 Harald I "Haarfager" 1St King Of Norway, son of Halfdan "The Black" King Of Vestfold and Ragnhild Sigurdsdottir.Born ± 850 at Buskerud, Norway, died ± 936 at Hauko, Rogaland, Norway, approximately 86 years King of Vestfold, King of Norway, had many wives and concubines, undertook conquest of Norway to win Gytha, and until successful refused for ten years to cut or comb hair (called Lufa, "the Slovenly"), became 1st King of all Norway abt. 883/890, cut hair after conquest (then called "Fairhair"), won Gytha, d. abt. 936. MISC: Harald inherited three small domains from his father in eastern, central, and western Norway, and set out to conquer the rest of Norway. According to the medieval saga, he was motivated by the refusal of Gyda (another petty king's daughter) to marry him until he had conquered all of Norway. According to the story, King Harald declared that he would not cut or comb his hair until he had conquered all of Norway. When he finally had victory about ten years later, he then had his hair done and was called "Fairhair." The chieftains of western Norway were the hardest to defeat, but Harald attained his victory in the Battle of Hafrsfjord about 885. Harald was a strong ruler, and managed to unite Norway. At Harald's death, his sons divided Norway with the favorite son, Eric Bloodaxe, as the overking, but dissensions and wars disrupted the unity of the country. Alternatively, there are references that spell his first name "Harold," and list his death date as being 933 or 945. He succeeded to the throneof his father's kingdom as a child in 860. Age at death: Over 72. He wasthe first king of United Norway. [Sharen Neal, MJR6387, worldconnect.rootsweb.com] --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------ following is from Randy Jones, World Connect db=randyj2222, rootsweb.com: --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------ The history of Norway prior to the late tenth century is extremely obscure, and the lineage of Harald is uncertain prior to his father. The old poem Ynglingatal is quoted (incompletely, with some missing stanzas of unknown content) in Heimskringla (early thirteenth century), and appearsto have been composed in the late ninth or early tenth century, although that is not certain. Even if we grant for the moment that Heimskringla quotes an accurate version of an early poem, we still have the fact that Ynglingatal only gives the names of the kings, and does not supply any of the genealogical relationships which appear in so many later sources. It is not until sources of the twelfth century that there is any clear indication that the king mentioned in each stanza was regarded as the son of the king mentioned in the previous stanza, and this could easily be a very late invention. That the kings listed in the last few stanzas existed may be regarded as likely, but they remain very shadowy figures whose exact historical and genealogical connections are nebulous. At various times in the past, attempts have been made to identify one or more of them with individuals known from contemporary historical sources, but there are noidentifications of the kings in Ynglingatal with known historical figures which can be regarded as certain. -- Stewart Baldwin The source for this is a fragment of Ynglingatal repeated in Snorri's Heimskringla. Snorri wrote his work about 400 years after the events it is describing. It tells of Olaf Tree-Cutter founding Norway, and passing it to his son Halfdan Whiteleg. Halfdan had sons Eystein and Gudrod. Eystein had a son Halfdan. He was followed by Gudrod, sonof Halfdan, and he was father of Olaf, father of Ragnevald, for whom the original poem was composed. The classical reconstruction is that this is a straight shot (Olaf- Halfdan- Eystein- Halfdan- Gudrod- Olaf- Ragnevald). However, it has been suggested that Gudrod, son of Halfdan Whiteleg sticks out like a sore thumb. He neither succeeded, nor is there any reason for him being mentioned at all (no other "other sons" are mentioned). Maybe, the speculation runs, he is the Gudrod Halfdanson who later became king - that Married at 1st Wife to:  Swanhilda Eysteinsdottir, (Queen), daughter of Eystein "Glumra" Ivarsson, Jarl Of The Upplands and Aseda Rognvaldsdottir.Born ± 855 at Maer, Nord-Trondelag, Norway Name Suffix: Children: 1. Olaf HaraldssonBorn ± 877 at Oslo, Norway, died 934 at Tonsberg, Norway, approximately 57 years According to medieval historian, Snorii Sturluson, Olav's father, King Harald I(Haarfagre/Fairhair), bestowed the title of "King" to his sons and divided theland between them to rule. He was also called "Olav of Viken" and "Olaf Geirstatha-Alf." The name of his wife is unknown. --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------ Information copied from Wayne Iverson, World Connect db=wiversrm, rootsweb.com --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------ He took over Westfold in 930 after brother Bjørn was slain by brother Erik. He raised Guthroth Bjørnsson as a foster child. He had taken overRanrike in about 900 after brother Guthorm was slain by Solvi Klofi. After his father, King Harald Fairhair, died in 933 and brother Erik "Bloodaxe" took over, he and bother Sigroth agreed to meet the next spring in Tonsberg. Erik summoned a great force and sailed to Tonsberg and killed both Olaf and Sigroth in a battle in the hills east of town. 2. Biorn "The Merchant" Underking Of VestfoldBorn ± 880 at Norway, died ± 927 at Murdered By Brother Eric "Bloodaxe" At Sacheim, Norway, approximately 47 years, buried at Owned Merchant Ships OCCUPATION: Under-king in Vesfold, owned merchant ships DEATH: Murdered by his brother Eric "Bloodaxe" MISC: He ruled over Westfold, and usually residedin Tnsberg where many merchant ships came and went. He had merchantmen who sailed to other lands and brought things back for him. The medieval historian, Snorri Sturluson describes him as a shrewd man with a calm disposition who engagedin little warfare. He is said to have had a good marriage. Bjrn's half-brother, Eric ("Bloodaxe"), while on the road and in need of provisions, came to Bjrn, demanding to be given the taxes due their father, saying he would deliver the taxes to their father for Bjrn who usually took care of that himself. Bjrn refused to give him the revenue. The two fought, and Bjrn was killed. The name of his wife is unknown. | |||
| 2nd marriage Harald I "Haarfager" 1St King Of Norway, son of Halfdan "The Black" King Of Vestfold and Ragnhild Sigurdsdottir.Married before 885 at 3rd Wife to: Gyda EriksdottirBorn ± 852 at Hordaland, Norway, died DecEASED Child: 1. Alof "Aarbod" Haraldsdottir Princess Of NorwayBorn ± 885 at Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag, Norway, died DecEASED Ancestral File Number: 1 NAME /Aarbod/ 2 GIVN 2 SURN Aarbod Ancestral File Number: | |||
| 3rd marriage Harald I "Haarfager" 1St King Of Norway, son of Halfdan "The Black" King Of Vestfold and Ragnhild Sigurdsdottir.Married before 902 at 4th Wife (at least 10 years married) to: Snaefrid "Snowfair" Swasisdottir, daughter of Svasse The Finn and N.N..Born ± 862 at Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag, Norway, died after 912 Information copied from Wayne Iverson, World Connect db=wiversrm, rootsweb.com --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -------------------- She was King Harald's fourth wife of six. He fell madly inlove with the beautiful daughter of the Finn, Svasi, who the king had allowed to set up his tent on a slope of the hillside near Thoptar in the Oppland district. Children: Sigurd Rise Halfdan Gutroth Rognvald Haraldsson Rettilbeine She died but Harald believed she would come back to life as she retained her color. Finally, after 3 years the corpse was corrupt and burned. But before herbody became livid, all kinds of worms, adders, frogs and toads and vipers crawled out of it. Children: 1. Sigurd "Rise" Haraldsson, Under King TrondheimBorn ± 902 at Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag, Norway, died ± 937, approximately 35 years Name Suffix: Information copied from Wayne Iverson,World Connect db=wiversrm, rootsweb.com --------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- -------------------- After King Harald witnessed the cremation of Sigurd's mother, he felt he had been deceived by the Finn woman and banished her four sons. Later he relented and Sigurd was sent toRingarike. All sons became gallant men. Sigurd was reported as king of Ringarike in 950. 3. Halfdan Haraldsson, Prince NorwayBorn ± 914 at Hadeland, Askerhus, Norway, died ± 915, approximately 1 years Name Suffix: 1 NAME /Haaleg/ 2 GIVN 2 SURN Haaleg 4. Gudrod HaraldssonBorn ± 916 at Hadeland, Askerhus, Norway, died DecEASED 1 NAME /Ljome/ 2 GIVN 2 SURN Ljome 5. Rognvald Haraldsson, Prince NorwayBorn ± 918 at Hadeland, Askerhus, Norway, died DecEASED Name Suffix: 1 NAME /Retillbein/ 2 GIVN 2 SURN Retillbein | |||