Harold III (1015-1066), who is surnamed Haardraade, or "Ruthless," was king of Norway from 1047 to 1066. He was the last of the great Viking aristocratic rulers whose fame extended throughout Europe.

Son of King Sigurd and half brother to King Olaf II (the Saint), Harold was severely wounded at Stiklarsladir fighting at the age of 15 against the largest army ever assembled in Norway. Leaving his dead half brother, he took refuge in a lonely farmhouse. His health recovered, he crossed into Sweden. From there he went to Novgorod, where he was well received by Prince Yaroslav and in 1032 assisted him in a Polish campaign.

Accompanied by a personal following of 500 warriors, Harold followed the traditional Varangian route to Constantinople. He arrived there in 1035 and until 1042 seems to have been the leader of the Varangian guard of the Empress Zoë. During that period he campaigned in the Greek islands...