Harald Fair Hair was 10 years of age when he became a "under" king. Before becoming a unified Kingdom, Norway was made up of many smaller coastal fiefdoms or kinglets each with its’ own ruler. Following the death of his father Harold inherited the lands of Sogn, Agder and Vingulmark.
Death of Halvdan The Black Haralds Father
In 860 A.D. King Halvdan Gudrødsson died. On his way home from a feast at Hadeland he stopped at a watering hole on Randsfjord. The ice surrounding the watering hole had been weakend by the spring thaw and pitted from cattle dung. The ice being weak, Halvdan and his horse and sleigh fell under the water and he drowned. As he had no elder brothers Harald became king.
Harald Marries Gyda Daughter To Eirik The King of Hordaland
There were many chieftains who wanted to take the lands left to Harald by his father. During these times Harald was supported and advised by his uncle, Guthorm who was the head of Halvdan’s army. They set about protecting their lands and one by one defeated their adversaries.
Once the rivals were subdued Harald proposed marriage to Gyda, the beautiful daughter of Eirik King of Hordaland. However, before she would accept, she challenged Harald to become Norway’s one and only King. Harald accepted the challenge and also vowed that he would not wash or cut his hair until he had succeeded. It would take twelve long years before he would have his hair cut.
Harald- King of Norway
At the age of 16 Harald began his conquest of the local chieftains of Hedemark, Ringerike, Gudbrandsdal, Hadeland, Thoten, Raumarike, and the whole northern part of Vingulmark as well as Vermeland and Hålogaland in the north. Then in 872 Harald sailed to Stavanger in the west.
In 872 Harald defeated the western Norwegian Kings, lead by Kjotve the Rich, at the battle of Harsfjord near Stavanger. Kjovte fled with many of his followers and other enemies of Harald and hid out in places such as the Orkneys, Iceland, Hebrides, Shetlands and Faroe Islands as well as mainland Scotland. Those that remained were taxed so heavily by Harald that many of them decided to leave Norway.
Harald’s Sons Rebel
Harald is reputed to have had between 12 and 20 sons, though it seems he had sired 23 children including 3 daughters, by 8 different mothers.
Harald only had trouble with his sons. Not only were they jealous of each other, they were also jealous of the way in which Harald rewarded the loyalty of his earls.
Two of Harald's sons, Halvdan Haaleg and Gudrød Ljome decided to murder one of Haralds favourite Earls, Rognwald. Together with many followers they surrounded Rognwald’s house and burned it to the ground as Rognwald and sixty of his men slept inside.
Gudrød replaced Rognwald as the local Earl, while Halvdan left for the Orkney Islands intent on killing another of Heralds’ Earls, Torv-Einar. Torv-Einar was surprised by the attack but managed to escape and returned with an army of men and killed all of the attackers he could find including Halvdan Haaleg.
Harald sailed to the Orkney Islands to take his revenge on Torv-Einar for the killing of his son. When Torv-Einar explained to him what had happened, Harald decided a fine was sufficient punishment and on payment of sixty gold marks the matter was forgotten.
Harald Fairhair Reign and Death
In later years Harald ruled side by side his favourite son Eirik Bloodaxe, in 930 at the age of 80 he ceded sole power to his Eirik. Three years later, 933, Harald died in his bed at the age of 83. Harald ruled Norway from 872 until 930 a total of 58 years.
Sources :
Heimskringla, by Snorri Sturlson ca. 1225
