248 Norway and the Norzvegians 



After the restoration of St. Olaf's line in Norway, 

 Harald Hardradi determined to return to his native 

 country and to claim a share in the inheritance of his 

 nephew, King Magnus. Supposing that his claims 

 were sure to be disputed, he allied himself at first with 

 the pretender to the throne of Denmark, Svend Estrids- 

 son, and they proceeded together against Magnus. But 

 Magnus made overtures to Harald, and detached him 

 from the Svend alliance. Eventually the uncle and 

 nephew, who were nearly of the same age, jointly 

 governed the kino-dom. 



Thus ended the adventurous portion of Harald Hard- 

 radi's career, almost the last of the kings of Norway who 

 seemed to partake of the old Viking character. There 

 was one last adventure in store for him. He survived 

 Magnus, and reigned as sole king of Norway. Magnus 

 had left Denmark to his old rival Svend Estridsson, 

 and Norway to his uncle, Harald. The latter refused to 

 admit the right of Magnus to dispose of the Danish 

 crown, and continued the war with Svend. Harald 

 likewise, as we shall see, made the same claims which 

 Magnus had once asserted to the crown of England. 

 Harald Hardradi was not, the historian tells us, very 

 popular with the mass of the population, on account of 

 the severity of his character. He seems, indeed, to 

 have exercised a more personal and tyrannical rule than 

 any preceding king of Norway. But he was respected 

 for his soldierly qualities and his fame in war. After 

 Harald had reigned some years in peace, there came a 

 fresh temptation to him to try once more his fortune 

 as a soldier abroad. 



We most of us know, at least in outline, the history 



