Harald the Great

Harald Eriksson
Depiction of Harald the Great at Hvitrheim Cathedral
High King of the Nords
Reign	c.846–869
King of Hamarland
Reign	c.842–869
Predecessor	Leif Magnusson
Successor	Erling of Hamarland
Born	c.817
Died	869
Spouse	Several
Issue	Magnus Haraldsson Erling of Hamarland Inge Haraldsdottir Cnut of Skjergard Ragnar of Haxland Freyja Haraldsdottir Sten of Ræverby
House	House of Haraldsson
Father	Erik of Hamarland
Mother	Helga of Helanger

Harald the Great (Old Nordic: Haraldr inn ríki; Dalish: Harald den Store), otherwise known as Harald Eriksson, or Harald the Conqueror (Old Nordic: Haraldr Herrlof; Dalish: Harald Erobreren), and sometimes referred to as Harald Hárskati, was a legendary Viking warrior and warlord who ruled over a vast empire within Telmeria, spanning modern-day Norden as well as parts of Cuthland-Waldrich, Mascylla, and Valimia from around 842 until his death in 869. Harald was also renowned for his numerous raids across Telmeria and as far south as Dulebia, including cities such as Kingsham, Pereuth, and Fahnicht. His rule marked the apex of the Nordic Viking age, inspiring a generation of warriors and raiders which saw Nordic influence spread far and wide across Berea. Additionally, his direct descendants came to rule over much of early medieval Telmeria, making the House of Haraldsson one of the most influential early-medieval royal houses. Harald is also regarded as the ancient father of the Nordic nation, having been the first Nordic ruler to unite the various ættir under his banner, and is regularly depicted in patriotic imagery and iconography.

Harald was born the son of the legendary Viking warrior Erik of Hamarland and Helga of Helanger, daughter to the King of Helanger. Raised in Hamarland, Harald was trained as a warrior, joining his father on numerous raids on the Telmeric Coast. At the age of just 19, Harald set out on a voyage of his own raiding coastal settlements in Falland and Sileria. Harald made a name of himself during the raid of Kirmouth, during which he was alleged to have personally led the charge into the city, singlehandedly breaking down the doors of Kirmouth Castle and stealing numerous prized artefacts in the process whilst also taking a daughter of the ruling family as a captive. Harald returned to Hamarland around the year 840 following the news of the death of his father, leading to his appointment as clan leader. Following this, the King of Hamarland, Leif Magnusson also passed, leading Harald to use his newfound fame and status to be elected King of Hamarland in 842. Yet, Harald's ambitions stretched far beyond Hamarland and over the following years, he sought to unite the various Nordic clans under his rule via diplomacy and war. By 846 much of the Dentrian Peninsula had fallen under his control, leading him to claim the title of High King (Old Nordic: Hárskati) of the Nords.

Through this newfound position of power, Harald launched a series of raids throughout Telmeria, conquering vast swathes of territory in the process. Initially, Harald's raids focusing on lands within modern-day Cuthland and Mascylla. Numerous settlements were raided and pillaged by Harald's armies on their campaigns, bringing great wealth to the various clans of Norden, as well as Harald personally. However, in contrast with previous Viking raids, Harald sought to assert his authority over these regions, demanding continued tribute from subjugated rulers and establishing several Nordic settlements within these conquered territories along the coast of the White Sea. By the 860s Harald's campaigns were focused on Valimia where he established the Jarldom of Haxland on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Valimia, establishing the state which would form the basis of modern Valimia. By the late 860s however, Harald's successes had led him to plan voyages even farther afield in search of greater wealth and status. This culminated in the southern campaigns which saw raids into modern-day Erjarvia, Rovina, and Dulebia. It was on this campaign, during a raid on the Kingdom of Pomoria, that Harald ultimately came to his demise. Ultimately, Harald was killed during a raid on the city of Ulbia, with his army soon retreating back to Norden. In the aftermath of his death, Harald's various sons feuded over the remnants of his empire, leading to its demise and division into various independent Kingdoms and Jarldoms.

Initially, many of the finer details of Harald's life were unknown with most modern accounts of his life reliant on Old Nordic sagas and runestones, as well as oral tradition. Previously, the most complete account of Harald's life was outlined in the work of the medieval Dalish monk and historian Arne of Selby. However, Arne's account was known to contain numerous inaccuracies due to limited evidence, as well as numerous exaggerations or changes included for political or religious purposes. During the 1770s however, Nordic historian Johan Aukland published The History of Harald the Great which included evidence detailing Harald's life from newly discovered runestones and manuscripts. Though contemporary historians have questioned some of Aukland's work and new evidence has also emerged, his work remains the most complete and accurate account of Harald's life to date.

Historiographical disputes

Some historians argue stories of Harald were in part influenced by the Old Nordic deity Drengr

Some revisionist historians such as Anne Quist have questioned the veracity of Harald's life, arguing that many of his achievements were actually those of his subjects. Quist argues that many of Harald's raids, particularly those of the Valimian and southern campaigns were actually conducted without his presence, with victories by his subjects or descendants later attributed to their liege lord. It is suggested that these campaigns were posthumously attributed to Harald several centuries later in an effort to heighten his legend. Quist also argues that Harald actually died a rather unremarkable death Valimia, with the story of the siege of Ulbia entirely fictionalised. Such a theory is heavily disputed within the academic community, though the lack of widespread evidence of a Nordic presence in Dulebia and Rovina may support this theory.

Other historians also argue that parts of Harald's life in Nordic sagas and poetry were influenced by the god Drengr who was depicted as a young warrior and a frequent raider. Historians such as Janus Villumsen suggest that given the lack of detail surrounding Harald the Great following his death, many of the details were filled in by Arne of Selby and Johan Aukland using stories from Nordic mythology, with frequent reference to the warrior deity Drengr. Many similarities can be seen in the stories of Harald and Drengr, particularly in the early Saga of Harald Eriksson detailing the Fallish raids, as well as stories surrounding the unification of the ættir. However, few outside a minority of fringe historians suggest such influences discount the entirety of Harald's life as fiction. Some historians even argue the opposite, that it was Harald's life and tales that influenced some of the mythology surrounding Drengr, suggesting that the god was created as a posthumous deification of Harald the Great.

Issue and succession

Harald was known to have fathered at least seven children from numerous different women. Sources differ significantly as to the exact number, with some sources putting the number as high as fifteen. Nevertheless, only seven children can be officially attested to through evidence in sagas, runestones, or skaldic poetry. It is also unknown exactly with whom each of Harald's children was sired.

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Magnus	c.832-34	c.864	Died in battle; had issue: Torbjörn Magnusson
Erling	c.834-36	875	Ruled Hamarland; had issue
Inge			had issue(?)
Cnut	c.837	896	Ruled Skjergard; had issue
Ragnar	c.839-843	c.892	Ruled Haxland; had issue
Freyja	c.846-52	922	Married Magnus of Hardlinge; had issue
Sten		929	Ruled Ræverby; had issue

The Haxland Runestone in the Museum of Paavalpori, reporting the death of Magnus Haraldsson

Harald's firstborn son Magnus Haraldsson was born at some point between 832 and 834 to a woman named Ingvild who also bore Harald's second son Erling. The parentage of both Magnus and Erling is perhaps the most credible of all of Harald's children given that Ingvild is directly mentioned as the mother of both within the Saga of Harald Eriksson, detailing Harald's time in Falland, which is one of the earliest historical references to Harald the Great. Little is known about the life of Magnus, however, evidence indicates that he died on his father's campaigns in Valimia at some point in the year 864, with a runestone erected in his memory in Haxland. The runestone itself translates as: "Harald raised this stone in memory of Magnus, his son, who died near [illegible] in Haxland."

Harald's second son Erling was born at some point between 834 and 836. He would accompany his father on his raids in Mascylla, Valimia, and Dulebia. Following Magnus' death, Erling became Harald's primary heir and was initially appointed as Hárskati upon his father's death. However, this was disputed by his brothers and other clan chiefs who also claimed the title for themselves. Erling would thus solely rule over Hamarland where he sired numerous heirs, forming the basis of the medieval Kingdom of Hamarland. Numerous sources also suggest that Erling was active in raiding within western Berea, with accounts suggesting he frequently raided Falland and Sarrac during the 870s. Erling ultimately died in 875, with his son Harald Erlingsson taking the throne of Hamarland.

Evidence for Harald's third child and first daughter Inge is scant, with no clear indication of a date of birth or death. Nevertheless, Inge is mentioned as an "offspring of the Hárskati" within skaldic poetry. Given that Freyja is also confirmed as Harald's second daughter, this lends evidence to the notion that Inge was born at some point between 840 and 852. Scant evidence also suggests that Inge sired further children with another clan chief or Jarl. The ruling House of Lysted in Norden claims descendence from Inge Haraldsdottir, though there is no clear evidence to prove this.

Harald's fourth child Cnut was born sometime in the year 837 to an unknown woman at some point during his campaigns in Falland. Numerous theories abound as to exactly who Cnut's mother was, with the most prevalent citing a Fallish princess allegedly kidnapped by Harald by the name of Kaelyn. Harald's fourth son named Ragnar was also believed to have been sired with Kaelyn, though most modern accounts dispute this. Cnut is mentioned in several sagas and was believed to be a capable navigator who accompanied his father on his raids in Valimia. Upon his father's death, Cnut gained the Jarldom of Skjergard, but he disputed his brother's accession as High King. Cnut died in 896 siring several children who ruled over Skjergard and much of modern Vitmärige for several decades.

Ragnar was believed to be Harald's fifth child and is perhaps the most widely discussed of his descendants, featuring prominently in Nordic sagas and the prose Edda. Ragnar's prominence is primarily the result of his status as the progenitor of the Valimian royal family, however, this also means many of the sources discussing him are seen as unreliable and at worst completely untrue, identified as mere Nordic or Valimian propaganda. Nevertheless, verifiable sources describe Ragnar as a skilled warrior involved in frequent raids throughout Valimia and Rovina. Ragnar was believed to have gained significant favour with his father during the Eastern campaigns, with some disputed sources even suggesting he was his father's favoured heir. Following Harald's death, Ragnar inherited the Jarldom of Haxland, securing its independence in the face of Hesurian and Valimic invasion. Ragnar would sire several offspring, with his descendants ultimately playing a role in the unification of Valimia.

Freyja was Harald's second daughter born between 846 and 852 to a woman named Astrid. Freyja is described on the Hardlinge runestone as a "fair and beautiful maiden" who "was desired by all who laid eyes upon her". Freyja married Magnus of Hardlinge around 867 with their wedding forming the basis of the Hardlinge runestone. They had several children together before she died in 922.

Sten was the final of Harald's children who can officially be attested to and is also the most disputed of Harald's sons. No evidence exists for a date of birth, though a ruler in Ræverby named Sten who is described as "son of the Hárskati" appears on a runestone in Dalland dated around 900. Some historians have suggested Sten may instead be the son of Erling given he also took the title of Hárskati, though evidence of Erling's direct descendants is much clearer than that of his father. Sten was believed to have ruled over Ræverby until his death in 929. His descendants would continue to rule the region until its subjugation under the Kingdom of Dalland several decades later. The House of Lysted also claims to be descended from Sten of Ræverby, though evidence for this is scant.

Numerous sources suggest Harald also fathered several other children, though there is little evidence for their existence. Some historians have suggested this may be a result of such offspring dying at a young age and a loss of evidence. However, no verifiable sources can attest to any other children. Some historians have suggested that many of these disputed children were fictional creations of Berean royal families who sought to tie their lineage to that of Harald the Great. Some notable disputed children include Svend Haraldsson and Ulf of Rødby.

Legacy

In popular culture

• Harald the Great was portrayed by actor Robert Fink in the movie Son's of the High King (Dalish: Sønner af Hárskatinn) (1992). The movie came under considerable scrutiny for what is viewed as a highly inaccurate representation of Harald and his successors.
• Harald the Great is a character in the trading card game Bardagi. He is one of the most powerful Nordic cards and sees regular play in decks which utilise a rush strategy.
• Harald the Great was portrayed by actor Kurt Gade in the Nordic TV show Eidrekkrinn (2013) which explores the lives of Harald the Great and his descendants. The series was dubbed into numerous languages and gained widespread global popularity.
• In the video-game Midgard (2017), set in a fictionalised fantasy representation of the island of Vesturey during the 10th century, players can fight the ghost of Harald the Great who resides in a tomb below the mountain of Tivarfjall.