FACTOID # 73: Got a parking ticket in Finland? Better just pay up - it is the least corrupt nation in the world.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS   

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Harald I of Norway

Harald Fairhair
King of Norway
King Harald, in an illustration from the 14th century Flateyjarbók.
Reign 872930
Coronation none
Born c. 850
Eastern Norway
Died 933
Rogaland, Norway
Buried Karmsund
Predecessor none
Successor Eirik Bloodaxe
Wife/wives Ragnhild Eriksdotter
Åsa Håkonsdotter
various concubines
Issue 21 known sons
3 known daughters
Sons include:
Eirik Bloodaxe
Bjørn Farmann
Olaf Geirstadalf
Haakon the Good
Dynasty Fairhair dynasty
Father Halfdan the Black
Mother Ragnhild Sigurdsdotter

Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair (Old Norse: Haraldr hárfagri, Norwegian: Harald Hårfagre), (c. 850 – c. 933) was the first king (872930) of Norway. Image File history File links King Haraldr hárfagri receives the kingdom out of his fathers hands. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... The Flatey Book, (in Icelandic the Flateyjarbók Flat-island book) is one of the most important medieval Icelandic manuscripts. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... Events With the establishment of the Icelandic Althing, now the worlds oldest parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded. ... Events April 20 - Guntherus becomes Bishop of Cologne. ... Events Jersey was seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy . ... Rogaland is a county in Norway, bordering Hordaland, Telemark, Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder. ... Karmsund is a strait dividing Karmøy and Haugesund municipally in western Norway. ... Eric I (Norw. ... Eric I (Norw. ... From Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla, Harald Harfagers Saga: King Haralds son, Bjorn, ruled over Vestfold at that time, and generally lived at Tunsberg, and went but little on war expeditions. ... Olaf Haraldsson (d. ... Haakon I (c. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Halfdan the Black Gudrødsson (820AD – 860AD) (Old Norse: Hálfdan svarti, Norwegian: Halvdan Svarte) was the father of the first King of Norway Harald I and of the House of Yngling. ... Queen Ragnhilds dream. ... Old Norse is the Germanic language spoken by the inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300. ... Events April 20 - Guntherus becomes Bishop of Cologne. ... Events Jersey was seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy . ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... Events With the establishment of the Icelandic Althing, now the worlds oldest parliament, the Icelandic Commonwealth is founded. ...


Little is known of the historical Harald. The only contemporary sources mentioning him are the two skaldic poems Haraldskvæði and Glymdrápa, by Þorbjörn Hornklofi. The first poem describes life at Harald's court, mentions that he took a Danish wife, and that he won a victory at Hafrsfjord. The second relates a series of battles Harald has won. He is not mentioned in any contemporary foreign sources. His life was described in several of the Kings' sagas, but the first of these were not written until the end of the 12th century, over 250 years after his death. Their accounts of Harald and his life differ on several points, and much of the content is clearly mythological. He is credited with having unified Norway into one kingdom. Modern historians assume that his rule was limited to the coastal areas of southern Norway. Glymdrápa (Drápa of din[1]) is a skaldic poem composed by Þorbjörn hornklofi toward the end of the 9th century. ... Þorbjörn Hornklofi was a 9th century Norwegian poet. ... The Kings sagas are Norse Sagas which tell of the lives of Scandinavian kings. ...


The saga descriptions

The sagas tell us that Harald succeeded, on the death of his father Halfdan the Black Gudrødsson in A.D. 860, to the sovereignty of several small, and somewhat scattered kingdoms in Vestfold, which had come into his father's hands through conquest and inheritance. Halfdan the Black Gudrødsson (820AD – 860AD) (Old Norse: Hálfdan svarti, Norwegian: Halvdan Svarte) was the father of the first King of Norway Harald I and of the House of Yngling. ... Events First attack on Constantinople by Swedish Vikings (the Rus, see Varangians). ... County NO-07 Region Østlandet Administrative centre Tønsberg County mayor   Area  - Total  - Percentage Ranked 18 2,224 km² 0. ...


The unification of Norway is, according to a tale, somewhat of a love story. The tale begins with a marriage proposal that resulted in rejection and scorn from Gyda, the daughter of Eirik king of Hordaland. She said she refused to marry Harald "before he was king over all of Norway". Harald was therefore induced to take a vow not to cut nor comb his hair until he was sole king of Norway, and that ten years later, he was justified in trimming it; whereupon he exchanged the epithet "Shockhead" or "Tanglehair" for the one by which he is usually known. Most scholars today regard this story as a literary tale inspired by the Romance stories popular at the courts, by the time Heimskringla was written. Eirik King of Hordaland (Old Norse: Eiríkr Konungr á Hörðalandi) was a king of Hordaland, then a petty kingdom in southern Norway, in the late 800s. ... A vow (Lat. ... As a literary genre, romance or chivalric romance refers to a style of heroic prose and verse narrative current in Europe from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. ... Heimskringla is the Old Norse name of a collection of sagas recorded in Iceland around 1225 by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (1179-1242). ...


In 866, Harald made the first of a series of conquests over the many petty kingdoms which would compose Norway, including Värmland in Sweden, and modern day south-eastern Norway, which had sworn allegiance to the Swedish king Erik Eymundsson. In 872, after a great victory at Hafrsfjord near Stavanger, Harald found himself king over the whole country. 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 Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Hebrides Islands and Faroe Islands and the rest of northern european mainland. However, his opponents leaving on their own wasn't entirely voluntary. Many Norwegian chieftains that were wealthy and respected posed a threat to Harald; therefore, they were subjected to much harassment from Harald, prompting them to vacate the land. At last, Harald was forced to make an expedition to the West, to clear the islands and the Scottish mainland of some Vikings that tried to hide there. Events Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent of Japan, starting the Fujiwara regentship. ... Petty kingdoms were prominent before the formation of many of todays nation states. ... â–¶(?) is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. ... Erik Anundsson (d. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... The Battle of Hafrsfjord has been a very central event in the history of the unification of Norway. ... County District Jæren Municipality NO-1103 Administrative centre Stavanger Mayor (1995-) Leif Johan Sevland (H) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 406 71 km² 68 km² 0. ... The Orkney Islands, usually called simply Orkney, are one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. ... The Shetland Islands, also called Shetland (archaically spelled Zetland) formerly called Hjaltland, comprise one of 32 council areas of Scotland. ... This article is about the Hebrides islands in Scotland. ... The name Viking is a loan from the native Scandinavian term for the Norse seafaring warriors who raided the coasts of Scandinavia, Europe and the British Isles from the late 8th century to the 11th century, the period of European history referred to as the Viking Age. ...


It was long thought that Harald thus caused the Norse settlement of Iceland and beyond. According to this view, Iceland was settled by "malcontents" from Norway, who resented Harald's claim of rights of taxation over lands, which the possessors appear to have previously held in absolute ownership. This view has been largely abandoned by modern historians, as archaeological finds have shown that the settlement of Iceland started before Harald's reign in Norway.


The latter part of Harald's reign was disturbed by the strife of his many sons. He gave them all the royal title and assigned lands to them, which they were to govern as his representatives; but this arrangement did not put an end to the discord, which continued into the next reign. When he grew old, Harald handed over the supreme power to his favourite son Eirik Bloodaxe, whom he intended to be his successor. Eirik I ruled side-by-side with his father when Harald was 80 years old. Due to his age, Harald would die three years later. Harald died approximately 933. The number of sons he left varies in the different saga accounts, from 11 to 20. Twelve of his sons are named as kings, two of them over the whole country. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1417x2502, 617 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... A petty kingdom is an independent realm recognizing no suzerain and controlling only a portion of the territory held by a particular ethnic group or nation. ... Gudröd the Hunter (Old Norse: Guðröðr veiðikonung, Modern Icelandic: Guðröður veiðikonung, Norwegian: Gudrød Veidekonge) is a mythological character of thirteenth century Iceland was the son of Halfdan the Mild of the House of Yngling and of Liv Dagsdotter of Vestmar, according to... County NO-07 Region Østlandet Administrative centre Tønsberg County mayor   Area  - Total  - Percentage Ranked 18 2,224 km² 0. ... Tromsø, by Peder Balke, 1804–1887. ... Sørlandet is the geographical region (landsdel) of the Skagerrak coast of southern Norway. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 406 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... Halfdan the Black Gudrødsson (820AD – 860AD) (Old Norse: Hálfdan svarti, Norwegian: Halvdan Svarte) was the father of the first King of Norway Harald I and of the House of Yngling. ... Harald I (b. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 401 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... The Battle of Hafrsfjord has been a very central event in the history of the unification of Norway. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 395 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway ... LADE - Lineas Aereas Del Estado is an airline based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. ... Møre is a diocese in the Church of Norway which geographically consists of Møre og Romsdal county, Norway, and has its bishop residing, and cathedral located, in the county administrative center, Molde. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 404 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): History of Norway Harald I of Norway Eiríkr Hákonarson Sveinn Hákonarson ... The naval Battle of Svolder or Swold took place on 9 September 1000 in the western Baltic Sea, between Norway and the other Scandinavians. ... The Jarls of Lade (Modern Norwegian) or Hlaðir (Old Norse) were a dynasty of Norwegian rulers, influential from the 9th century to the 11th century. ... Lade (Norse: Hlaðir) is a location in Trondheim, Norway located north-west of the city centre, north of Lademoen on a peninsula. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1134x2002, 390 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: History of Norway Harald I of Norway Olaf II of Norway Counties of Norway ... Olaf II Haraldsson ( 995 – July 29, 1030), king from 1015–1028, called during his lifetime the Stout and afterwards known as Saint Olaf, was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvasson came to Norway. ... County NO-20 Region Nord-Norge Administrative centre Vadsø County mayor   Area  - Total  - Percentage Ranked 1 48,618 km² 15. ... Mark or march (or various plural forms of these words) are derived from the Frankish word marka (boundary) and refer to a border region, e. ... The Sami people (also Sámi, Saami, Lapps, sometimes also Laplanders) are the indigenous people of Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. ... A tribute (from Latin tribulum, contribution) is wealth one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. ... Eirik Bloodaxe (Old Norse:Eiríkr blóðöx, Icelandic:Eiríkur blóðöx, Norwegian:Eirik Blodøks) (cirka 885 – 954), was the second king of Norway (930-934) and the eldest son of his father Harald Fairhair. ... Events Jersey was seized by William Longsword, Duke of Normandy . ...


Harald's children with Åsa, daughter of Håkon Grjotgardsson, Earl of Lade: HÃ¥kon Grjotgardsson (838-900) (Old Norse: Hákon Grjótgarðsson), was the first Earl of Lade (Hlaðajarl), Norway. ...

Children with Gyda: Guttorm Haraldsson was the first son of king Harald Fairhair of Norway and Åsa, daughter of Håkon Grjotgardsson. ... Ranrike (Old Norse Ránríki) was the old name for a part of Viken, corresponding to the northern half of the traditional Swedish province of Bohuslän (roughly the physical Alfheim of Scandinavian mythology). ... Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the middle of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. ...

  • Ålov Årbot (Haraldsdotter)
  • Rørek Haraldsson
  • Sigtrygg Haraldsson
  • Frode Haraldsson
  • (Torgils Haraldsson

Children with Ragnhild Eiriksdotter of Jutland: Turgesius; (Turgeis or Turgesius) the conquering viking, who is aclaimed to have taken by force Dublin, is estimated to have arrived in the year 820 to Ireland. ... Jutland Peninsula Jutland (Danish: Jylland; German: Jütland; Frisian Jutlân; Low German Jötlann) is the western, continental part of Denmark as well as one of the three historical Lands of Denmark, dividing the North Sea from the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. ...

Children with Svanhild, daughter of Eystein Earl: Eirik Bloodaxe (Old Norse:Eiríkr blóðöx, Icelandic:Eiríkur blóðöx, Norwegian:Eirik Blodøks) (cirka 885 – 954), was the second king of Norway (930-934) and the eldest son of his father Harald Fairhair. ...

Children with Åshild, daughter of Ring Dagsson: From Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla, Harald Harfagers Saga: King Haralds son, Bjorn, ruled over Vestfold at that time, and generally lived at Tunsberg, and went but little on war expeditions. ... County NO-07 Region Østlandet Administrative centre Tønsberg County mayor   Area  - Total  - Percentage Ranked 18 2,224 km² 0. ... Olaf Haraldsson (d. ... Vingulmark was the name of a Viking Age petty kingdom around Oslofjorden. ...

  • Ring Haraldsson
  • Dag Haraldsson
  • Gudrød Skirja
  • Ingegjerd Haraldsdotter

Children with Snøfrid, daughter of Svåse the Finn:

  • Halvdan Hålegg
  • Gudrød Ljome
  • Ragnvald Rettilbeine
  • Sigurd Rise

Children with Tora Mosterstong, his maid:

Other children: Haakon I (ca. ...

  • Ingebjørg Haraldsdotter

Harald was the grandfather of Harald II. Harald II (-976), surnamed Gråfell (Norwegian) / Graafeld (Danish) / Greyhide (English), was the son of Eric Bloodaxe and a grandson of Harald Finehair. ...


Notes

  1. This Torgils Haraldsson is identical to "Thorgest" in the Irish history. Snorre Sturlason, in his Heimskringla, claims that Torgils was Harald's son. This is now thought to be unlikely.

Turgesius Island, middle of Lough Lene Lough Lene, Turgesius Island on map Thorgest (also listed as: Turgeis, Thorgisl, Thorgils, Old Norse:Þurgestr) first came to Ireland with a large fleet of Viking ships from Norway in 839. ... The History of Ireland began with the first known human settlement in Ireland around 8000 BC, when hunter-gatherers arrived from Britain and continental Europe, probably via a land bridge. ... Snorri Sturlason (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Heimskringla is the Old Norse name of a collection of sagas recorded in Iceland around 1225 by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (1179-1242). ...

References

Harald Fairhair
Born: c. 850 Died: c. 933
Regnal titles
New title King of Norway
872-930
Succeeded by
Eric Bloodaxe

  Results from FactBites:
 
Harald V of Norway - definition of Harald V of Norway in Encyclopedia (396 words)
He is the first King of Norway to have been born in the country since King Olav IV was born there in 1370, and he is also a descendant of Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon.
Harald became King of Norway upon the death of his father on January 17, 1991.
On December 1, 2003, King Harald was announced to be suffering from cancer of the bladder.
  More results at FactBites »

 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your location
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.