We know that the first men to appear in present Norway appeared as the ice age retreated. These people passed through Østfold, then probably an offshore island. Around Oslofjord in about 3-4000 BC, we see evidence that these peoples made a transition from hunter-gatherers to agriculture, though societies of hunters continued.
The geography of the Scandinavian countries is extremely mountainous. Lying, in part, north of the Arctic Circle, the land is cold and heavily marked by glaciers, which created the fjords, as shown above. The nations are heavily influenced by their extensive coastline, which is naturally protected by a screen of offshore islands, known as the skerry guard. Given the geography of the land, it is not difficult to imagine why they took to the sea.
Grave finds from the Roman Age 0-400 A.D. show trade with peoples to the south. Runic letters also appear at this time.
The period of 400-550 A.D. was a time of restlessness in northern Europe and we begin to see defensive positions being built, such as forts.
In about 430, the Danish King Frode, raised a large army from many conquered lands and defeated a king of the Huns. This is recorded by Saxo Grammaticus in Gesta Danorum.
In 515 the first Danish king known in contemporary souces, Huglic or Chocillaicus, is killed during an attack on the Franks.
By the 8th century, Norway included some 29 small kingdoms.
Charlemagne begins the Frankish invasion of the north in 772 though the deep woods of Holstein protect the Danes for several decades to come.
The Viking age begins about 800 AD and lasts until 1050. With stories of the Viking's cruelty and destruction, we know that the Vikings were interested in colonization. Scandinavia, over-populated and deforested had left the Scandinavian people a need to find new areas to colonize and trade.
The Vikings found Iceland and Greenland uninhabited and quickly established communities in those areas. Eric the Red led the Vikings to Greenland from Iceland in 875. The cause is unknown, but the Norwegian community in Greenland died out a few centuries later.
Most of the Norwegian Vikings came from southern and western Norway, where the land had been the most over-used. Previously uninhabited areas of northern and eastern Norway were also inhabited by those from the south and west.
The Vikings of Denmark and Norway tended to sail westward towards the islands of the Atlantic (England, Ireland, Scotland, etc.), while the Viking Swedes sailed eastward, towards Russia. Expert warriors, the Vikings pillaged and plundered the areas they found inhabited. Efficient merchants, craftsmen and farmers, they established new communities in areas they had conquered.
Vikings of Sweden, like those of Denmark and Norway, had two purposes in their expeditions: plunder and trade. Unlike Denmark and Norway, Swedish Vikings sailed eastward along the coasts of the Baltic Sea. Travelling along the rivers from the sea, the Swedish Vikings sailed deep into present Russia, establishing trading stations and short-lived principalities. Rurik at Novgorod is an example of one of these stations. Travelling as far as the Black and Caspian Seas, they established trade links with the Byzantines and the Arabs.
The Danes and the Norwegians pillaged Frankish held areas, where they were called "Northmen". Under their king, Rollow, the Vikings founded Normandy, later to be the birthplace of William the Conqueror and the Normans who conquered England in 1066. Rollo was recognized by the King of France as a duke.
The Vikings had long been a sea-going civilization. Evidence of Leif Eriksson, son of Eric the Red, and "Wineland the Good" or America in 1001 have been firmly established. It is now believed that the Vikings had been to America long before Eriksson.
The Danes sent the first ships to England in 787. This date is also confirmed by the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles.
Lindisfarne, off of England's northeast coast is burned and looted in 793.
During the 800's, the Norwegians became unified, establishing two types of communities: assemblies or "tings", organized around a central "Allting"; and petty kingships. These petty kings, strengthened through intermarriage, were tightly knit and held considerable power. Particularly powerful, the petty kings in the Viken around Oslofjord, brought district after district under their control and after a battle fought at Hafsfjord, near Stavenger in 872, King Harald I Hårfagre "Fairhair" of Vestfold became the ruler of large areas of the county. After many battles, this power was consolidated in 1060.
In 808, the Danes defeated the Slavic tribes.
Charlemagne met a united Danish army in 811, who successfully defended Danewerk and a Danish-Frankish border was established at the River Elder. Godfred, or perhaps a predecessor united the South and North Danes shortly before 800. A Danish hostage, Osfrid de Sconaowe, was sent to Charlemagne in Aachen. Southern Norway was probably also part of the Danish empire at that time.
Hamburg was raided and burned by Danish Vikings in 845 resulting in Arch-bishop Ansgar moving the Cathedral to Bremen.
By 874, the Danes controlled northern and eastern England.
Olaf Skötkonung of Svealand established a separate kingdom of Haithabu between 890 and 935, though Denmark would become a stable nation along with the Christianization of its kings. Harald Gormsson the "Black-Tooth" was baptized in 965.
In the ninth century, with the mission of Ansgar from the Carolingian Empire, Christianity first reached Sweden. By the eleventh century, Sweden was Christianized, though the old pagan religion survived until the late twelfth century.
About 1000, Norway is split into three parts by Olaf Skötkonung "the Stout" with his step-father, Svend Forkbeard, King of Denmark and the exiled Jarl Erik. King Olav Tryggvason was defeated and Jarl Erik received a third of Norway as his own and the part of Olaf Skötkonung as his vassal. The Viking Chieftain, King Olav Haraldsson defeated ald killed the son of Jarl Erik but united with Erik against King Olaf of Svealand.
The Christianization of Norway lasted over a period of perhaps two hundred years, through contact with a Christianized Europe and through trading connections and Viking raids. Missionaries from England, Germany and Denmark also contributed to this Christianization. Norway had three missionary kings: Håkon the Good, Olaf Trygvasson, and Olaf "the Stout" Haraldsson.
Sweden, like Norway and Denmark, had been composed of small kingdoms. These independent kingdoms in Sweden were united around 1000 unto a single kingdom with its center partly in Västergötland and Östergötland and partly in the provinces around Lake Mälaren, especially Uppland. The late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries were marked by a struggle for temporal power in Sweden between the Sverker and the Erik families. The primary administrative unit during this period were the provinces, each with its own assembly or "ting", as well as lawmen and laws.
King Svend Tveskaeg "Fork-Beard" conquered England, which remained in Danish control until 1042.
Danish participation is proven by rich grave finds from the Viking period (800-1050).
It is said that in the tenth century, Queen Thyre, wife of Gorm, King of Denmark, ordered all adult men to build a protective rampart along Denmark's southern border, in order to protect Denmark from Germany. This rampart was known as the Danewerk. It is now believed that the Danewerk predates Queen Thyra to about 737.
King Canute "the Great" of Denmark, in the eleventh century, ruled over a large expanse including Denmark, England, Norway, southern Sweden and parts of Finland. Christianity became widespread during his reign. In 1022 Canute conquered Norway. King Olaf escaped to his relative King Jaroslav in Novgorod and there raised an army. King Amund Jakob, King of Sweden, supported King Olaf "the Stout" Haraldson, great grandson of Harald I.
The battle of Stiklestad was fought at Trøndelag in 1030 and Olaf "the Stout" suffered a martyr death that gave him saint's status. Olaf was canonized as St.Olav. Following the death of Canute in 1035, the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance ended the Danish supremacy over Norway. The treaty stated that if one of the realm's kings died without heirs, the other would succeed him.
In 1042, King Hardeknud of Denmark died without an heir and Denmark and Norway were united once again under King Magnus. An uncle of King Magnus, Harald Hårdråde, returned from Constantinople and claimed half the kingdom. A battle ensued in which King Magnus was defeated and once again, the union between Denmark and Norway was split.
In 1066, King Harald Hårdråde was killed in the battle of Stamford Bridge, while attempting to conquer England. This marked the end of the Viking raids.
A Civil War in 1084 established Sverre as sole king. Sverre was the illegitimate son of King Sigurd. Under his leadership, the power of the monarchy was consolidated and new nobility was created, while simultaneously, the aristocratic administration was replaced with royal officials. Sverre had a firm hand in ruling the church, which led Pope Innocent III to excummicate him and place Norway under Papal interdict.
From the middle of the eleventh century, legislation and songs, as well as monuments are testimony to the solid establishment of Christianity in Norway and shortly before 1100, the first bishoprics appear. In the 1100's and 1200's, the power of the king was increased and victorious over the Church and the nobles. The former freemen, or farmers, were reduced to that of tenant, although the farmer rented his land on a lifetime basis and enjoyed more freedom than most farmers in contemporary Europe. In the High Middle Ages, the slaves of the Viking Age also disappeared.
The period of 1130-1227 was a period of civil wars in Norway, as pretenders to the throne fought to rule the kingdom. The year 1130 marks the period known as the High Middle Ages, a period of population grown, the consolidation of the church and the development of towns. Norway, under the Crown and the Church, was truly one realm.
The history of Scandinavia is recorded by Saxon in 1195.
The thirteenth century was to be the "Golden Age" in Scandinavia.
In the latter thirteenth century, the crown in Sweden gained more power and influence and with the addition of royal castles and provincial administration, was able to exert its authority to establish a central government and impose laws and ordinances for the entire kingdom. In Sweden, King Magnus Ladulås, in 1280, issued a statute establishing a temporal nobility and the organization of Sweden on the feudal model. A council was established with reperesentatives of society and of the church in order to advise the king.
Greenland and Iceland fell under Norwegian rule 1261-1262.
In 1266, King Magnus VI Lagabøter (Law-Mender) brought an end to a long protracted war with Scotland by selling, to Scotland the Isles of the Hebrides and the Isle of Man. This Magnus VI introduced a code of laws still in existence, replacing a local legal system with a unified code for the entire kingdom. These laws strengthened the position of the monarch by treating crime, not as a private matter, but as an offense against the King and the country. Municipal laws were also promulgated establishing an independent status for the church.
In 1319, King Magnus VII of Norway is elected as King of Sweden also. King Magnus VII was then only three years old. His coronation, in many ways, marks the end of Norway as an independent kingdom.
In Norway, the Black Death, called "Svartedauen" came in 1349-1350 and took a tremendous toll, perhaps half the population and reduced the area to perhaps one third its pre 1350 level. The effect of this devastation was to prompt the growth of political unions in the Nordic lands. In the marginal areas, many farms were deserted due to the plagues of the fourteenth century and the royal incomes deteriorated bringing on an economic depression in Norway. Lands and episcopal residences passed into foreign hands and the Norwegian nobility dwindled.
From 1319-1343, Norway and Sweden had a joint monarchy, later expanded through arranged marriages. Håkon VI (1340-80) -- son of the Swedish king Magnus Eriksson, and Håkon V's daughter Ingebjørg -- was lawful heir to the throne of Norway. He married Margrete, daughter of the Danish king Valdemar Atterdag. On the death of Valdemar in 1375, their son, Olav, was chosen to be Danish king . After his father's death in 1380, he inherited the throne, thus bringing Norway into a union with Denmark which lasted until 1814
Waldemar II, in the 13th century, conquered present Schleswig-Holstein, Pomernia, Mecklenburg and Estonia, establishing a nation of great power in Europe. A civil war between the nobles and the king for control of the country broke out. Christopher II (1320-1332) made major concessions to the nobles and clergy, limiting royal power. The establishment of the Hanseatic League by German nobles, also served to erode royal authority. Christopher's daughter, Margaret I (1387-1412), created the Kalmar Union, which included Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Greenland and part of Finland. Sweden and Finland revolted in 1520, seceding in 1523, though the union survived until 1814.
In Sweden, in 1350, under the reign of Magnus Eriksson, the various provincial law codes were superseded by a law code that was valid for the entire country.
Trade increased in the fourteenth century in Sweden, especially with the Germans under the leadership of Lübeck in the Hansa League. For the next two hundred years, the Hansa dominated Sweden's trade and a large number of towns were founded within Sweden due to the increased trade.
A treaty in 1450 established the union of Norway and Denmark. The treaty was to have ensured the power of the Norwegian Council of the Realm when a monarch was selected, however this agreement was never respected. The equality of the two realms was also stipulated in the treaty but this was never practiced.
In 1379, marriage ties linked Norway with both Sweden and Denmark. Danish Queen Margarethe, wife of Haakon VI, succeeded in gaining control of the country as their son, the king was only five years of age. The under-age king died in 1307 and with his death, the Norwegian royal house ended. The nobles of the Senate (Council of the Realm), elected Erik of Pomerania, Margarethe's grandnephew, as the new king. Margarethe was appointed as regent and under her rule Norway, Sweden and Denmark were united in the Union of Kalmar.
The reformation established the national Lutheran church during the reign of Christian III and in the following century, Christian IV intervened in the Thirty Years War as the champion of Protestantism.
Harald "the Fairhair"
Harald "the Fairhair" was the son of Halfdan "the Black" and his wife, Ragnhilda. Harald was ten years old when his father died of an accidental drowning. Harald fell under the guardianship of his mother's brother, Guthorm, who acted as regent. It was left to Guthorm to protect Harald's inheritance by preventing the boy's father's enemies from regaining their independence and recovering their territories. Harald became the master of an enlarged Vestfold, including Ringerike, Hedemark, Gudbrandsdal, Hadsland, Toten, Raumarike, and northern Vingulmark. Norway was now one country. Southwards was Denmark and more especially, Jutland. Westward, oversea, Harald's relatives, Olaf or Amlaibh, had won or were winning kingdoms in the British Isles. Northward lay the Trondheim jarls; rich in the needs of Europe such as hides, sea-ivory and down. What was needed for the goods to be transported was safe transport, which the Trondheim jarls were effecting. In this, the two greatest men in Norway came to turns, Hakon strengthened his grip on the Trondelag and was made jarl of Hladir and in return he recognized Harald's overlordship. Harald found himself free to marry Hakon's daughter and enlarge his father-in-law's already large holdings, while at the same time, wage war on the viking kingdoms in the west.
Harald's campaign against the Vestland was long and arduous. He found himself confronted by a warlike aristrocracy of sea-going pirates who had long been raiding west over sea. Time and fate brought Harald closer to Hafrsfjord, the most decisive battle in Scandinavian history. A host of disaffected kings and jarls gathered in the southwest, encountering Harald where he lay in wait at Stavenger. Harald arose the victor. This battle probably took place ca 885-900. Tradition states that following Hafrsfjord, many of Harald's enemies fled to the Shetlands, the Orkneys, and the Hebrides from which they then raided Norway. In an attempt to control these raids, Harald first attempted to establish a naval patrol, but the raids were too quick for the patrol to be effective. Harald sailed to these islands himself, putting his foes to the sword. Harald then claimed the islands of the Shetlands and Orkneys and appointed the family of the jarl Rognvald of Moer. Sigurd, Rognvald's brother became the first earl of Orkney.
Actually, Harald's power extended only over southern Norway, however, he was a king of Norway such as had never been seen before. The areas conquered by Harald suffered appropriation of their estates and in every shire (fylki), he appointed a jarl whose duty was to administer law and justice and collect the king's fines and dues. In return for this service, the jarl was allowed to retain one third of his collections. Beneath each jarl were four or more hersar. Each jarl was to provide 60 men to the king while each hersar provided 20 men. From the fur trade of the north, Harald received a toll, as well as from all Icelandic trade. Norwegians continued to live under the rule of local custom and Thing-Law. The importance of the Things was advanced under King Harald.
During his long life, Harald fathered many sons; some sources say as many as twenty by many mothers. Two of the sons stand out: Erik "Bloodaxe" and Hakon "the Good" who was fostered in England with King Athelstan. Many of Harald's sons were self-serving and turbulent.
Harald died 933/945 due to an illness in Hogaland and was buried in a mound on Karmay or by Haugasund in Rogland. Three years before his death, Harald passed his kingdom to his son, Erik "Bloodaxe". Most of Harald's daughters were married to Norwegian earls and from them many of the great families descend. Harald left no government to preserve his achievement and Norway quickly fell into former petty kingdoms.
Olaf, "the Saint"
Olaf "the Saint", King of Norway, son of Harald "the Greenlander" and Asta Gudbrandsdottir, first went to sea at the age of twelve in the care of Hrane, a trusted war veteran. In that fall of 1007, Olaf participated in his first battle against the Swedes and proved himself successful. Olaf would participate in four more battles before sailing to England. During Olaf's visit, King SveinForked beard died suddenly. Ethelred, King of the English had been in Flanders and upon hearing of Svein's death, returned to England and began to hire mercenaries to help him regain his country. Among those who joined him was Olaf. King Ethelred led them in an attack on the Danes in London Under Olaf's direction, a great victory was made at the London Bridge in which many Danes were killed when the bridge was loosened and broken and the Danes fell into the river to their deaths. Ethelred was successful in defeating the Danes and was hailed as King. Again, Olaf aided Ethelred at the battle of Canterbury. In this battle, King Olaf was entrusted with the entire battle and again Olaf was victorious. Olaf remained in England for three years, 1010-1012. While fighting Danes in Normandy, Olaf was met by the sons of King Ethelred who promised Olaf the land of Northumberland if Olaf was successful in helping them defeat the Danes, under King Canute, who had once again taken control of England. Olaf sent Hrane to England to collect men-at-arms. In the spring of 1014, Olaf and King Ethelred's sons set out for England. Though they were successful at first, they were unable to stand before Canute's force. Ethelred's sons fled to Rouen. Olaf proceeded to North umberland where he gained plunder before moving on to return to Norway. Before reaching Norway, Olaf managed to take Earl Hakon, son of Earl Erik, prisoner. After Earl Hakon took an oath that he would never fight against Olaf nor seek to defend Norway against him, King Olaf freed the earl and his men. Olaf's father had been killed by the Swedes when Olaf was young and Olaf was rased by his stepfather, Sigurd Syr. Upon returning to Norway, Olaf sought the advice of his step-father, Sigurd and his foster-father, Hrane. Olaf confided his plan to take the throne of Norway, which was his by right of his forefathers and of his plan to defeat, if necessary, his kinsman, Olaf Trygvason. Norway was divided into many kingdoms which were primarily ruled by descendants of Harald Harfager. It was to these kings that Olaf requested aid in his goal. Each of them gave their oath to support Olaf in his quest to become supreme king of Norway. Olaf was confirmed as king by the Thing (a body of men who determined government and kingship). Olaf spent the next year gathering support and battling enemies. The year 1016 found Olaf king of most of Norway and he began his goal of travelling throughout his country spreading Christianity to the people. He was a good king, giving his people peace and security. He had a strong feeling for the law and called the law assemblies, the Things, which kept their power and were strengthened through Olaf's chosen farm aristocrats rather than the old style kings. The ancient law based upon sword-points began to be replaced by legal procedure and law.
With Olaf's determination to make Norway a Christian nation, he brought Norway out of the past into the present, lessened her isolation and brought her into the fuller European civilization of the time. Olaf's methods were merciless. He executed the recalcitrant, blinded or maimed them, drove them from their homes, cast down their images and marred their sacred places. Baptism and the king's friendship were always available. Olaf's goal to establish a state church in Norway was remarkably effective. Olaf caused many churches to be built in Norway. By the time of Olaf's death, Norway was a Christian country.
Olaf married Astrid, daughter of Olaf, King of Sweden. Common interest and fear of the Danes helped to create the alliance between Norway and Sweden.
Olaf is described as being of medium height but stocky build, with light golden-brown hair and fair, piercing eyes. He was an expert swimmer, bowsman, and was skilled himself in smithwork. From birth, he was known as Olaf the Great.
Beginning in 1025-6, Canute began to turn his attention from England to the defense of Denmark. In this effort, he began to invade Norway and was successful in many Norwegian areas to the point where Canute's son, Svein, was able to force King Olaf to flee Norway, finding sanctuary with his kinsman Yaraslov in Russia. Canute travelled throughout Norway, dispensing wealth and even magnifying his spiritual devotion with a trip to Rome. His goal was to conqueor Norway bloodlessly and in many areas he was successful.
Early in 1030, Olaf began to make preparations to return to Norway. Accordingly, he sailed with 240 men to Gotland and from there he went on to sweden. Onund of Sweden provided Olaf with 480 men, with permission to recruit others as he was able. Olaf moved into the forests of Dalarna, where he was met by his half-brother, Harald (Hardradi) and other kinsmen. Olaf's enemies watched as Olaf moved towards Norway and as Olaf moved closer, his enemies began to gather their forces against him. Those great cheiftains who had accepted Canute's bribes, joined the enemies of Olaf.
Olaf was slain at age 35 on Wednesday, 29 Jul 1030, while fighting in the Battle of Stiklestad. He died of three wounds, the final blow being struck to the neck. Thorer Hund, one of Olaf's enemies, discovered the king's body and took care of it, laying it out on the ground and covering it with a cloak. As Thorer wiped the blood from the king's face, he was amazed to see the wound on the king's neck to become healed. It was part of a vision which Olaf had the night before the battle. Thereafter, Thorer spread the word of Olaf's sanctity. Following the battle, Thorgils Halmason and his son, Grim, went to the field of battle and, finding Olaf's body, took it to a hut on their farm. They removed the king's clothes and wrapped it in linen and hid it under some firewood. It is said that a blind man, seeking shelter, went into the hut and dropped his hat upon the floor. Feeling for the hat, he felt moisture on the floor. In replacing his hat upon his head, he accidentally put his fingers in his eyes, which were immediately stricken by a severe itch. He went out of the hut and was surprised to find that he could then see. Upon hearing the blind man's tale, Thorglis and Grim, fearing the king's enemies would discover the body, removed it to the garden. Thorer Hund returned to the spot where he had seen the king's body and not discovering it, left. Thorglis and Grim had seen a clear light burning over the battlefield where they had found the king's body and they had always seen a light burning over the body. They feared the king's enemies would discover the body and mutilate it. They determined to create a coffin for the body, and afterwards made another coffin in which they laid stones and straw. Once the enemie's army had left Stiklestad, they, along with seven or eight relatives, took the body to the boat and secured it under the foot-boards. They aslo carried the coffin containing the stones and placed it on the boat. They rowed to Nidaros, where Thorgil sent men to Biship Sigurd to say that they had the body. The bishop sent men in a boat and demanded the body. Thorgil and his men gave them the coffin with the stones and watched as the bishop's men rowed into the fjord and sank the coffin in the sea. At dark, Thorgil rowed up river to Saurhlid where they carried the king's body to an empty house. That night, Thorgil went to the king's best friends and ask if they would take charge of the body, but none dared. Thorgils and his men went higher up the river and buried the body in a sand-hill on the banks, leveling the ground so that none could see where the body had been buried.
That summer there was much talk of King Olaf's sanctity and there were many who believed that the king must be a saint. Reproaches were made against those who had excited the opposition to the king, including Bishop Sigurd, who was forced to flee to England. Bishop Grimkel, long a friend of King Olaf's and one of Olaf's principal councillors, went to Nidaros, where he inquired upon the miracles of King Olaf. He then sent a message to Thorgils and his son, Grim, inviting them to come to visit him. They set out immediately and confided to the bishop where they had put the body. The bishop then received permission from the king to exhume the body. When they arrived, they found the coffin had already raised itself almost to the surface. The coffin was opened and it is said that, though 12 months and five days had passed, the body appeared unaffected, with reddened cheeks.King Svein and all the chiefs went out to view the body. It was determined by the Thing that King Olaf should truly be considered a holy man. The body was taken to Clement's church, which had been founded by Olaf twenty years before, where it was placed near the high altar. It is said that a spring of water sprang forth from the spot where the body had been buried and that the water healed those of ailments and infirmities.
The army that defeated Olaf was said to be one of the largest ever assembled in Norway and consisted of 14,400 soldiers. Olaf was followed by 3,600 men, made up of Norwegians from south-eastern Norway, Swedes and an assortment of men.
Magnus I
Magnus I "the Good", son of Olaf, King of Norway, and his "frilla", Alfhild, was named after Charlemagne (Karla-Magnus). Magnus had been in Russia, when his father died and the boy was brought home to Norway, following his father's death. Magnus was then eleven years of age. Hordaknut, son of Canute and King of Denmark, met with Magnus and a treaty was signed in which each pledged their kingdom to the other in the event of their death.Upon Hordaknut's death, Magnus succeeded to the Danish throne. In 1043, Magnus turned his attention to the invasion of southern Jutland and the Slavonic Wends, which had been threatening Denmark. The night before the battle, Magnus had a vision through his father, that the Danes would be successful. He fought the battle using the battle axe of this father. When the battle ended there were 15,000 Wendish dead, ending the Wendish threat to Denmark. Svein Estridsson, Hordaknut's true heir with a realistic claim to the throne of Denmark, was a threat to Magnus. Magnus had met with Svein, who had promised Magnus his allegiance. In return, Magnus made Svein jarl and regent of Denmark. Once in Denmark, Svein began to plot against Magnus, but his plan was foiled as Magnus moved with speed and energy with his fleet against Denmark. Svein fled to Sweden. Magnus also had a claim to England through his treaty with Hordaknut, a claim which the English took seriously, as Magnus had already proven his military ability and naval strength. However, Magnus probably did not entertain serious notions of conquering England. His desire was to hold Norway and Denmark. In 1045, Svien, still in Sweden, met Harald Hardradi, the "thunder-bolt of the north", Magnus's uncle, half brother to Magnus's father, Olaf. Harald was almost a mythological legend in his own time. His valor and skill were legendary after serving for King Yaraslov in Russia, Poland in 1031, Byzantium in 1034. He was a professional mercenary who had fought in the Greek islands, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, palestine, Sicily and Bulgaria. He was fierce, resourceful, cunning, resilient, enduring and double-dealing with necessary. He was the "epitome of the viking who lived by rapine and war, believed in fame, riches and power." Harald had returned to lay claim to Norway to which he felt entitled as Olaf's half brother. Harald and Svein invaded Zealand and Fyn. Harald's aim was a kingdom or half-kingdom in Norway; Svein wanted Denmark. Harald then made contact with Magnus and an agreement was reached in which a division was made of Norwegian territories. Magnus died of sickness or accident in the autumn of 1047.
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