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Harald Hardrada: The Warrior's Way
One of the greatest medieval warriors Harald Sigurdsson, nicknamed Hardrada (Harold the Ruthless or hard ruler) fell in battle in an attempt to snatch the crown of England. The spectacular and heroic career which ended at Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire on 25 September 1066 had taken Harald from Norway to Russia and Constantinople and saw him gain a kingdom by force and determination rather than right or inheritance. He was one of the most feared rulers in Europe and was first and foremost a professional soldier, who acquired great wealth by plunder and showed no mercy to those he conquered. "Harald The Warrior's Way" reconstructs a military career spanning three and a half decades and involving encounters with an extraordinary range of allies and enemies in sea-fights and land battles, sieges and viking raids across a variety of theatres of war. John Marsden's superbly researched and powerfully written account takes us from the lands of the Norsemen to Byzantium and the Crusades and makes clear how England moved decisively from three hundred years of exposure to the Scandinavian orbit to a stronger identification with continental Europe following the Norman invasion.
241 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2007
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161 people want to read
About the author
John Marsden
18 books9 followersJohn Marsden is the author of a number of books on the early history of Scotland and Northumbria, including Somerled and Galloglas. In recent years he has made his home in the Western Isles of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 28, 2025
I’m hesitant to recommend this to anyone not a hardcore Viking military enthusiast. While the book isn’t long it is very detailed on the life of Harald Hardrada (hard ruler cruel etc.) covering his upbringing, introduction into the “warrior’s way,” and experience fighting in Russia, the Mediterranean, Denmark and ultimately Anglo-Saxon England. Histories usually center on the fight between Harold Godwinson of England and William of Normandy. Harold’s loss at Hastings in 1066 is well covered and changed the course of English history. Harald Hardrada’s story is usually more profunctory. However the meeting of Harald Hardrada and Harold Godwinson no doubt contributed to Harold’s loss to the Normans less than three weeks later. It had been a tough run up to Yorkshire and a tough battle that weakened the Saxons. It marks the beginning of the end of the Viking era and oh yes, that portent Halley’s Comet appeared at the time. It was a very big year.
Honestly, there were too many Olafs, Thors, Thorfinns and Thorgeirs. Worse for me as a history was the fact that although the Vikings had a written runic language it wasn’t used for history or literature. That was left to oral sagas. Marsden feels the best and most reliable came from the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson but they were collected from various sources and not until more than 150 years after the action of 1066. Oral sagas leave plenty of latitude for grand claims, heroic bent and just plain embellishment. The contemporary source for the other side would be the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles which were compiled by monks in assorted monasteries from the 9th through the 12th centuries. By the time of Harald, Harold and William these were written in Latin. Because the Chronicles were written down by monks you could say there were prejudices in it too as monks had been a favorite target of the Vikings, but once written down the stories seem less changeable than the oral tradition of the Norsemen.
The author here is forced to continually say things like “no consensus,” “certainly appear to have been,” and “reasons to feel”—more than a little irritating after a while. The book is very thorough but often more than I really wanted to know.
Honestly, there were too many Olafs, Thors, Thorfinns and Thorgeirs. Worse for me as a history was the fact that although the Vikings had a written runic language it wasn’t used for history or literature. That was left to oral sagas. Marsden feels the best and most reliable came from the Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson but they were collected from various sources and not until more than 150 years after the action of 1066. Oral sagas leave plenty of latitude for grand claims, heroic bent and just plain embellishment. The contemporary source for the other side would be the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles which were compiled by monks in assorted monasteries from the 9th through the 12th centuries. By the time of Harald, Harold and William these were written in Latin. Because the Chronicles were written down by monks you could say there were prejudices in it too as monks had been a favorite target of the Vikings, but once written down the stories seem less changeable than the oral tradition of the Norsemen.
The author here is forced to continually say things like “no consensus,” “certainly appear to have been,” and “reasons to feel”—more than a little irritating after a while. The book is very thorough but often more than I really wanted to know.
November 11, 2012
I do believe this is the only book that performs a military study and history of Harald Hardrada of Norway's life, career in battle and of his kingship right up until 1066.
The tone of this book does seem a bit dry at first as the author explains to the reader the complicated family situation Harald grows up in until the famous battle of Stilkstad where he is injured in support of his half-brother Olav. But once you follow Harald Hardrada's journey to find sanctuary in Russia then the real adventure viking fans crave begins as you learn of one battle conquest after another as Harald gains more prowess and experience of leadership in the battlefield.
The parts I most enjoyed was the chapters on his service under the Emperess Zoe in Constantinople modern day Istanbul and how he was involved in the blinding of one traitor who instigated an attempt to deposs Zoe. Of course it also mentinos his famous escape from Constantinople as well.
In fact it's fair to say that the reader will learn about not just numerous adventures Harald got up to on his travels towards reclaiming his kingship from his nephew but also the many wonderful characters involved in his life from friends to enemies the cast is quite amazing.
Another thing about this book is that the author uses a lot of saga material from such characters to support his timeline of Harald's life which is also enlightening - including a few pieces Harald is reported to have composed himself.
I think anyone with a passion for history and for great historical figures of the 10th century should forget about reading about Alfred the Great or even Harold Godwineson (who of course is involved at the end) and pick up this one. It is incredibly interesting and enlightening and has a wonderful tale to tell.
The tone of this book does seem a bit dry at first as the author explains to the reader the complicated family situation Harald grows up in until the famous battle of Stilkstad where he is injured in support of his half-brother Olav. But once you follow Harald Hardrada's journey to find sanctuary in Russia then the real adventure viking fans crave begins as you learn of one battle conquest after another as Harald gains more prowess and experience of leadership in the battlefield.
The parts I most enjoyed was the chapters on his service under the Emperess Zoe in Constantinople modern day Istanbul and how he was involved in the blinding of one traitor who instigated an attempt to deposs Zoe. Of course it also mentinos his famous escape from Constantinople as well.
In fact it's fair to say that the reader will learn about not just numerous adventures Harald got up to on his travels towards reclaiming his kingship from his nephew but also the many wonderful characters involved in his life from friends to enemies the cast is quite amazing.
Another thing about this book is that the author uses a lot of saga material from such characters to support his timeline of Harald's life which is also enlightening - including a few pieces Harald is reported to have composed himself.
I think anyone with a passion for history and for great historical figures of the 10th century should forget about reading about Alfred the Great or even Harold Godwineson (who of course is involved at the end) and pick up this one. It is incredibly interesting and enlightening and has a wonderful tale to tell.
February 3, 2013
Harald Hardrada is one of those historical characters who is well known, but not always for the right reasons. Before picking up this book all I could really say about him was that he died at Stamford Bridge fighting against the English king Harold Godwinson, but as the author demonstrates there is much more to the story of this larger-than-life character who fought in battles and influenced history across England, Scandinavia, Russia, Italy and the Byzantine Empire.
The author shows a detailed knowledge of the subject and analyses what little source material there is in great detail, whilst still managing to write an exciting narrative of Harald Hardrada's life. I particularly enjoyed some of the descriptions of Scandinavian warfare towards the beginning. Of course there are a lot of characters and complicated family trees to keep in mind, but the author does a good job of breaking these down and regularly reminding the reader who everyone is and how they relate to one another.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Harald Hardrada or the period in which he lived.
The author shows a detailed knowledge of the subject and analyses what little source material there is in great detail, whilst still managing to write an exciting narrative of Harald Hardrada's life. I particularly enjoyed some of the descriptions of Scandinavian warfare towards the beginning. Of course there are a lot of characters and complicated family trees to keep in mind, but the author does a good job of breaking these down and regularly reminding the reader who everyone is and how they relate to one another.
I definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Harald Hardrada or the period in which he lived.
June 18, 2019
I always thought there must have been more going on than the Battle of Hastings in 1066. This could be considered a "prequel".
It was slow reading, as it was hard to keep track of all the Olafs, Haralds, Hakons and Magnuses. But it was worth persisting.
It was slow reading, as it was hard to keep track of all the Olafs, Haralds, Hakons and Magnuses. But it was worth persisting.
May 16, 2020
Good:
* Good attempt considering the minimal amount of existing record.
Bad:
* Stilted delivery: too many "the saga describes", "might", "could have" etc.
* Most of the content is about the world and personages in Harald's time instead of Harald himself.
* Good attempt considering the minimal amount of existing record.
Bad:
* Stilted delivery: too many "the saga describes", "might", "could have" etc.
* Most of the content is about the world and personages in Harald's time instead of Harald himself.
September 28, 2008
I had absolutely no idea how much I was going to enjoy this book.
Marsden obviously loved the history of Hardrada and sometimes gets lost in reverie for the man. But what a tale he has to tell.
We have all heard of Hardrada and his claim for the throne of Britain and his defeat at Stamford Bridge in 1066 - prior to Harolds defeat at Hastings.
But I had never heard of the exploits of Hardrada and his kin along the shores of the Mediterranean, in the Balkans, or even more fantastically, in Palestine.
A superb book, worthy of the man Hardrada himself.
Marsden obviously loved the history of Hardrada and sometimes gets lost in reverie for the man. But what a tale he has to tell.
We have all heard of Hardrada and his claim for the throne of Britain and his defeat at Stamford Bridge in 1066 - prior to Harolds defeat at Hastings.
But I had never heard of the exploits of Hardrada and his kin along the shores of the Mediterranean, in the Balkans, or even more fantastically, in Palestine.
A superb book, worthy of the man Hardrada himself.
June 29, 2013
This book is an excellent history of arguably the greatest warrior king of his time that larger than life Viking and battle crazed berserker Harald. Although the text is sometimes a bit dry, the book gives an excellent portrayal of a truly larger than life character who got a little bit forgotten in the history books due to the later success of Duke William of Normandy, the last Great Viking.
March 25, 2012
A most impressive piece of very readable scholarship.I recommend it to anyone interested in the 11th Century
October 26, 2012
If nothing else the fact that this appears to be the only scholarly book focusing on Harald makes it indispensable reading for those interested in the subject.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews