The Norwegian King Harald Sigurdson, later called "Hardrade" - the Tyrant - was a "Viking's Viking". He did everything that a Viking could have been expected to do.

At the age of fifteen, he fought at the battle of Stiklestad, where Saint Olaf, his brother, was killed. Escaping from the battle, he was smuggled out of the country and came to the Norwegian kingdoms in Russia, where he stayed several years.

At one point he got into an argument with a Greek commander, Gyrger, and it was decided to draw lots to decide who should get precedence. When the lots were marked, Harald asked to see Gyrger's mark, so that he would not make the same mark. Then as the lot was drawn, Harald seized it and threw it far out to sea, claiming that his lot had been drawn. When Gyrger objected, Harald indicated the lot remaining, which of course bore Gyrger's mark.

Travelling south to Constantinople, he quickly became a captain of the Varangian Guard, and gained great renown - and great treasure, some of which he sent back to Russia with trusted men. He fought in Sicily and in Serkland - modern Turkey - and was famous for taking castles through strength of arms and through clever subterfuge.

One castle he took by capturing birds, tying flaming brands to their backs, and sending them to their nests inside the castle walls. The resulting fire drove the defenders from the castle. At another castle, he dug a tunnel beneath the walls, and broke through the floor of the feasting hall while the lord was sitting down to a meal. At a third castle he set his men to playing games and sports outside the castle walls until the defenders no longer payed them any attention. While the gate was open, his men suddenly drew swords from beneath their cloaks and attacked. At a fourth castle, he fell ill, and it appeared as though he had died. His men asked the defenders to bury him inside the castle walls. As the coffin was being brought in, the crafty Varangians dropped it in the doorway, so that the door could not be closed against them, and attacked with their whole force.

He even travelled to Jerusalem, where he was given command over the local garrisons without a fight. He made safe the road to the River Jordan, by killing the bandits and highwaymen who attacked pilgrims on the road.

Upon his return to Constantinople, he received word that his brother's son Magnus had become King of Norway and Denmark, and gave up his position in the Emperor's guard. The Empress was furious, because she wanted him to marry her. She accused him of misappropriating funds from the Imperial treasury, and had the Emperor throw him into prison.

He escaped from the prison with the aid of a lady of distinction. It is said that Saint Olaf himself appeared to her in a vision and told her to rescue Harald.

Harald captured the Emperor and put out his eyes. Then he kidnapped the Emperor's daughter, Maria, and made his escape from the harbour of Constantinople. A chain had been stretched across the entrance to the harbour, but Harald ordered all of his men to run to the back of the boat. When his longship had run up onto the chain, he ordered all of his men to the front of the boat, which rocked over the chain and escaped the harbour. Harald put Maria to shore with an escort of good men, and a message for the Empress: Harald could not be taken or controlled.

Returning to Russia, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of the Viking king of Russia, Jarisleif, took all of the gold and treasure he had sent from his campaigns in Constantinople and Jerusalem, and returned to Scandinavia.

In Sweden he made alliance with Svein Ulfson, a Swedish prince, and together they attacked Denmark. The King of Denmark and Norway, Magnus, became very worried about this, and organised a general levy of men, eventually collecting a great army. However, he was counselled against fighting Harald, and organised a secret treaty. Svein was not impressed, and sent a man to assassinate Harald in his sleep. Not liking this idea very much, Harald escaped with his men in the dead of night and met up with King Magnus, who bequeathed him half of the kingdom of Norway. In exchange, Harald gave to Magnus half of all the treasure he had taken in his travels.

Magnus died in AD 1047, and bequeathed his dominions in Denmark to Svein, while Harald held Norway. However, Harald sent an embassy to the Danish Thing, proclaiming his dominion. He raided and plundered in Denmark all that year before returning to Norway for the winter. But when Svein attacked him in the following year with a large army, Harald had less than half that number of men, so he fled, throwing overboard the booty he had taken from his raids in Denmark. The Danes stopped to pick up these goods, and so Harald escaped.

Now, in England there was a king, Edward, who died. Two of Queen Gyda's brothers made claim to the throne. One of them was Harold Godwinson, a favourite of the court. Harold claimed that Edward had bequeathed the throne to him on his deathbed. His older brother Tostig disputed the claim, and Harold exiled him.

Tostig first approached Svein of Denmark, but Svein refused his help. However, when Tostig approached King Harald of Norway, his reception was warmer. Tostig pointed out that Harald himself had a claim to the English throne, through an agreement made with Hardacanute, the brother of the famous King Canute, passed on through King Magnus. They agreed to invade England in the summer of the year 1066.

Harald sailed to England with two hundred ships, via the Orkney and Shetland Islands, attacking and conquering lands as he went. Finally a great army of the English under the command of Earls Morukare and Valthiof, assaulted him on the banks of the Humber river. But they could not win the day against Harald, and he sent them fleeing back to York.

Harald's army camped at Stamford Bridge, while he negotiated with the lords of the castle. The lords agreed to give to Harald a great ransom of gold, and hostages from the most prominent families.

The next morning, the Vikings were relaxing and making merry, without their armour, when a great cloud of dust appeared on the horizon. It was not the gold and the hostages; it was Harold Godwinson, at the head of a huge army.

King Harold Godwinson sent a messenger to parley with Tostig, offering him his earldom back, and a third of English lands to rule over, if he surrendered to the King. Tostig asked what would be offered to Harald Sigurdson for his trouble, and received the reply "Seven feet of English ground, or as much more as he may be taller than other men."

Tostig refused the offer, and Harald formed his men into a shield wall to take the assault. The fighting was fierce, but Harald finally fell from an arrow to the throat, and thus did Godwinson's army win the day. Harald's men were offered quarter, but they replied that they would prefer to die with their King.

It is generally thought that Harald was the last of the great Viking kings, and the year 1066 is recognised as the end of the Viking age. It was only after his death that Harald Sigurdson was nicknamed Hardrade - a word meaning "tyrant" or "ruthless". He was brutal to his enemies, but generous to his friends.

Harold Godwinson did not have it all his own way though. After defeating the Vikings at Stamford Bridge, he received word that the army of William the Bastard was ravaging the south. He marched his army the length of England to engage the invading Normans, and Harold Godwinson's final battle took place at Hastings, in October of the year 1066.