KINGS of NORWAY [872]-1028 – DOUBTFUL LINEAGE
HARALD, son of HALFDAN "Swarti/the Black" King of Vestfold & his second wife Ragnhild ([853/54] or 860-Hogaland 933, 934 or 940, bur Haugar in Karmtsund, near the church in Haugesund). The Historia Norwegie names "Haraldus Comatus" as son and successor of "Halfdanus…Niger", recording that he reigned for 73 years and had 16 sons[44]. Snorre names Harald as the son of Halfdan "the Black" & his second wife[45]. According to Snorre, Harald was ten years old when he succeeded his father as King at Vestfold[46]. He conquered the area around Trondheim where Haakon Grjotgardson Jarl of Haalogaland accepted his overlordship. He was supported by the Jarl of Möre. The local rulers farther south joined forces against Harald, but were defeated in the naval battle at Hafrsfjord, after which Harald became ruler of all Norway as HARALD I "Hårfagre/Harfagri/Fairhair" King of Norway. He corresponded with Athelstan King of Wessex, and dispatched a mission to England led by Helgrim and Osfrid who presented Athelstan with an ornate warship at York[47]. During his lifetime King Harald divided his kingdom between his sons and gave them all the title king. He decreed the title hereditary in the male line, and that his descendants in the female line should have the title Jarl. He granted:
Vingulmark, Raumarike, Vestfold and Thelamark to his sons Olav, Björn, Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils;
Hedemark and Gudbrandsdal to his sons Dag, Hring and Ragnar;
Ringerike, Hadeland, Thoten and their dependencies to his sons by Snæfrid;
Hordaland and Sogn to his sons Hrorek and Gudrod;
Halogaland, North More and Raumsdal to his son Eirik;
his son Guthrom retained the lands which he already controlled;
the land north of Trondheim to Halfdan "the Black", Halfdan "the White" and Sigrod.
The division resulted in major disputes between his sons about who would inherit the overall kingship[48]. The dating of this division is difficult to assess, but from the chronology of events recorded by Snorre it appears to have occurred before the birth of King Harald's son Haakon, which is dated to [919]. King Harald abdicated in 930 "when he was 80 years old" in favour of his son Erik, died three years later in 933, and was buried "under a mound at Haugar in Karmtsund, near the church in Haugesund"[49].
m firstly ASA Haakonsdatter, daughter of Jarl HAAKON Grjotgardson [Ladejarl] & his wife ---. Snorre records the marriage of King Harald and "Asa, a daughter of Earl Hakon Grjotgardson"[50].
m secondly GYDA, daughter of ERIK King at Hördeland & his wife ---. Snorre names "Gyda, daughter of King Eirik of Hordaland…brought up as foster-child in the house of a great bonde in Valdres", narrating that, when King Harald asked for her hand she refused, saying that she would only marry the person who ruled the whole of Norway, which inspired him to conquer the country[51]. Snorre records their marriage in a later passage[52].
m thirdly SVANHILD, daughter of EYSTEIN "Glumra" Jarl of the Uplanders [in Kristian and Hedemarken] & his wife ---. Snorre names "Snahild, a daughter of Earl Eystein" as one of the wives of King Harald[53].
m fourthly SNEFRIED, daughter of SVASE the Finn & his wife ---. Snorre names Snæfried, the daughter of Svase the Finn, who ensnared King Harald with a magic potion which was effective even after her death. The spell was only broken when her body was burned on a funeral pyre at which time "serpents and lizards and toads and every species of venomous reptile continued to issue from it"[54].
m fifthly ALVHILD, daughter of RING Dagsson of Ringerike & his wife ---. Snorre names "lastly Ashild, a daughter of Hring Dagson" as one of the wives of King Harald[55].
m sixthly ([894]) RAGNHILD Eriksdatter "the Rich", daughter of RÖRIK [Horik/Erik] [King of the Danes] & his wife --- (-[897). Snorre names "Ragnhild the Mighty, a daughter of King Eirik from Jutland" as one of the wives of King Harald, commenting that "it is said that he put away nine wives" when he married her[56]. According to Snorre, "Queen Ragnhild the Mighty" lived three years after she came to Norway[57].
Mistress (1): ---. The name of King Harald's first mistress is not known.
Mistress (2): THORA Mosterstang, daughter of ---. Snorre names Thora Mosterstang "from Moster…connected with Kare Aslakson of Hordaland" as the mother of King Harald's son Haakon[58].
In addition to the sons referred to below, the Historia Norwegie names "sextus Gunrodus…decimus Eusteinus, XI Iorundus, XIII Ynguar, XIV Truggui, XV Ringr, XVI Rolfr" as sons of "Haraldus Comatus"[59]. These sons are not named in the Sagas and have been omitted from this document.
King Harald I & his first wife had four children:
1. GUTTORM (-killed in battle after [915]). Snorre names "the eldest Guthorm, Halfdan "the Black" and Halfdan "the White"…twins and Sigfrod…fourth" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Asa[60]. He was named after, and brought up by, "Guthorm the Duke" who ruled Viken and the Uplands in the king's absence[61]. After the death of Guthorm's fosterfather at Tunsberg, King Harald installed his son Guthorm as chief in his place[62]. In his father's division of territories, he was confirmed as king in the land from Glommen to Svinasund and Ranrike[63]. He was killed by Solve "Klofe" while defending Viken against attack[64], dated from the chronology of the passages to after his father's division of his territories.
2. HALFDAN "Swarti/the Black" (-Trondheim [932]). Snorre names "the eldest Guthorm, Halfdan "the Black" and Halfdan "the White"…twins and Sigfrod…fourth" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Asa[65]. He fought alongside his brother Halfdan the White in Estonia64. Under his father's division of territories, the land north of Trondheim was granted to Halfdan "the Black", Halfdan "the White" and Sigrod[66]. After attempting to murder his half-brother Erik at a farm at Solve in More, Halfdan was reconciled with Erik after Guthorm Sindre intervened with King Harald[67]. On his father's abdication in favour of Halfdan's half-brother Erik, Halfdan "also took a king's high seat" ruling over Tröndheim "with the consent of all the people". He died suddenly at a feast in Tröndheim 2 years later, "the general report was that Gunhild [wife of his half-brother Erik] had bribed a witch to give him a death drink"[68].
3. HALFDAN "Hvide/the White" (-killed in battle Estonia after [915]). Snorre names "the eldest Guthorm, Halfdan "the Black" and Halfdan "the White"…twins and Sigfrod…fourth" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Asa[69]. Under his father's division of territories, the land north of Trondheim was granted to Halfdan "the Black", Halfdan "the White" and Sigröd[70]. Halfdan "the White" was killed in battle in Eistland [Estonia], fighting alongside his brother Halfdan the Black[71], dated from the chronology of the passages to after his father's division of territories.
4. SIGRÖD (-killed in battle Tunsberg 934, bur Tunsberg). Snorre names "the eldest Guthorm, Halfdan "the Black" and Halfdan "the White"…twins and Sigfrod…fourth" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Asa[72]. Under his father's division of territories, the land north of Trondheim was granted to Halfdan "the Black", Halfdan "the White" and Sigrod[73]. Sigröd was chosen as king at Tröndheim after the death of his brother Halfdan. After his father's death he took "all the revenues … of the Tröndheim country" with which his half-brother King Erik I was "very ill-pleased". The latter sailed for Tunsberg in Vike, where Sigröd had joined forces with his half-brother Olav, and defeated and killed the two of them[74].
King Harald I & his second wife had five children:
5. ALOF "Aarbod/Season-bettering". Snorre names "Alof…the eldest…their son Hrorek, then Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils" as the children of King Harald and his wife Gyda[75]. Snorre records that King Harald gave Jarl Thore his daughter "Alof, called Arbot" after the king confirmed him as Jarl of Möre[76]. m ([890]) THORE Ragnvaldsson "Tause/the Silent" Möre-Jarl, son of [RAGNVALD "the Wise" Jarl of Möre in Norway & his wife Ragnhild].
6. RÖREK. Snorre names "Alof…the eldest…their son Hrorek, then Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils" as the children of King Harald and his wife Gyda[77].
7. SIGGTRYGG. Snorre names "Alof…the eldest…their son Hrorek, then Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils" as the children of King Harald and his wife Gyda[78]. The Historia Norwegie names "Sigtrygr" as twelfth son of "Haraldus Comatus"[79]. Under his father's division of territories, Vingulmark, Raumarike, Vestfold and Thelamark were granted to Olav, Björn, Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils[80].
8. FRODE. Snorre names "Alof…the eldest…their son Hrorek, then Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils" as the children of King Harald and his wife Gyda[81]. Under his father's division of territories, Vingulmark, Raumarike, Vestfold and Thelamark were granted to Olav, Björn, Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils[82]. With his brother Thorgils, he plundered Scotland and Ireland, becoming joint king in Dublin, where he was allegedly poisoned[83].
9. THORGILS. Snorre names "Alof…the eldest…their son Hrorek, then Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils" as the children of King Harald and his wife Gyda[84]. Under his father's division of territories, Vingulmark, Raumarike, Vestfold and Thelamark were granted to Olav, Björn, Sigtryg, Frode and Thorgils[85]. With his brother Frode, he plundered Scotland and Ireland, becoming joint king in Dublin, sole king after his brother's death, until he was killed by the Irish[86]
King Harald I & his third wife had three children:
10. OLAV Geirstadaalf (-killed in battle Tunsberg 934, bur Tunsberg). The Historia Norwegie names "Olauus" as third son of "Haraldus Comatus"[87].
- see below.
11. BJÖRN. The Historia Norwegie names "Berno" as fourth son of "Haraldus Comatus"[88].
- see below.
12. RAGNAR Rykkil. Under his father's division of territories, Hedemark and Gudbrandsdal were granted to Dag, Hring and Ragnar[89]. m ---. The name of Ragnar's wife is not known. Ragnar & his wife had one child:
a) AGNAR Ragnarsson. The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. m ---. The name of Agnar's wife is not known. Agnar & his wife had one child:
i) RAGNAR Agnarsson. The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified.
King Harald I & his fourth wife had four children[90]:
13. SIGURD "Hrise" . Snorre names "Sigurd Hrise…Halfdan Haleg, Gudrod Ljome and Ragnvald Rettilbeine" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Snæfrid[91]. The Historia Norwegie names "Siwardus…Gigas" as sixth son of "Haraldus Comatus"[92]. Morkinskinna recites the descent of “Harald Sigurdarson” from “Harald hárfagri”, to “Sigurdr hrisi”, to “Hálfdan, father of Sigurdr sýr, the father of Haraldr”, adding that these ancestors were all “kings of Hringaríki in Norway”[93].
- see below.
14. HALFDAN "Haaleg" (-killed in battle [894]). Snorre names "Sigurd Hrise…Halfdan Haleg, Gudrod Ljome and Ragnvald Rettilbeine" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Snæfrid[94]. The Historia Norwegie names "Halfdanus Hafoeta" as eighth son of "Haraldus Comatus"[95]. Snorre records that, with his brother Gudred Liomi he surprised Ragnvald Mörejarl [ancestor of the Dukes of Normandy and Jarls of Orkney] in his hall in [894] and burned him alive[96]. Orkneyinga Saga records that “Halfdan Long-Leg and Gudrod Gleam, King Harald´s sons by Snæfrid” attacked “Earl Rognvald of More, killed him and assumed his authority”, that Halfdan left for Orkney and “conquered the islands and set himself up as king over them”, Jarl Einar “fled the islands over to Scotland” but returned “later in the year…[and] came out as victor”, and that Halfdan´s body was found in the sea and mutilated (including graphic details of the mutilation)[97]. He was killed by Einar I "Turf-Einar" Jarl of Orkney after he invaded Orkney following the death of Jarl Ragnvald[98]. The Historia Norwegie records that "Halfdan…Hafota" was murdered by the men of Orkney[99].
15. GUDRÖD Ljome . Snorre names "Sigurd Hrise…Halfdan Haleg, Gudrod Ljome and Ragnvald Rettilbeine" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Snæfrid, recording that Gudröd requested his foster-father Thjodolf of Hvin to intercede with their father on their behalf[100]. The Historia Norwegie names "Guthrodus" as seventh son of "Haraldus Comatus"[101]. He seized Möre after murdering Jarl Ragnvald but was expelled by his father and sent to Agder[102]. Orkneyinga Saga records that “Halfdan Long-Leg and Gudrod Gleam, King Harald´s sons by Snæfrid” attacked “Earl Rognvald of More, killed him and assumed his authority”, but that Gudröd “gave himself up to his father”[103]. Under his father's division of territories, Ringerike, Hadeland, Thoten and their dependencies were granted to his sons by Snæfrid[104]. His boat was lost in a storm while he was travelling north to Rogaland while visiting his foster-father Thjodolf in Hvin[105].
16. RAGNVALD Rettilbein. Snorre names "Sigurd Hrise…Halfdan Haleg, Gudrod Ljome and Ragnvald Rettilbeine" as the four sons of King Harald and his wife Snæfrid[106]. The Historia Norwegie names "Rogualdus Recilbein" as ninth son of "Haraldus Comatus", recording that he was reared by a sorceress "in prouincia Hatlandia" and became skilled in the same art[107]. Under his father's division of territories, Ringerike, Hadeland, Thoten and their dependencies were granted to his sons by Snæfrid[108]. He "allowed himself to be instructed in the arts of witchcraft and became an area warlock", being burned in his house as punishment by his half-brother Erik on the orders of their father who was "a hater of all witchcraft"[109]. According to the Historia Norwegie, he was reputedly drowned "in Hatlandia" on the orders of his father[110]. m ---. The name of Ragnvald's wife is not known. Ragnvald & his wife had one child: