Harald Sigurdsson, also known as Harald Hardrada (the Hard Ruler), reigned as King of Norway from 1046 to 1066. He is renowned as the last great Viking king and a formidable military leader. Having spent his youth as a mercenary in Eastern Europe and Byzantium, Harald returned to Norway and claimed the throne. He embarked on ambitious campaigns to conquer England and Denmark, becoming a key figure in the pivotal Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Harald's defeat and death at Stamford Bridge marked the end of the Viking Age, solidifying his legacy as the last Viking king and a symbol of the era's resilience, adventurous spirit, and ultimate decline.
