Saracenswho had established the Emirate of Sicily on the island. According to Snorri Sturluson, Harald captured four towns on Sicily. Inwhen the Byzantine expedition to Sicily was over, a Lombard -Norman revolt erupted in southern Italy, and Harald led the Varangian Guard in multiple battles.

After the defeat, Harald and the Varangian Guard were called back to Constantinople, following Maniakes' imprisonment by the emperor and the onset of other more pressing issues.

Haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids: Education. Sigurdsson was born in

Harald and the Varangians were thereafter sent to fight in the southeastern European frontier in Bulgariawhere they arrived in late There, he fought in the army of Emperor Michael IV in the Battle of Ostrovo of the campaign against the Bulgarian uprising led by Peter Delyan, which later gained Harald the nickname the "Bulgar-burner" Bolgara brennir by his skald.

Harald was not affected by Maniakes' conflict with Emperor Michael IV, and received honours and respect upon his return to Constantinople. In a Greek book written in the s, the Strategikon of KekaumenosAraltes i. Harald is said to have won the haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids of the emperor. The book says that the Byzantine emperor first appointed him manglabites possibly identified with the title protospathariosa soldier of the imperial guard, after the Sicilian campaign.

Following the campaign against the Bulgarians, in which Harald again served with distinction, he received the rank while at Mosynopolis of spatharokandidatosidentified by DeVries as a promotion to the possibly third highest Byzantine rank, but by Mikhail Bibikov as a lesser rank than protospatharios that was ordinarily awarded to foreign allies to the emperor.

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 ". Harald's favour at the imperial court quickly declined after the death of Michael IV in Decemberwhich was followed by conflicts between the new emperor Michael V and the powerful empress Zoe.

During the turmoil, Harald was arrested and imprisoned, but the sources disagree on the grounds. The sagas state that Harald was arrested for defrauding the emperor of his treasure, as well as for requesting marriage with an apparently fictional niece or granddaughter of Zoe, called Maria his suit supposedly being turned down by the empress because she wanted to marry Harald herself.

William of Malmesbury states that Harald was arrested for defiling a noble woman, while according to Saxo Grammaticus he was imprisoned for murder. DeVries suggests that the new emperor may have feared Harald because of his loyalty to the previous emperor. The sources also disagree on how Harald got out of prison, but he may have been helped by someone outside to escape in the midst of the revolt that had begun against the new emperor.

While some of the Varangians helped guard the emperor, Harald became the leader of the Varangians who supported the revolt. The emperor was in the end dragged out of his sanctuary, blinded and exiled to a monastery, and the sagas claim that it was Harald himself who blinded Michael V or at least claimed to have done so. Harald became extremely rich during his time in the east, and secured the wealth collected in Constantinople by shipments to Kievan Rus' for safekeeping with Yaroslav the Wise acting as safekeeper for his fortune.

The sagas note that aside from the significant spoils of battle he had retained, he had participated three times in polutasvarf loosely translated as "palace-plunder"a term which implies either the pillaging of the palace exchequer on the death of the emperor, or perhaps the disbursement of funds to the Varangians by the new emperor in order to ensure their loyalty.

It is likely that the money Harald made while serving in Constantinople allowed him to fund his claim for the crown of Norway. If he participated in polutasvarf three times, these occasions must have been the deaths of Romanos IIIMichael IV, and Michael V, in which Harald would have opportunities, beyond his legitimate revenues, to carry off immense wealth.

After Zoe had been restored to the throne in June together with Constantine IXHarald requested to be allowed to return to Norway. Although Zoe refused to allow this, Harald managed to escape into the Bosphorus with two ships and some loyal followers. Although the second ship was destroyed by the Byzantine cross-strait iron chains, Harald's ship sailed safely into the Black Sea after successfully manoeuvring over the barrier.

Despite this, Kekaumenos lauds the "loyalty and love" Harald had for the empire, which he reportedly maintained even after he returned to Norway and became king. Following his escape from Constantinople, Harald arrived back in Kievan Rus' later in Shortly after Harald's arrival in Kiev, Yaroslav attacked Constantinopleand it is considered likely that Harald provided him with valuable information about the state of the empire.

It is possible that the marriage with Elisiv had been agreed to already during Harald's first time in Rus', or that they at least had been acquainted. According to the same source, Harald had spoken with Yaroslav during his first time in Rus', requesting to marry Elisiv, only to be rejected because he was not yet wealthy enough. It is in any case significant that Harald was allowed to marry the daughter of Yaroslav, since his other children were married to figures such as Henry I of FranceAndrew I of Hungary and the daughter of Constantine IX.

Seeking to regain for himself the kingdom lost by his half-brother Olaf Haraldsson, Harald began his journey westwards in earlydeparting from Novgorod Holmgard to Staraya Ladoga Aldeigjuborg where he obtained a ship. He arrived in Sigtuna in Sweden, probably at the end of or in early When he arrived in Sweden, according to the skald Tjodolv Arnorsson, his ship was unbalanced by its heavy load of gold.

In Harald's absence, the throne of Norway had been restored to Magnus the Goodan illegitimate son of Olaf. Harald may actually have known this, and it could have been the "haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids" why Harald wanted to return to Norway in the first place. Since Cnut the Great's sons had chosen to abandon Norway and instead fight over England, and his sons and successors Harold Harefoot and Harthacnut had died young, Magnus's position as king had been secured.

No domestic threats or insurrections are recorded to have occurred during his eleven-year reign. After the death of Harthacnut, which had left the Danish throne vacant, Magnus had in addition been selected to be the king of Denmark, and managed to defeat the Danish royal pretender Sweyn Estridsson. Having heard of Sweyn's defeat by Magnus, Harald met up with his fellow exile in Sweden who was also his nephewas well as with the Swedish king Anund Jacob, and the three joined forces against Magnus.

Harald Hardrada's death marked the end of the Viking era. He was the last of the great Scandinavian rulers who had led military conquests throughout Europe. His invasion of England and subsequent demise also played a significant role in shaping the history of England, leading to the Norman Conquest under William the Conqueror. Contact About Privacy.

Ruslan Bodelan. Miroslav Lajcak. Olaf was killed and Harald badly wounded.

Haraldur sigurdsson biography for kids: The Icelander Haraldur Sigurðsson lived a

After the defeat at Stiklestad, Harald could not stay in Norway and so he exiled himself and travelled south. Hardrada became a member of the Byzantine Varangian Guard and saw action against the Arabs. Harald remained with the Varangian Guard and fought in a campaign to recover Sicily from the Saracens. The Varangian Guard was recalled to Constantinople and then deployed to Bulgaria.

He was succeeded by his nephew who became Michael V. Michael V banished Empress Zoe, a move which resulted in a popular uprising against the Emperor. Harald joined the revolt which saw Michael expelled. Hardrada dynasty Country: Quick facts for kids. All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles including the article images and facts can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise.

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