Harald Hardrada - Old Norse Song (HD Remake) | The Skaldic Bard

Again by popular demand, here’s the remake of my song Harald Hardrada, composed and performed by me, based on Snorri Sturluson’s Saga of Harald Hardrada. 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 favourite. He achieved and did more in his 50-year 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 uncle St Olaf II at Stiklestad aged only 15, went east to Kievan Rus and Constantinople not long afterwards and quickly became the chief of the Varangian Guard for the Emperor. 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