King Harald Hardrada

Handmade 60 mm tin soldier of King Harald Sigurdsson Hardrada - who was the King of Norway from 1045 to 1066 (King Harald III). The tin soldier is inspired by a stained glass window of Hardrada in the town hall of Lerwick, Shetland. The tin soldier comes in a beautiful metal box that also includes a small booklet with information about King Harald Hardrada. According to saga tradition, Harald Hardrada was the son of King Sigurd Syr of Ringerike and Åsta Gudbrandsdatter, who was also the mother of Saint Olaf. At the age of 15, Harald is said to have fought alongside his half-brother Olaf in the Battle of Stiklestad. After the battle, he fled to Gardarike and then to Miklagard, where he entered the service of the Byzantine emperor in 1034. For several years, Harald fought for the emperor in Sicily and Bulgaria, and eventually served in the emperor’s Varangian Guard. When he returned to Norway, he had, according to the sagas, amassed great wealth. On his way back through Gardarike, he married the daughter of Grand Prince Yaroslav, Ellisiv (from Kiev in Ukraine). Harald Hardrada returned to Norway in 1045 and was recognized as co-ruler with his nephew Magnus the Good, in exchange for sharing his silver and gold treasures with him. When Magnus died in 1047, Harald became the sole king. For many years, he fought against Sweyn Estridsson for control over Denmark. In 1038, Magnus had made an agreement with Sweyn’s predecessor, Harthacnut, that the survivor would inherit the other’s kingdom. Harthacnut died in 1042, and both Magnus and his uncle Harald Hardrada fought for dominance in Denmark in the following years. In these battles, Harald ravaged and burned the Viking Age town of Hedeby in the southernmost part of the Danish king’s realm. Harald finally recognized Sweyn as the king of Denmark in 1064. According to Snorre, Harald founded Oslo. Although Oslo is older, Harald may have contributed to the city’s development by building a royal estate and churches. Both in Oslo and Trondheim, he erected churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was only with King Harald that the unification of Norway was completed; the rebellious Oppland chieftains were subdued, and the Trøndelag chieftain Einar Tambarskjelve was eliminated. The Orkney and Shetland islands were firmly tied to the Norwegian kingdom. According to saga tradition, Harald sailed to England in 1066 with a fleet after being invited by the English Earl of Northumberland, Tostig Godwinson, brother of the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson. On September 25 of the same year, Harald fell at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. His two sons with Tora Torbergsdatter, Magnus and Olaf (Kyrre), then took over the kingship in Norway.