biography
| name: |
Harald III Sigurdsson
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nickname Harald Hardrada (‘the Ruthless’)
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| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1015–66)
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| biography:
| King of Norway (1045–66). The half-brother of Olaf II (St Olaf), he was present at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030 where St Olaf was killed, and sought refuge in Kiev at the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. He fought as a Viking mercenary with the Varangian Guard in Constantinople, and returned to Norway in 1045, shared the throne with his nephew Magnus, and became sole king in 1047. After long and unrelenting wars against Sweyn II of Denmark, he invaded England in 1066 to claim the throne after the death of Edward I, but was defeated and killed by Harold II at Stamford Bridge. |
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