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A very interesting character of this period was Harald Hardrada. Prior to becoming King of Norway, he fought for the Kievan Rus and was captain of the Varangian
by fakedang 2y ago
A very interesting character of this period was Harald Hardrada. Prior to becoming King of Norway, he fought for the Kievan Rus and was captain of the Varangian Guard. He became King of Norway after scheming with the King of Denmark, then immediately after turned his back on his former ally to claim his throne too. Then the brother of Harold the Saxon invited him to conquer England, which he did almost successfully.
Almost successfully, because what happened next was the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and the end of the Viking era.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Hardrada https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_Hardrada
- IncreasePosts 2y agoI'd love to read an alt history of what would have happened if Harald invaded a few weeks later, and William a few weeks earlier, and Godwinson was able to dispatch the Normans before having to deal with the Vikings.
- Bluestein 2y agoAll it would have taken is slightly different weather. Different sailing winds delaying or speeding some ships along. A few weeks ahead or a few weeks behind. And history would have changed forever ...