Harald Norway
Harald I Halfdansson "Fairhair" King of Norway, Male 858 - 934
Married to Swanhilda Eysteinssdottir. Married to Snaefird Swasisdottir. Married to Ragnahild Eriksdottir. Father of Ingeborg Haraldsdottir, Alof Haraldsdatter, Eric Norway, Olaf Haraldsson, Bjorn Vestfold and Sigurd Throndheim. Son of Halfdan Vestfold and Ranghild Sigurdsdottir.
King of Vestfold, King of Norway, had many wives and concub
ines, undertook conquest of Norway to win Gytha, and unti
l successful refused for ten years to cut or comb hair (cal
led Lufa, "the Slovenly"), became 1st King of all Norway ab
t. 883/890, cut hair after conquest (then called "Fairhair"
), won Gytha, d. abt. 936.
r in eastern, central, and western Norway, and set out to c
onquer the rest of Norway. According to the medieval saga
, he was motivated by the refusal of Gyda (another petty ki
ng's daughter) to marry him until he had conquered all of N
orway. According to the story, King Harald declared that h
e would not cut or comb his hair until he had conquered al
l of Norway. When he finally had victory about ten years la
ter, he then had his hair done and was called "Fairhair." T
he chieftains of western Norway were the hardest to defeat
, but Harald attained his victory in the Battle of Hafrsfjo
rd about 885. Harald was a strong ruler, and managed to uni
te Norway. At Harald's death, his sons divided Norway wit
h the favorite son, Eric Bloodaxe, as the overking, but dis
sensions and wars disrupted the unity of the country.
me "Harold," and list his death date as being 933 or 945.
ld in 860.
Sources
- Ballard, Mark W..ged - provided by LifeTimes Research
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