Harald Hardrada: Varangian, Crusader, Viking (Old Norse Saga Song)
Here’s another Old Norse song, composed and performed by me - the latest in my Sagas in Song series. It is based on the Saga of Harald Hardrada by Snorri Sturluson.
Harald Hardrada (lit. Harald the Harsh-Ruler - there are many interpretations/possible translations of this name, but I think Harsh-Ruler is probably the best) was, essentially, an absolute chad. Of all the Norwegian kings and heroes from the sagas, he’s probably my all-time favourite. He achieved and did more in his life than most people could only dream of doing in several lifetimes. For the purposes of the song, I’ve picked out some of the highlights of his life as told in the saga.
He fought with his half-brother St Olaf II at Stiklestad aged only 15, went east to Kievan Rus and Constantinople not long afterwards and quickly became the prime Varangian Guardsman for the Byzantine Empire. In this role, he fought many wars (too many to include in one song), but his mightiest achievements in this role were probably against the Bulgarian uprisings (which is how he gained the name “Bulgar Burner” - how friendly!).
He fought the Saracens in the Middle East and Africa, visited all the Holy Sites in Palestine, became the King of Norway and beat back the Danes and Swedes, all the while composing some wonderful Skaldic poetry.
Then, if all that wasn’t enough, he tried his hand at invading England with Harold Godwinson’s treacherous brother, Tostig. This appears to have been a step too far, as he was killed early in the battle by an arrow to the windpipe.
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Picture credits:
Flag: Redesigned Byzantine Flag by Lordnarunh (DeviantArt)
Viking: War of the Vikings by Paradox Interactive (game)
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Lyrics:
Kom ek í eldsheim
Mikilmennska lá fyrir mér
Frá barnaldri emk á vígvelli
sem snær á fjalltindi.
Á leitum mikins orðstírs
fór ek Austrveginn
Vegrinn mik fǿrði til Hólmgarðs
ok þaðan inn til Miklagarðs.
Kom ek á fund Zóe dróttningar
ok eið henni svarða ek dýran
ok þá til míns þýddusk Væringjar
ok kusu þeir mik til Hǫfðingja!
Heill, Haraldr Harðráði!
Mikli norðmannakonungr!
Verndari var hann Miklagarðs
yfir Væringjum hǫfðingi!
Berserkr var hann í bardaga
Skáld fyrir máttigum dróttnum
Hertogi fyrir mǫnnum sínum
Norðmanna allra inn mesti!
Um Jórsalahaf herjum vér
væringjar ok Latínumenn.
Vestr á Serkland fǫrum vér
borga eignumsk átta tǫgu.
Þá siglum vér til Sikileyjar
Erum alskjaldaðir Væringjar
Grið ǫllum þeim, er beiddu, ek gaf
ok tókum vér ógrynni fjár!
Mikjáll konungr á oss heitir
Bolgarar, þeir rísa í móti
Berjumk ek í ǫndurða fylking
því heiti ek Bolgara Brennir!
Heill, Haraldr Harðráði!
Mikli norðmannakonungr!
Verndari var hann Miklagarðs
yfir Væringjum hǫfðingi!
Berserkr var hann í bardaga
Skáld fyrir máttigum dróttnum
Hertogi fyrir mǫnnum sínum
Norðmanna allra inn mesti!
Fǫrum vér til Jórsalalands
Eru borgir þar gefnar mér
Allt it helga land tekum vér
ok friðum veginn til Jórdanar
Laugaðak í á inni helgu
ok varðak stórfé til grafar Guðs
Kross inn helga tignum vér
Dróttinn oss krossmenn blessi!
En mik fýsir at fara heim
Í Norðrlǫndum mín ávant er
Vit Magnús gǫngum með liðum tveim
Bardaga viljum heyja við Svein
Heill, Haraldr Harðráði!
Mikli norðmannakonungr!
Verndari var hann Miklagarðs
yfir Væringjum hǫfðingi!
Berserkr var hann í bardaga
Skáld fyrir máttigum dróttnum
Hertogi fyrir mǫnnum sínum
Norðmanna allra inn mesti!
Eptir ófrið langan
Samdak sætt við Danakonung
Fór hann ósigr fyr Nizi
ok ek friðaða Noreg!
Hákon Jarl reis í móti
Með mikinn her gengr hann
Siglum á skeið í Svíþjóð
Bregðum guðlausu uppreistinni
Nú ek norðr til Englands lít
Haraldr Guðinason steig til ríkis
Tósti bróðir hans biðr ásjá mik
Vestr siglum vér með mikit lið
Heill, Haraldr Harðráði!
Mikli norðmannakonungr!
Verndari var hann Miklagarðs
yfir Væringjum hǫfðingi!
Berserkr var hann í bardaga
Skáld fyrir máttigum dróttnum
Hertogi fyrir mǫnnum sínum
Norðmanna allra inn mesti!
Um Vestrlǫnd siglum vér
Drǫgum saman her mikinn
Skota, Breta, Orkneyjinga.
Við Skarðaborg hǫfum sigr!
Með her stóran kom Guðinason
Við Stanforðabryggjur standa
Ǿpa heróp ok berja skjǫld
Ek skipa mǫnnum í skjaldborg
Ríða enskir menn ǫllum megin
Geng fram í mesta vápnaburðinn
Verð óðr fram ór fylkingunni
Lostinn var Harðráði í óstinn
Heill, Haraldr Harðráði,
mikli norðmannakonungr!
Verndari var hann Miklagarðs,
yfir Væringjum Hǫfðingi!
Berserkr var hann í bardaga
Skáld fyrir máttigum dróttnum
Hertogi fyrir mǫnnum sínum
Norðmanna allra inn mesti
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