George Maniakes and Harald Hardrada

The Byzantine general GEORGE MANIAKES (right) and the future king of Norway HARALD HARDRADA (left), during his years of service in the Varangian Guard. These two fought together during the Byzantine campaign against the Emirate of Sicily, from 1038 to 1041 AD.
HARALD HARDRADA, THE LAST VIKING: Born in 1015 in Ringerike (Norway), at the age of 15 he fought at the Battle of Stiklestad (1030) alongside his half-brother, the king of Norway Olaf II “the Holy”, against an army loyal to the Danish king Canute the Great (whose domains, referred as the North Sea Empire, extended over Denmark, Norway, England and part of Sweden during the peak of his power). In that battle, king Olaf II was killed, and Harald, wounded, escaped to Sweden while Norway was annexed by Canute. From Sweden, Harald later escaped to Kievan Rus, where he became a prominent figure at the service of the Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise. As a young warrior, Harald then travelled to Constantinople seeking fortune as a mercenary in the Varangian Guard, the elite military unit mainly composed by Norsemen from Scandinavia and Kievan Rus who acted as bodyguards of the Eastern Roman (or Byzantine) emperors. Harald eventually became the general of the Varangian Guard, and fought countless battles against every enemy of Byzantium, mostly the Arabs. From fighting Arab pirates in Anatolia and conquering Sicily from the Muslims under the orders of George Maniakes, to protecting Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem and capturing Arab strongholds in Mesopotamia. During the conflicts following the death of emperor Michael IV, Harald was imprisoned, but managed to escape and return to Kievan Rus, now as a battle-hardened rich warrior, ready to reclaim the throne of Norway. At the same time, George Maniakes led a revolt against the new emperor Constantine IX, trying to usurp the throne. In 1046 Harald became king of Norway, and during his reign, he tried to conquer Denmark and explored the Arctic Ocean north of his realm. In 1066 AD, the Anglo-Saxon king of England Edward the Confessor died childless. This triggered a succession conflict in which Harald Hardrada was one of the claimants to the English throne. Another contender to the throne of England was William, Duke of Normandy (whose dynasty traced their origins to an 9th-10th century Viking chieftain named Rollo). Harold Godwinson was crowned king of England, and that same year, in 1066, his English army fought the invading Norwegian forces of Harald Hardrada at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, which resulted in English victory and Harald’s death. Historians consider that the death of Harald Hardrada at Stamford Bridge marks the end of the Viking Age. But Harold Godwinson’s victory was short-lived, because three weeks after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, his army was defeated by William’s invading Norman army at the Battle of Hastings, which marked the end of the Anglo-Saxon period, and the beginning of a long period of Norman rule, starting with William himself being crowned king of England, now known as William “the Conqueror”.

Credits:
- Byzantine shield based on a reconstruction owned by Southpaw Skutatoi, whom I also want to thank for providing extra references and advice for this illustration.
- Harald’s main belt buckle, strap ends and Ringerike-style brooch (which I’ve modified a bit to be closer to the original find from Gotland, Sweden) made by Northan Viking Silver.