What opportunities did Harald Hardrada have?

Answer 1

Harald III. hardhradi (1015-1066) of the Norwegian Yngling dynasty served as of 1033 in the Imperial body guard of Byzance "for sake of glory" as in northern Europe no rewarding playground was available. Well-known in his days he returned to Norway to succeed to his father on the throne in 1047. He tried to withdraw Norway from the Hamburg-Bremen bishopric as Christianisation territory. In 1066 he and his fellow Tostig set out to conquer the Danelag in England where he fell in the famous Battle of Stamford Bridge.

In September 1066 Harold II. Godwinson of England was told that Norwegian Vikings led by their King Harald III. hardhradi and Tostig had landed at the Ouse River mouth on eastern North Sea shore. This required Harold's immediate action. He collected as many young and old men that could lift a sword and wear a helmet as he could get hold of and left for the Viking camp which was located at Stamford Bridge some 80 km away from the Viking landing base where they had left behind their boats, supplies and valuable armed fellow Vikings. A strategic and decisive mistake as Harald III. hardhradi soon had to learn.

Harold II. approached the Vikings in the foggy morning dawn of September 25th, the day of the battle, an eye witness described the sight of his army: "It looked like a vast plain of cracked ice as the pale morning sun glistened on their helmets."

Harald III. claimed from Harold II. for himself the Danish Danelag as dwelling territory, Harold answered him he would get "as much ground as necessary to bury one man". After this reply they engaged in the "Battle of Stamford Bridge" lasting two days and nights. The encounter was cruel, bloody and decisive.

The Vikings were cut off their supply line in their back and defeated, thousands of them fell. The few fugitives retreated to their waiting boats to bring home the survivors and many wounded comrades. The countless dead were left behind unburied on the battlefield, covered with white bones it served as easily visible landmark close to Stamford Bridge for many decades. Harald III. hardhradi's son later came to England to collect his father's remains and bury him in Norway. 1066 marks the end of the Viking expeditions that had begun with the devastative and bloody assault on Lindisfarne monastery on the Scottish east coast in 793 AD.

Christoph