If published as a novel, the life of Harald Hardrada (c.?1015-1066) could quite easily be dismissed as highly improbable, yet, as one critic wrote many years ago in Amra, a publication devoted to ...

In the early 11th Century a Norseman called Harald Hardrada was captain of the Varangian Guard, international mercenaries fighting for the Byzantine Empire, which stretched across parts of Europe ...

Harald’s mother tongue, Old Norse, is close to the language still spoken today in Iceland. The epithet “Hardrada” variously translated as “hard ruler” or “stern counsel” became attached to his name ...

The 1066 battle of Stamford Bridge between Viking warlord Harald Hardrada and King Harold of England was said to be so violent that a giant mountain of bones remained a half century later.

Next up was the King of Norway, Harald Hardrada, or hard ruler- a formidable Viking warrior. His claim was also based on an earlier promise made to his father. Between 1016 and 1042, England had ...