Harald HardradaHarald Sigurdsson (Old Norse: Haraldr Sigurðarson; c. 1015 – 25 September 1066), also known as Harald Hardrada or Harald III, was King of Norway from 1046 to 1066. He unsuccessfully claimed the Danish throne until 1064 and the English throne in 1066 but was unsuccessful and got shot in the throat by an arrow at the battle of Stamford Bridge.
HeimskringlaHeimskringla (Icelandic pronunciation:) is the best known of the Old Norwegian kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland. While authorship of Heimskringla is nowhere attributed, some scholars assume it is written by the Icelandic knight, poet and historian, Snorri Sturluson (1178/79–1241) c. 1230. The title Heimskringla was first used in the 17th century, derived from the first two words of one of the manuscripts (kringla heimsins, "the circle of the world").
Battle of Stamford BridgeBelligerentsKingdom of EnglandKingdom of NorwayEarldom of OrkneyEnglish rebelsCommanders and leadersHarold GodwinsonMorcar, Earl of NorthumbriaEdwin, Earl of MerciaHarald Hardrada†Tostig Godwinson†Eystein Orre†Strength10,500–15,0009,000–11,000 (of which 3,000 engaged late in battle)300 transport shipsCasualties and losses Unknown 6,000–8,000+ dead or missingThe Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire, in England, on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada and the English king's brother Tostig Godwinson.Tora TorbergsdatterTora Torbergsdatter (Old Norse: Þóra Þorbergsdóttir, born 1025 – year of death unknown: fl. 1066) was a Norwegian royal consort. She was the mother of two kings of Norway. It is possible, but unconfirmed, that she was also queen of Denmark or Sweden. BiographyTora Torbergsdatter was born on Giske in what is now Møre og Romsdal county in Norway. She belonged to the Giskeætten, a powerful family from Giske in Sunnmøre.
Snorri SturlusonSnorri Sturluson (Old Norse:; Icelandic:; 1179 – 23 September 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet, knight, and politician. He was elected twice as lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament, the Althing.
BergenBergen (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈbæ̀rɡən] , locally [ˈbæ̂ʁgæn]) is a city and municipality in the Vestland county on the west coast of Norway. Bergen is the second-largest city in Norway after the capital, Oslo. At the beginning of 2026, the population was 294,860, according to Statistics Norway. The municipality covers 465 square kilometres (180 sq mi) and is on the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen.
Norwegian languageNorwegian (endonym: norsk [ˈnɔʂːk] , norsk språk [ˈnɔʂːk sproːk]) is a North Germanic language from the Indo-European language family spoken mainly in Norway, where it is an official language. Along with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a dialect continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional varieties; some Norwegian and Swedish dialects, in particular, are very close.
Old NorseNorth Germanic languageOld Norse was a North Germanic language spoken in Scandinavia and in Norse settlements during the Viking Age and the early Middle Ages (approximately the 8th–14th centuries).
Monarchy of NorwayThe monarchy of Norway is the system used in Norway by which a reigns as head of state under a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. The Norwegian monarchy can trace its line back to the reign of Harald Fairhair and the previous petty kingdoms which were united to form Norway; it has been in unions with both Sweden and Denmark for long periods.
Norman ConquestThe Norman Conquest of England (or the Conquest) was an 11th-century invasion by an army made up of thousands of Norman, French, Flemish, and Breton troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conqueror. William's claim to the English throne derived from his familial relationship with the childless Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor, who may have encouraged William's hopes for the throne.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.