Abstract
Harald the hard-ruler (Old Norse: Haraldr harðráði) (1046–1066) was the last king of the socalled Viking Age. His life and deeds were recorded in numerous compilations of the Kings’ sagas, such as Heimskringla and Morkinskinna. Both of these texts depict him as a strong ruler and military leader. This portrait could not be complete however, without those shorter episodes in the Kings’ sagas between diff erent Icelanders and the king – mostly, it was Harald who had to compete with them. While Harald was famous for his smart tactics in byzantine service, he was not able to outperform Icelanders. This essay will focus on how Harald’s image was built up, sometimes based on historical or literary materials other than the Kings’ sagas. His special relationship with Icelanders was also expressed as he became a frequent character in the Icelandic Family Sagas.
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