The Hardrada dynasty ( no, Hardrådeætta) was a powerful royal
dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
which ruled, at various times in history, the
Kingdom of Norway, the
Kingdom of Mann and the Isles
The Kingdom of the Isles consisted of the Isle of Man, the Hebrides and the islands of the Firth of Clyde from the 9th to the 13th centuries AD. The islands were known to the Norse as the , or "Southern Isles" as distinct from the or Nort ...
, and the
Earldom of Orkney.
The royal house was founded, albeit unknowingly, by
Harald Sigurdsson
Harald Sigurdsson (; – 25 September 1066), also known as Harald III of Norway and given the epithet ''Hardrada'' (; modern no, Hardråde, roughly translated as "stern counsel" or "hard ruler") in the sagas, was King of Norway from 1046 t ...
when he was made king of Norway. His descendants would expand the influence, wealth and power of the dynasty after his death at
Stamford Bridge Stamford Bridge may refer to:
* Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, a village in England
** Battle of Stamford Bridge, 25 September 1066
* Stamford Bridge (bridge), a bridge in the village of Stamford Bridge
* Stamford Bridge (stadium), in L ...
September 25, 1066. It is very unlikely that the rulers ever referred to their dynasty as the "House of Hardrada", this is a term coined for the dynasty by modern historians. The younger saga writers (not the kings themselves) claimed that Harald Hardrada descended from Norway's first king
Harald Fairhair
Harald Fairhair no, Harald hårfagre Modern Icelandic: ( – ) was a Norwegian king. According to traditions current in Norway and Iceland in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, he reigned from 872 to 930 and was the first King of Nor ...
, but this is not accepted as historically correct by most modern historians.
It replaced the
Saint Olaf dynasty, and was again replaced by the
Gille branch, whose founder
Harald Gille claimed to be a descendant of the Hardrada line. Sometimes this line is considered a part of the House of Hardrada. The line was briefly restored under
Magnus Erlingsson, a cognatic descendant of the dynasty, but was replaced again by the
House of Sverre
The House of Sverre ( no, Sverreætten) was a royal house or dynasty which ruled, at various times in history, the Kingdom of Norway, hereunder the kingdom's realms, and the Kingdom of Scotland. The house was founded with King Sverre Sigurdsson ...
in 1184.
List of kings and rival kings
The rulers within the royal house or dynasty would often have a "rival king" to oppose the "legitimate" king's right to rule the realm and dominions (rival kings noted in bold). Here is a list of the rulers when the house held the power in Norway:
*
Harald Hardrule ''Harald Hardråde'': 1046–1066
*
Magnus Haraldsson ''Magnus II of Norway'' : 1066–1069
*
Olaf the Peaceful ''Olav Kyrre'' or ''Olaf III of Norway'': 1066–1093
*
Håkon Magnusson : 1093–1094
*
Magnus Barefoot ''Magnus Berrføtt'' or ''Magnus III of Norway'': 1093–1103
*
Olaf Magnusson : 1103–1115
*
Øystein Magnusson ''Eystein I of Norway'': 1103–1123
*
Sigurd the Crusader ''Sigurd Jorsalfare'' or ''Sigurd I of Norway'': 1103–1130
*
Magnus the Blind
Magnus Sigurdsson (c. 1115 – 12 November 1139), also known as Magnus the Blind, was King of Norway (being Magnus IV) from 1130 to 1135 and again from 1137 to 1139. His period as king marked the beginning of the civil war era in Norway, which las ...
''Magnus Blinde'' or ''Magnus IV of Norway'': 1130–1135
**
Sigurd the Noisy ''Sigurd Slembe'': 1135–1139, rival king
*
Magnus Erlingsson ''Magnus V of Norway'' : 1161–1184
**
Olav Ugjæva ''Olav Gudbrandsson'': 1166–1169, rival king
**
Sigurd Magnusson : 1193–1194, rival king
**
Inge Magnusson : 1196–1202, rival king
**
Erling Stonewall ''Erling Steinvegg'': 1204–1207, rival king
References
{{Royal houses of Norway
Hardrada
Norwegian monarchy