Most of what we know about Harald Hardrada, the Viking leader and King of Norway, comes from Norse sagas. Yet, a Byzantine account offers rare insights into his time serving as a Varangian guard in the Byzantine Empire.
Harald Hardrada (1015–1066), often called the “Last Great Viking,” was renowned for his military skill and ambition. After gaining prominence as a warrior in the Varangian Guard, he became king of Norway in 1046. Harald sought to expand his influence across Scandinavia and even England, but his reign ended with his death at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Most of what we know about Harald comes from Icelandic sagas like Heimskringla and Morkinskinna.
For a Byzantine perspective on Harald’s exploits, the sole surviving source is Advice and Anecdotes, written by Kekaumenos. Little is known about this author—even his true name is uncertain—but his work offers a mix of stories and practical advice on various topics, particularly military matters. It is within this context that Kekaumenos provides an intriguing account of the Viking leader, as translated by Charlotte Roueché:
When I have told your Majesty another story, I shall end my discourse about this. Harald was the son of an emperor of Varangia, but he had a brother, Olaf, who, after the death of his father, took the ancestral empire and appointed Harald, his brother, to be second with him in the empire. (Harald), even though he was young, chose to go and do obeisance to the emperor lord Michael, of most blessed memory, and to come and see the Roman establishment. He brought with him troops, as well, five hundred valiant men, and entered (the City), and the Emperor received him suitably, and sent him, with his troops, to Sicily; for the Roman army was there, attacking the island. He went off, and demonstrated great deeds. When Sicily had been conquered, he returned with his troops to the Emperor, and he gave him the title of lictor (manglabites). After this, the revolt of Delianos took place in Bulgaria. And Harald also went on campaign with the Emperor, with his own troops, and demonstrated deeds against the enemy worthy of his nobility and valour. When the Emperor had subdued Bulgaria, he returned, I too was then exerting myself on behalf of the Emperor, to the best of my ability. When we came to Mesinopolis, the Emperor, rewarding him for his exertions, gave him the title of spatharocandidate (spatharokandidatos). After the end of (the reigns of) the lord Michael, and of his nephew, the ex-emperor, in the reign of Monomachos, (Harald) wanted, and requested, to go away to his land, and was not allowed to, but departure was difficult for him. However, he got away by stealth, and ruled in his land instead of his brother, Olaf. He did not grumble because he had been given the title of lictor, or spatharocandidate, but, instead, even when he was ruling, he kept faith and friendship towards the Romans.
Maciej Lubik’s recent article sheds light on this passage, presenting it as a highly positive account in which Kekaumenos portrays Harald as honourable and brave. It also suggests that Kekaumenos may have known Harald personally, as both served together in a military campaign against the Bulgarians. This could explain why Kekaumenos holds him in such high regard.
The passage provides a fairly accurate account of Harald’s life before arriving in Constantinople, though not all details are precise. “Varangia” is the Byzantine term for Scandinavia, and Kekaumenos’ claim that Harald was the son of an emperor of Varangia is more grandiose than we might expect. However, for the author, it was important to elevate Harald’s status, reinforcing his depiction of the Viking leader as having royal heritage.
The Titles Bestowed on Harald by the Byzantine Emperor
Kekaumenos focuses much of his account on the titles Harald received from the emperor, as this part of Advice and Anecdotes offers counsel on not granting high ranks or honours to foreigners. After discussing other examples, Kekaumenos details how Harald was granted the ranks of manglabites and spatharokandidatos. Lubik explains:
Both these ranks were not significant. Manglabites was a member of a unit of imperial bodyguards; however, the word may be interpreted as a ‘ship captain,’ and thus associated with some position of command over naval forces. Spatharokandidatos, on the other hand, is a dignity sometimes associated with subaltern offices, and was above the rank of spatharios. It is the highest dignity that Kekaumenos considers appropriate for foreigners of non-royal descent, though it was still low. Since Haraldr was of royal birth and, additionally, achieved some success during his service, Kekaumenos concludes his story by stating that he ‘did not grumble’ about being rewarded with only these ranks, but kept a friendly attitude towards the Byzantines while he ruled in his country. In this way, Kekaumenos suggests that there is nothing wrong in bestowing low ranks upon foreigners of royal descent.
Overall, Lubik finds Advice and Anecdotes to be a useful source that helps to confirm some parts of the story of Harald Hardrada. It shows that Kekaumenos saw “Haraldr as an honourable man, a successful leader, brave and independent enough to act against the decision of the Byzantine emperor. A man worthy of his royal status.”
Advice and Anecdotes by Kekaumenos has been translated by Charlotte Roueché, and you can read it on Sharing Ancient Wisdoms.
The article, “Remembering a Mercenary – Kekaumenos’ Passage on King Haraldr Sigurðarson,” by Maciej Lubik, was published in Between East and West: Studies on the History of Memory, Commemoration and Reception of Medieval Culture, edited by Piotr Pranke (V&A unipress, 2023). You can read it here.
Top Image: Near-contemporary depiction of Byzantine Varangian Guardsmen, in an illumination from the Skylitzes Synopsis. Wikimedia Commons
Most of what we know about Harald Hardrada, the Viking leader and King of Norway, comes from Norse sagas. Yet, a Byzantine account offers rare insights into his time serving as a Varangian guard in the Byzantine Empire.
Harald Hardrada (1015–1066), often called the “Last Great Viking,” was renowned for his military skill and ambition. After gaining prominence as a warrior in the Varangian Guard, he became king of Norway in 1046. Harald sought to expand his influence across Scandinavia and even England, but his reign ended with his death at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Most of what we know about Harald comes from Icelandic sagas like Heimskringla and Morkinskinna.
For a Byzantine perspective on Harald’s exploits, the sole surviving source is Advice and Anecdotes, written by Kekaumenos. Little is known about this author—even his true name is uncertain—but his work offers a mix of stories and practical advice on various topics, particularly military matters. It is within this context that Kekaumenos provides an intriguing account of the Viking leader, as translated by Charlotte Roueché:
When I have told your Majesty another story, I shall end my discourse about this. Harald was the son of an emperor of Varangia, but he had a brother, Olaf, who, after the death of his father, took the ancestral empire and appointed Harald, his brother, to be second with him in the empire. (Harald), even though he was young, chose to go and do obeisance to the emperor lord Michael, of most blessed memory, and to come and see the Roman establishment. He brought with him troops, as well, five hundred valiant men, and entered (the City), and the Emperor received him suitably, and sent him, with his troops, to Sicily; for the Roman army was there, attacking the island. He went off, and demonstrated great deeds. When Sicily had been conquered, he returned with his troops to the Emperor, and he gave him the title of lictor (manglabites). After this, the revolt of Delianos took place in Bulgaria. And Harald also went on campaign with the Emperor, with his own troops, and demonstrated deeds against the enemy worthy of his nobility and valour. When the Emperor had subdued Bulgaria, he returned, I too was then exerting myself on behalf of the Emperor, to the best of my ability. When we came to Mesinopolis, the Emperor, rewarding him for his exertions, gave him the title of spatharocandidate (spatharokandidatos). After the end of (the reigns of) the lord Michael, and of his nephew, the ex-emperor, in the reign of Monomachos, (Harald) wanted, and requested, to go away to his land, and was not allowed to, but departure was difficult for him. However, he got away by stealth, and ruled in his land instead of his brother, Olaf. He did not grumble because he had been given the title of lictor, or spatharocandidate, but, instead, even when he was ruling, he kept faith and friendship towards the Romans.
Maciej Lubik’s recent article sheds light on this passage, presenting it as a highly positive account in which Kekaumenos portrays Harald as honourable and brave. It also suggests that Kekaumenos may have known Harald personally, as both served together in a military campaign against the Bulgarians. This could explain why Kekaumenos holds him in such high regard.
The passage provides a fairly accurate account of Harald’s life before arriving in Constantinople, though not all details are precise. “Varangia” is the Byzantine term for Scandinavia, and Kekaumenos’ claim that Harald was the son of an emperor of Varangia is more grandiose than we might expect. However, for the author, it was important to elevate Harald’s status, reinforcing his depiction of the Viking leader as having royal heritage.
The Titles Bestowed on Harald by the Byzantine Emperor
Kekaumenos focuses much of his account on the titles Harald received from the emperor, as this part of Advice and Anecdotes offers counsel on not granting high ranks or honours to foreigners. After discussing other examples, Kekaumenos details how Harald was granted the ranks of manglabites and spatharokandidatos. Lubik explains:
Both these ranks were not significant. Manglabites was a member of a unit of imperial bodyguards; however, the word may be interpreted as a ‘ship captain,’ and thus associated with some position of command over naval forces. Spatharokandidatos, on the other hand, is a dignity sometimes associated with subaltern offices, and was above the rank of spatharios. It is the highest dignity that Kekaumenos considers appropriate for foreigners of non-royal descent, though it was still low. Since Haraldr was of royal birth and, additionally, achieved some success during his service, Kekaumenos concludes his story by stating that he ‘did not grumble’ about being rewarded with only these ranks, but kept a friendly attitude towards the Byzantines while he ruled in his country. In this way, Kekaumenos suggests that there is nothing wrong in bestowing low ranks upon foreigners of royal descent.
Overall, Lubik finds Advice and Anecdotes to be a useful source that helps to confirm some parts of the story of Harald Hardrada. It shows that Kekaumenos saw “Haraldr as an honourable man, a successful leader, brave and independent enough to act against the decision of the Byzantine emperor. A man worthy of his royal status.”
Advice and Anecdotes by Kekaumenos has been translated by Charlotte Roueché, and you can read it on Sharing Ancient Wisdoms.
The article, “Remembering a Mercenary – Kekaumenos’ Passage on King Haraldr Sigurðarson,” by Maciej Lubik, was published in Between East and West: Studies on the History of Memory, Commemoration and Reception of Medieval Culture, edited by Piotr Pranke (V&A unipress, 2023). You can read it here.
Top Image: Near-contemporary depiction of Byzantine Varangian Guardsmen, in an illumination from the Skylitzes Synopsis. Wikimedia Commons
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