Ancestors of Harald Fairhair
Harald Fairhair is regarded as the founder and first king of Norway. His birth name was Harald Halvdansson and although uncertain he was most likely born around the year 850 in Vestfold, Norway to parents Halvdan Svarte, in English known as Halfdan the Black and Ragnhild Haraldsdatter.
Halfdan the Black supposedly belonged to the House of Yngling, the oldest known Scandinavian Dynasty originating in Uppsala in Sweden. According to Yngliga Saga and Ynglingatal, an example of the old Norse literary art known as Skaldekvad written by Tjodolv from Kvine, a Skald, a poet or historian who would compose at the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders in the Viking- and Middle Ages, the semi- legendary House of Yngling were descendants of the Norse Gods in Norse Mythology. Although indeed a very fascinating read, most historians today reject that Halfdan the Black, and consequently Harald Fairhair were descendants of the House of Yngling.
The birth of Halfdan the Black
Author of the most important literary works in Norwegian history, Younger Edda, a narrative on Norse Mythology and Heimskringla, the history of the Norwegian kings, beginning with legendary material in Yngligesagaen, in English known as Yngliga Saga, moving on to early medieval Scandinavian history, Icelandic historian Snorre Sturlason, known in Icelandic and English as Snorri Sturluson, Halfdan the Black was son of Gudrød Halvdansson Veidekonge, also known as Gudrød the Hunter and Gudrød the Magnificent, and Åsa Haraldsdotter. Gudrød Veidekonge, son of Halfdan the Mild, King of Vestfold and Romerike and Liv Dagsdatter, daughter of the King of Vestmar was according to Snorre Sturlason King of Vestfold, Romerike and Vingulmark. His wife Åsa Haraldsdotter was daughter of King Harald Granraude of Agder and a reputed beauty popular amongst men at the time. When his first wife passed, Gudrød Veidekonge sent his men to see Harald Granraude in hope that he would give his blessing and allow Gudrød to propose to his daughter. Determined to not give up without a fight Gudrød decided to take matters into his own hands by kidnapping the young bride to be. Although eventually successful in his attempt to both kidnap and later marry Åsa, both Harald Granraude and his son were killed in battle with Gudrød and his men.
This was however not the end to this already dramatic tale. Their son Halfdan the Black had turned one and the family was enjoying a feast worthy of Vikings. Drunk, walking off the ship, Gudrød was to the surprise of himself and his men attacked by what we in this modern age would refer to as an assassin. Although his men reacted quickly and soon killed the man, he had already managed to kill Gudrød by thrusting a spear through him. Ironically it turned out that the man responsible for killing the husband of Åsa was her very own servant, acting on her behalf in a wish for revenge over the murder of her father, resulting in a somewhat poetic ending to their his life and their marriage.
It is said that after murdering her husband Åsa decided to return home with her son, where she would succeed her father and become Queen of Agder. Her son Halfdan would eventually inherit the throne, and he would later become the man who would pave the way for his son Harald Fairhair in the struggle for a unified Kingdom of Norway.
Halfdan the Blacks rise to power
According to author of historical work on early Icelandic history Íslendingabók, known in English as Book of Icelanders and in Latin as Libellus Islandorum, Halfdan the Black at an unspecified time later in life most likely lived in Ringerike or Hadeland in eastern Norway. This was most likely his base when he decided to go to battle for control of the Kingdoms in present day eastern Norway. After inheriting the throne in Agder from his mother, as previously mentioned, his first quest was to take control of Vestfold. Not long after he had succeeded, and the Kingdom was divided between his brother and himself. He then went to battle with King Galdalv of Vingulmark, who despite fighting back lost control of half his Kingdom to Halfdan. His next target was Hedmark, and after a long and eventful battle where he first defeated King Sigtrygg, he eventually settled for half the Kingdom in a peace treaty between himself and an alliance between Øystein, the brother of the late king, and Gudbrand Herse from Gudbrandsdalen.
Already a very powerful man, he soon after inherited Sogn from his father in law Harald Gullskjegg, before he in quick succession conquered and took control of the areas of Toten, Land and Hadeland. Hysing and Helsing, sons of King Galdalv of Vingulmark, would be his last opponents in his quest to take control of large parts of what would later become the Kingdom of Norway. The opponents fought hard, but after battles at Eid and Øyeren he eventually triumphed and became King of Vingulmark.
According to legend, Halfdan the Black not only married Ragnhild Haraldsdotter, the mother of Harald Fairhair. Although doubtfully true, it is said that when King Sigurd Hjort was killed by a man named Hake, who then went on to steal his possessions and kidnap both his son and daughter with the intention of forcefully marrying the latter, Halfdan came to their rescue. He saved the prisoners from the aggressor, who as a result committed suicide by intentionally falling on his own sword. The story ends in marriage between Halfdan and Ragnhild, who consequently becomes his new spouse and Queen. Although the story itself might have roots in actual events, historians have concluded that the Ragnhild in question could not have been the daughter of Sigurd Hjort, but probably a to date unidentified woman.
Both wives of Halfdan are said to have given birth to a son named Harald, but historians today point to Ragnhild Haraldsdotter as the mother of the first king of Norway, Harald Fairhair, later to be known as Harald I of Norway.
Halfdan the Blacks death
The king and his men were travelling home from Hadeland. The journey was long, and the decision was made to travel the shorter way across Røykensviken in Randsfjorden. It was spring, but the water was still covered with ice. Unfortunately the king and his men had misjudged the stability of ice and in a tragic accident they all drowned. The bodies were later recovered and buried, but the location of the grave has been debated and is to date not known.