Elizaveta Yaroslavna - Kiev princess Olisava, queen of Norway and (possibly) Danish. Poems in honor of a beloved

Almost certainly the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise was not called Elizabeth. IN Ancient Rus' Until the 14th century, this female name was not recorded anywhere in the sources. Most likely, she bore an ancient Russian name Olisawa(for all children Yaroslav- however, like everyone else Rurikovich, there were two names - ancient Russian and Christian, given at baptism - himself Yaroslav, for example, was baptized Georgiy), in Norway which became "Ellisive"(it is under this name that she appears in the Norwegian chronicles). By the way, about everyone Yaroslavnakh modern historians known exclusively from foreign documents - there is not a single mention of them in the ancient Russian chronicles that have reached our time.

There is no consensus, there was Elizabeth the first or second daughter of the Kyiv prince and princess, since the years of birth of their daughters were reconstructed according to the dates of their marriage, information about which ranges from one year to two to three years. But, nevertheless, traditionally she is considered the eldest daughter (the fourth oldest child, after three brothers) Yaroslav the Wise and his wife Irina (Ingegerda of Sweden).

Olisava-Elizaveta was born around 1026 in Novgorod, and spent her first years of life there. Since her father, in 1024 near Listven in the Chernigov region, in the battle for the Kiev table, was defeated by the last real competitor left to him - his brother Mstislav Vladimirovich Tmutarakansky(c.983-1036), prince to Kyiv from Novgorod Yaroslav moved with his family only in 1036, after the mysterious death of the prince Mstislava on the hunt. So, if, according to the sagas, small Elizabeth met my future husband (and future king of Norway) Harald III the Severe, when she was five years old and he was about fifteen, this happened precisely in Novgorod.

If about herself Elizabeth, as a person, very little is known (traditionally in the Middle Ages, a woman was just an “addition” to a man, a reflection of his greatness - that is why in ancient chronicles even “first ladies” were mentioned as “daughter of the prince” or his wife, and the woman’s own name had no meaning in this context), then her husband was in every respect an outstanding figure of his time, and became a legend during his lifetime.

Harald III Sigurdsson (Harald the Harsh) (c. 1015-September 25, 1066) was the youngest half-brother (maternal) of the three younger brothers of the king of Norway Olaf II Saint(995-1030), there was a 20 year difference between them. If the brothers' common mother was Asta Gudbrandsdottir(c. 970-c. 1020) - daughter of a certain rich, but not noble Goodbranda Cones, then their fathers belonged to the Norwegian royal dynasty Horfagers(branch of the Scandinavian ruling family Ynglingov) – both were descendants of the first non-legendary king of Norway Harald Fairhair(c.950/975-933/945), and were each other’s second cousins. Second spouse Asty, ruler of a small Norwegian kingdom Ringerike, Sigurd the Pig(c.970-c.1018), in 1015 took an active part in the successful conquest of the crown of Norway by his stepson, Olaf Haraldsson at the Jarl of Hladir Sven Håkonsson, ruler of Norway, illegitimate son and vassal of the King of Denmark Canute the Great.
And in 1030, at only 14-15 years old, he himself Harald participated in the Battle of Stiklastadir, which was devastating for his older brother, as a result of which Olaf Not only did he lose his throne, but he also lost his life. Future son-in-law Yaroslav then he was seriously wounded (eyewitnesses of the battle separately noted the exceptional courage and belligerence of a very young man even then Harald), after which he went into hiding and received treatment, and then left Norway, moving to Sweden. Later, he gathered a squad of Varangians, who, like himself, were forced to leave the country as a result of the death Olaf II, and in 1031 reached Rus' with her, where he entered the service of Yaroslav the Wise. By the way, since 1028 the prince of Kyiv (who, as I already mentioned, still lived in Novgorod) raised the son of the deceased king of Norway Olaf II, Magnus(1024-1047) – nephew Harald. The boy was not only the nephew of his future husband Elizabeth, but also to the prince's wife Yaroslav Vladimirovich, Ingegerde of Sweden- since his mother was her own (by her father, the King of Sweden Olaf Skötkonung) sister Astrid.

In 1031-1034 15-18 year old Harald along with Eilivo Regnvaldson, son of jarl (mayor) Aldeigyuborg (Ladoga) Regnvald Ulvson, takes part in Yaroslav's campaign against the Poles, and, according to the Scandinavian sagas, commands the Russian troops along with more experienced commanders.
In 1034 Harald with his retinue (about 500 people) entered the service of the Byzantine emperor. Squad Harald became part of the “special forces” of his time, known in history as the “Varangian Guard”. B 1034-1036 Harald participates in campaigns against pirates in Asia Minor and Syria. In 1036-1040 his detachment became part of the Byzantine army George Maniak on the Sicilian campaign. In 1041, as part of the Varangian Guard, he took part in the suppression of the Bulgarian uprising Peter II Delyan. According to the Scandinavian sagas and the Bulgarian chronicle, Harald personally killed the Bulgarian Tsar in battle. After these events he became commander of the entire guard Byzantine emperor. In 1042 Harald and his Varangians take an active part in palace coup, as a result of which the emperor Michael V Calafat was overthrown and blinded. Later due to palace intrigues Harald falls into disgrace with the new ruler. Fleeing from the trial, the future king of Norway and his soldiers were forced to flee from Constantinople to Kyiv. By the way, during his service in Byzantium Harald obtained during military campaigns huge amount gold and precious stones, and for many years he regularly sent part of this loot for storage Yaroslav the Wise.

Varangian Guard in Byzantium. Medieval miniature in the chronicle.

In 1043 Yaroslav, “for the murder of one famous Russian in Constantinople”(in Constantinople), sent his son - the Novgorod prince Vladimir together with Harald on a campaign against the emperor Constantine Monomakh. The campaign ended in the military defeat of Rus'. According to some historical chronicles, then, in the winter of 1043-1044, the brave Varangian became the son-in-law of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, marrying his daughter Olisave-Elizabeth. However, this contradicts the Scandinavian sagas, which state that Yaroslav the Wise was ready to give his daughter in marriage to someone in love with her Harald only after he becomes king.

Therefore, another (also described in the chronicles) version of the development of further events seems more logical.
To the wealthy representative of the ruling Norwegian dynasty, the battle-hardened commander he became Harald By the age of 30, there was nothing to catch in Kyiv. And somewhere in 1045 he moved to his native Norway, where his nephew, the son of the king, ruled from 1035 Olaf II Saint, Magnus I the Noble(1024-1047) - by the way, there was no more than 10 years difference between uncle and nephew. Become the king of Norway in confrontation with the viceroy of Denmark in Norway, Sven Knutsson(c.1016-1035) at just 11 years old Magnus, brought up in Novgorod, was able to do so solely with the support of his uncle (by his wife) Yaroslav the Wise. For the same reason, the Kiev prince would not help Harald in his fight for the Norwegian crown. The brave Varangian dealt with this problem on his own.

To the appearance of his uncle in Norway, his nephew, who had grown up by that time, the king Magnus I, turned 21 years old. The country's government young king was popular, so the internal situation to achieve their goals is experienced Harald did not loosen it. The main problem Magnus at that time there was a military confrontation with the king of Denmark that had lasted since 1042, Sven II Estridsen(1020-1074) for the Danish crown. The point is that the father Magnus(and older brother Harald), king Olaf II the Saint laid down his head in 1030 in a battle with the strongest Scandinavian ruler of that time, the Danish king Canute II the Great(994/995-1035) (by the way, his wife’s uncle Yaroslav the Wise, Kyiv princess Irina), who 14 years earlier, in 1016, conquered England and married the widowed English queen. After death Olaf Canute the Great became king of Denmark, England and Norway.
Return Magnus father's crown Yaroslav the Wise was able to do so only by quickly and competently taking advantage of the confusion after sudden death Canute the Great in 1035. The only legal heir of the Dane was a 17-year-old son from the Queen of England Emma of Normandy, Hardeknud(1018/1019-1042), and the young king's inexperience did not allow him to return Norway to Danish rule. Ultimately, in order to avoid senseless bloodshed, the young kings ( Hardeknudu I was 20 then Magnus- about 14) in 1038 they agreed that if one of them died without an heir, then the second would inherit his throne. The king of England and Denmark died first and without heirs, just three years later. Hardeknud. U Magnus he did not have the strength to claim the English throne, but he was ready to fight for the crown of Denmark - with his nephew Canute the Great, Sven II Estridsen. By the time Harald returned to Norway, his nephew's battle Magnus with a competitor was in full swing - Sven He was defeated three times by the Norwegians in naval battles, but he was supported by the Danes, and he was not going to retreat. Of course Harald immediately concluded a military alliance with his nephew’s enemy, Sven II. However, Magnus won his uncle over to his side, declaring him his co-ruler in 1046. Right after this, most likely, the Kiev princess became his wife Harald III the Severe.

Shared the throne with his nephew Harald not for long - already a year later, on October 25, 1047, 23-year-old Magnus died under vague circumstances (possibly from a fall from a horse). He did not have time to marry, and left behind only one illegitimate daughter.
Having inherited the throne of Norway after the death of his nephew, Harald III Sigurdsson, thus inherited the contract Magnus With Hardenkudom that if one of them dies without an heir, the second will inherit his crown. And 32 year old son in law Yaroslav the Wise was not going to give up any of the three crowns to which he had rights.

The coin minted by Harald, with his image.

He began, of course, with Denmark, with which the Norwegians had not stopped military battles over the past 7 years. The Danes suffered defeat after defeat, and almost every year Norwegian ships ravaged coastal villages. In 1050 Harald plundered and burned to the ground Hedeby - the main shopping mall Denmark, in 1062 in a major naval battle at the mouth of the Nitz River (modern name Nissan) Harald destroyed the fleet Sven, and he miraculously escaped death. However, despite all the victories, Harald failed to conquer Denmark, since the local nobility and ordinary residents (bonds) provided Sven unwavering support. In 1064, the king of Norway was forced to renounce his claims to the Danish throne and made peace with Sven.
In addition to the long and bloody war with Denmark, Harald in 1063-1065 he fought with Sweden, whose king (his wife was cousin Olisave-Elizabeth) supported the jarls who rebelled against him. At the Battle of Vänern (1063), the Norwegians defeated the combined army of the Swedes and the rebellious Uplanders.
In Norway itself, the son-in-law of the Kyiv prince successfully established a centralized royal power. Those who disagreed with his policies were either killed or expelled from the country. In this Harald relied on the help of the church, so it is not surprising that during his reign Christianity was finally established in the country. Son-in-law Yaroslav the Wise He also cared about the development of trade - it was he who founded the trading settlement of Oslo in 1048, which later became the capital of Norway.

Besides his courage and belligerence, Harald III the Severe He became famous during his lifetime as a poet. He is considered the author of many vises (poems), the most famous of which are combined into a cycle of sixteen vises under common name“Visa of Joy”, dedicated to his (then future) wife, the Kyiv princess Olisave-Elizabeth. In them, he glorifies his military exploits, ending each of the verses with the same line, in which he laments that “ doesn't want a girl in the Gardai<от Гардарики – древнескандинавского названия Руси>feel inclinations towards me":

The ship passed in front of vast Sicily. We were proud of ourselves.
The ship with people glided quickly, as one could only wish.
The last thing I hope for is that the slacker will imitate us in this.
However, the girl in the Garda does not want to feel any inclination towards me.

This literal translation one of the vis, in Russian literature there are a dozen and a half of their literary adaptations, including those edited by the famous poets Lvov, Batyushkov and Tolstoy.

Such sublime love of the king Harald to his wife, whose hand he had been seeking for so long Yaroslav the Wise, sung by him in poetry, however, ended just three years after the wedding, in 1048, when he took as his concubine (according to other sources - as a second wife) the daughter of an influential Norwegian magnate, Toru Thorbergsdottir. By then Olisava-Elizaveta gave birth to her husband three children - daughters Maria And Ingegerdu and son Magnus(although regarding him there is no accurate information, who exactly was his mother - the queen or the concubine). According to the sagas, Elizabeth, first of all, as a Christian, she did not reconcile herself with her husband’s bigamy, and went into voluntary exile on one of the Norwegian islands - Sala. There she and the monks were engaged in a census of Christian literature, including taking part in writing the life of the saint Olaf, her husband's older brother, her mother's failed fiancé. In addition, the well-educated Kiev woman was engaged in raising her children and raising her stepson, youngest son Harald from Torah, Olava(by the way, in the future the king Olaf III the Quiet became the first Norwegian king about whom it is known for certain that he could read and write).

When Harald III the Severe was forced, after almost twenty years of war, to conclude a peace treaty with Denmark in 1064, thus renouncing his claims to the Danish crown, he had the resources to lay claim to the English throne, which he did, taking advantage of the death of the latter childless Anglo-Saxon king Edward the Confessor January 5th, 1066.

The situation for an attack on England was for Harald very favorable - the new king of the country, Harold Godwinson(c.1022-1066) - concentrated the main land and naval forces English kingdom on south coast, awaiting invasion William of Normandy. In addition, the English fleet was extremely weak and could not resist the Norwegians. In September 1066, taking advantage of favorable northern winds (which, in turn, delayed the departure of the Norman army from France), the fleet Harald(according to various estimates, from 360 to 460 ships) sailed to England, and descended from north to south along the coast from the mouth of the Tyne to the Humber, ravaging the coastal settlements of Yorkshire along the way. A small detachment of English ships guarding these lands was forced to retreat deep into the territory, up the River Ouse and further to Wharf to Tadcaster. Harald decided to lock the British at the mouth of the river and dropped anchor on the lower Ouse in the Riccola area, from where it was about 15 km to the north to York. Leaving a small garrison to protect the ships, the Norwegian army landed and moved towards York.
Due to the fact that the main forces of the English kingdom were in southern England, they entered into battle with the Vikings Harald The local militia of Northumbria and Mercia entered and were defeated at the Battle of Fulford on September 20, 1066 (3 km south of York). The victory at Fulford opened the door for the king Harald Surov York, whose inhabitants made peace with the Norwegians and provided them with food. Moreover, part of the Northumbrian thegns (the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the nobles) joined the Norwegian army. Harald did not occupy the city, but walked with the fleet along the Wharf River, where he dropped anchor 14 km southwest of York near the town of Tadcaster.
To ensure the loyalty of the new northern English allies, the king of Norway demanded that the Northumbrian thegns provide him with hostages. On the morning of September 25th Harald, leaving a third of his troops on the ships, went with the rest of the soldiers to take hostages. The day turned out to be hot, so the warriors chose not to wear armor, but took with them “shields, helmets and pikes, and swords in baldrics, and many also had bows and arrows.”

Waiting for the Northumbrians, the Norwegians positioned themselves 13 km east of York, at the crossing of the Derwent River. And they were very unpleasantly surprised by the sudden appearance of the king’s English army on the other side Harold. Harald managed to send to the ships for help, but the outcome of the fierce battle at Stamford Bridge was decided quite quickly in favor of the British - not least because the Norwegian king was killed at the very beginning of the decisive battle - an arrow pierced his throat. The Vikings who arrived from the ships could not turn the tide - the surviving Norwegians sailed home on only 24 ships out of 400 (as many as the British allowed to take), under the leadership of the king's youngest son Harald, Olava, swearing to never attack England again.

Norwegian invasion of Britain in 1066

This victory (by the way, was the last major battle in the more than 200-year history of Viking raids on the British Isles) cost the British very dearly - less than a month later, in the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066 with the Duke's troops William the Conqueror, they suffered a crushing defeat from the Normans, as a result of which England was captured by them. The last Anglo-Saxon king Harold Godwinson died on the battlefield along with his three younger brothers.

On the last trip Harald he was accompanied by the queen Elizaveta Yaroslavna and daughters Maria And Ingegerda, which he left on the Orkney Islands, located off the northeast coast of Scotland. According to the sagas in “same day and same hour” when their husband and father, king, died in England Harald, his eldest daughter suddenly died in the Orkney Islands Maria. She was about 19 years old. In the collection of Scandinavian sagas “The Circle of the Earth” it is reported that the king Harald was going to marry Maria to his comrade-in-arms, Hevding Oystein Orre, brother of his concubine Torbergsdottir, who died with him at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. The Norwegians who survived the battle with the British spent the winter with Elizabeth And Ingegerdoy in Orkney, and returned to Norway in the spring of 1067.

A year after the death of his son-in-law Yaroslav the Wise his body was sent home and buried in St. Mary's Church in Trondheim, but after some time the tomb was moved to the Elgeseter Monastery in Trondheim, which was demolished in the 17th century. On September 25, 2006, an article appeared in the Aftenposten newspaper in which it was reported that the tomb with the supposed body Harald the Severe is located under the road laid on the site of the old monastery. Municipal authorities Trondheim responded with a message that the possibility of exhuming the king’s body and bringing it to the burial grounds of the Nidaros Cathedral - the resting place of nine Norwegian kings of antiquity (including his elder brother Harald, king Olaf Saint– in fact, the cathedral itself was built at the site of his burial) will be considered in the near future. A month later, a short message appeared that the proposal to rebury the king had been rejected.

Information about future fate daughter widowed at 40 Yaroslav the Wise contradictory. According to one version, after returning home with her daughter, she spent the rest of her life at the court of her son or stepson Magnus who after death Harald became king at age 18 Magnus II(1048-1069) – himself Harald appointed him as his governor before his ill-fated campaign in England. According to another version, Olisava-Elizaveta married a second time, to the Danish king Sven II Estridssen with whom Harald Previously, he fought for the throne of Denmark for almost 20 years, but never became the Danish king, but his widow became the Danish queen. Where and when the Kiev woman ended her life’s journey is unknown to historians.

Daughter Elizaveta Ingegerd(1046-1120) shortly after the death of her father, in 1067, she was married to Danish prince Olaf(son of her mother's intended husband, the Danish king Sven II Estridssen), who became king of Denmark in 1086. After the death of her husband in 1095 (by the way, Olaf He passed away in a very exotic, even for his time, way - he either killed himself or was sacrificed “to atone for the sins of Denmark.” He is the only Danish monarch whose burial place is unknown. There is an assumption that his body was divided into parts and taken around different parts countries) Ingegerda married a second time, to a Swedish prince Philippa, who became king of Sweden in 1105. So this granddaughter Yaroslav the Wise During her life she wore two crowns - Danish and Swedish.

As I already mentioned, historians do not know for sure who the mother of the eldest son was HaraiceIII Severe,Magnus(1048-1069) – his wife or concubine. It was his king of Norway, setting off on his last military campaign to Britain in 1066, who proclaimed him king ( Magnus I was 18 years old at the time - an absolutely adult age at that time). With you Harald took my youngest son, 16 years old Olava- after the death of his father, he led the remnants of the Viking army, and swore an oath to the British never to attack Britain again. Both brothers, by the way, during the lifetime of their warlike father, managed to visit many military alterations in quite at a young age. It is known that Magnus in 1056-1058 (i.e. in 8-10 years) he took part, and, according to non-Scandinavian sources, led the campaign of the Norwegian fleet in the Irish Sea. Passing through Shetland, Orkney and the Hebrides, Magnus received an oath of allegiance to the Norwegian king from the Scandinavian colonists inhabiting them.
After returning to Norway defeated in Viking Britain Magnus voluntarily shared power in the kingdom with his younger brother. Olav became king of Eastern Norway, and Magnus King of Northern Norway.
Alleged son Elizaveta Yaroslavna died very young, in 1069 (at the age of 21) - according to some sources, as a result of poisoning with bread made from grains affected by ergot, according to others - due to ringworm. He left behind one year old son, Hakona(1068-1094), who in 1093, after the death of his uncle, Olaf III, became king of Norway Hakon I, dividing the country with his cousin, son Olava, Magnus III(1073-1103). However, this supposed great-grandson Yaroslav the Wise He also lived very briefly - he died suddenly at the age of 26. Historians know nothing about his wife and children, in any case - the Norwegian royal dynasty Ynglingov continued after him by the descendants of the king's youngest son Harald the Severe from his concubine Torah, king Olaf III the Quiet, or Peaceful(1050-1093). But they definitely have nothing to do with the Kyiv dynasty Rurikovich didn't have.

What should be mentioned separately - marriage Olissava-Elizabeth And Harald could not but be significant for the mother of the Kyiv princess, princess Irina. Because before becoming a wife Yaroslav the Wise in 1019, the Swedish princess was the bride of her brother-in-law's elder brother, the king of Norway, for two years Olaf II Saint. The decision about their wedding was made at the Thing (the Scandinavian analogue of the Old Russian veche) in Uppsala in the fall of 1017. Father of the bride, King of Sweden Olaf III, took an oath that he would give Ingegerdu married to a Norwegian. Moreover, his daughter herself wanted this marriage ( Ingegerda And Olaf were in a love correspondence, in addition to the official matchmaking, the king of Norway sent his bride a gold ring with a marriage proposal, to which she agreed), and there is reason to believe that all her life she continued to love her failed husband. And it can be understood - Yaroslav was about 20 years older than his wife, and the Norwegian king was older Ingegerdy only by 5-6. In addition, the Novgorod prince was lame, which in the eyes of the young girl did not look good on him either.

Given out against one's will for Yaroslav, Ingegerda, however, a year later she became related to her beloved Olaf– her paternal sister (from a concubine), Astrid, took her place and became the Norwegian queen. For the second time with Olaf Ingegerda became related 15 years after his death - children Olissava-Elizabeth And Harald at the same time they were her own grandchildren, and Olaf- blood nephews.

P.S. The title illustration for the essay is an illustration from the 13th century chronicles “The Life of King Edward the Confessor” - “Harald on Stamford Bridge.” King Harald the Severe is in the very center, wearing a crown.

Harald Sigurdarson

The chosen one of the Russian princess was born in 1015. His parents turned out to be the Norwegian king Sigurd the Pig and Asta Gudbrandsdottir. Harald had a brother, Olav, who was later nicknamed first the Tolstoy and then the Saint.

It was Olav who became the ruler of the Norwegian state, but Harald did not give up hopes that someday he would have the opportunity to rule the country, especially since his name symbolized certain ambitions for the throne. And his expectations for the future were indeed justified.

Already as a sixteen-year-old teenager, Harald III became a “rogue prince.” His brother Olav, who became the head of an entire kingdom, once wanted to marry his daughter Ingigerda, but she married Yaroslav the Wise. Having been defeated by the Danes, he, hiding first in Sweden and then in Novgorod, loses power in Norway. He will be killed at the Battle of Stiklastadir, where he will fight the troops of the Norwegian nobility.

Harald, like his brother, was forced to seek refuge first with the Swedish king, and then with the Kyiv prince.

In Novgorod

Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise greeted the guest quite cordially. The prince assigned him to the squad, but not as an ordinary warrior, but in the status of one of the squad-managers, since the position obliged. And so early years Harald wanted to glorify himself in battle at all costs. He was attracted by adventure and the glory of a commander. The prince imagined how he would mine gold and jewelry with a shield and sword, turning into an influential nobleman.

What does Harald III the Severe do while in the service of the Russian prince? He is absorbed in the intricacies of military affairs: the young man spends almost all his time with the squad, which is often given orders to collect tribute from the territories conquered by Yaroslav the Wise. The failed heir to the Norwegian throne repeatedly suppresses uprisings, riots, and even went on a military campaign against Poland together with the Prince of Kyiv.

Meeting with your beloved

Legend says that Elizaveta Yaroslavna and Harald were simply made for each other. Romantics who lived at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries stated that when a young Viking saw the young princess, he was immediately struck by her beauty. He was struck by the slender figure, swan gait, sable eyebrows and clear eyes of the daughter of a Russian prince. One might assume that from the outside it was love at first sight. But such a hypothesis still does not stand up to criticism.

Elizabeth Yaroslavna (1025-1066) was the fourth son in the ruler's family. And when the Norwegian prince first visited Novgorod, Ellisiv was 6 to 9 years old. So there is no need to talk about the swan walk at this age.

Some historians also doubt that, after spending some time in Novgorod (from 1031 to 1034), Harald wooed a young girl. Why? It's very simple. Firstly, at that time the prince was concerned about the fate of his eldest daughter Anna, who was already “going as a bride.” Well, secondly, the “Norwegian guest” was not a priori considered as a groom, because, despite high title, in fact, he was “naked as a falcon.” Of course, he could hatch plans to ask the young princess for “the hand and heart” of the young princess in the future. But he clearly realized that without wealth and fame, Elizabeth Yaroslavna would be inaccessible to him. And Harald decides to get them by any means.

Viking feats of arms

War was a favorite pastime for the Norwegian prince. He personified the brave Viking warrior. Harald was not only a brave soldier, but also a smart military strategist. After victories, he received gold and silver as a reward, which symbolized good luck, prosperity and happiness. At first, the Norwegian heir to the throne served Byzantine prince Michael IV.

He helped him fight sea pirates in the Aegean Sea and became a member military expedition in Sicily. Harald then went to suppress Delyan's rebellion in Bulgaria. In addition, he fought in Sicily and African continent. Thus, he turned into a most experienced commander. And he regularly sent the wealth obtained as a result of battles to Novgorod. When his patron Michael IV died, the prince fell into disgrace. He suddenly became a robber, which was slander, and ended up in prison. After some time, the Varangian escaped and again ended up in Novgorod.

Poems in honor of a beloved

Finding himself again in the possessions, he remembered his daughter Ellisiv. Now she has become a real beauty, feminine in a Slavic way and sophisticated in a Byzantine way. Now Elizaveta Yaroslavna was an enviable bride, and Harald could not help but fall in love with the princess. In her honour, he composed "The Hangings of Joy". This is the name of the poems in which the Viking warrior admires the charm and beauty that Ellisiv is endowed with.

From the point of view of genre, “Vis of Joy” were songs of praise. But in his creation, the young Norwegian does not forget to mention his own person, positioning himself as the best contender for the hand and heart of the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise. And ultimately he gets his way.

The prince gives the go-ahead for the wedding

As the images that have survived to this day show, Princess Elizaveta Yaroslavna was truly beautiful.

Since childhood, she had become accustomed to the splendor and pomp of her father’s palace, while luxury and wealth were taken for granted for her. In other words, any royal house of Europe would consider it an honor to accept the middle daughter of Yaroslav the Wise into their family. But Elizaveta Yaroslavna became the wife of Harald III.

Upon arrival in Novgorod, the Viking received at his disposal all the treasures that he had won as a result of his military exploits. The heir to the Norwegian throne became the wealthiest man in Rus'. And under such circumstances, Yaroslav the Wise naturally agreed to his daughter’s marriage to the Viking. Moreover, he gave the go-ahead for the wedding not so much because he saw a worthy husband in Harold, but because he wanted this union to strengthen friendly relations with the countries of northern Europe. The wedding ceremony took place in the winter of 1043-1044.

Back to Norway

Over the next six months, the newlyweds lived in Gard. Soon after this they went to Norway. Subsequently, the Icelandic skald Stuv the Blind would write: “He got a lot of gold and the king’s daughter.”

It is noteworthy that in the poetry of the skalds a woman was associated with gold jewelry or with some kind of female occupation. When the skalds assured that the Varangian really took away wealth and beautiful cargo from Gardariki, they meant gold jewelry and the Russian princess.

In any case, the wedding of the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise and the son of King Sigurd the Pig further strengthened the good neighborly ties between Russia and Norway. Harald, as a result of his marriage to a Russian princess, briefly became close to the authoritative Earl Svein Ulvsson, who later took the Danish throne.

Years of rule in his native country

Arriving in his homeland, Harald shared power in the country with his nephew Magnus.

He received as a reward half of the wealth won by the Viking on long campaigns, and Harald received the right to rule 50% of the territories of Norway. But soon civil strife over spheres of influence began to break out between relatives more and more often. As a result, the son of Sigurd the Pig became the rightful ruler in his country. But after some time the nephew took revenge on his uncle. Before his death, Magnus bequeathed the Danish kingdom to Svein Ulvsson, and the lion's part of the Norwegian army was forced to retreat. As a result, Harald's troops retreated back to Norway. Elizabeth Yaroslavna's husband was beside himself with indignation.

He harbors the idea of becoming the ruler of Denmark. Every year in the spring, he mobilizes his army and leads it to war against the Danes, plundering and destroying their houses. For such cruelty he was nicknamed Harald the Severe Ruler. Yes, he was of a tough disposition and never forgot the insults inflicted on him. As a result, ordinary people suffered. However, he was an experienced commander and a man well versed in the intricacies military tactics. In Byzantium, he perfectly mastered the intricacies of combat techniques and successfully practiced the acquired knowledge in northern Europe.

Stranger in the northern country

But how did Elizabeth Yaroslavna (Queen of Norway) feel about her husband’s thirst for conquest? How could she even tolerate the harsh temper of Harald the Severe? History does not provide clear answers to these questions. It is likely that the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise made attempts to calm his foreign policy ambitions. But it cannot be ruled out that the newly-crowned Queen of Norway compared her husband with her father, who was also not averse to expanding the borders of his state. She could only appeal to Christian virtues and hope that Harald would stop brutal wars. One way or another, she felt like a stranger in this cold, always at war country. The princess’s position was also aggravated by the fact that she had no relatives to protect her in Norway, and her father no longer provided assistance to Ellisiv and did not supply Harald with troops.

Second wife

Having lost the support of his influential father-in-law, the Norwegian ruler decided to marry again. At that time, representatives of the noble classes were given the right to have several wives. Moreover, only one was considered official. Only three years have passed since the wedding of Harold and Elizabeth Yaroslavna, when the son of Sigurd the Pig wanted to marry Thora Thorbergsdottir, the daughter of a wealthy Norwegian tycoon.

By that time, Princess Ellisiv gave birth to two daughters - Ingigerd and Maria. According to the sources - "The Strand of Halli the Shuttle" and "The Saga of Harald the Severe Ruler", the relationship between the Norwegian king and Thora Thorbergsdottir quickly developed into passionate love. In Norway this has become the #1 topic of discussion. Subsequently, the Torah gave birth to a son, Olaf.

Rumors of divorce from Ellisiv

Gradually, Harald began to move away from Elizabeth Yaroslavna, and Tora took her place. She even went on military campaigns with him.

Some sources speak of a breakdown in relations between Harald and the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise. But whether he really was, it is impossible to say. In any case, on his last campaign the Norwegian Viking was not alone: he was accompanied by Elizaveta Yaroslavna (daughter of Yaroslav the Wise).

Last trip

Some time after Norway stopped trying to take over Denmark, the son of Sigurd the Pig again began to feel nostalgic for feats of arms. One day a man from England appeared in his country and told Harold that he had every chance of taking the British throne. Infected with this crazy idea, the Varangian began to gather an army. But soon he began to have bad dreams, which could be interpreted as a warning against rash actions. But the Norwegian still decided to go on a campaign. He left the throne to his nephew, and he himself dreamed of becoming king Great Britain. He wanted to settle there forever.

Initially he was successful. He was even recognized English monarch. But King Harold hastily united an army around himself and opposed the impostor. At the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the Norwegian army was defeated, and Ellisiv's husband died on the battlefield.

The fate of the princess after the death of her husband

Afterwards, Princess Elizabeth Yaroslavna, together with Olav and Ingigerd, returned back. Daughter Maria died at the same time as her father. The sources are silent about the further fate of the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise. It is known that Ingigerd became the wife of King Olav Sveinsson from Denmark and then ruled this Scandinavian country.

Fresco from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, which depicts the daughters of Yaroslav the Wise: the younger Anna, Anastasia, Elizabeth / Ellisiv, wife of the King of Norway, and Agatha

It is almost certain that the eldest daughter of the Grand Duke of Kyiv Yaroslav the Wise was not named Elizabeth. In Ancient Rus', until the 14th century, this female name was not recorded anywhere in the sources. Most likely she wore Old Russian name Olisawa, in Norway turned into “Ellisiv” (it is under this name that she appears in the Norwegian chronicles). By the way, modern historians know about all Yaroslavnas exclusively from foreign documents - in famous ancient Russian chronicles there is not a single mention of them.

There is no consensus whether Elizabeth was the first or second daughter of the Kyiv prince and princess, since the years of birth of their daughters were reconstructed according to the dates of their marriage, information about which ranges from one year to two to three years. But, nevertheless, traditionally she is considered the eldest daughter (the fourth oldest child, after three brothers) of Yaroslav the Wise and his wife Irina (Ingigerda of Sweden).

Olisava-Elizabeth was born around 1026 in Novgorod, and spent her first years of life there. Since her father in 1024 near Listven in the Chernigov region in the battle for the Kiev table was defeated by the last real competitor left to him - the brother of Mstislav Vladimirovich Tmutarakansky (c.983-1036), Prince Yaroslav and his family moved to Kyiv from Novgorod only in 1036 , after the mysterious death of Prince Mstislav while hunting. So, if, according to the sagas, little Elizabeth met her future husband (and future king of Norway) Harald III Surov, when she was five years old and he was about fifteen, this happened precisely in Novgorod.

If very little is known about Elizabeth herself as a person (traditionally in the Middle Ages, a woman was just an “addendum” to a man, a reflection of his greatness - that is why in ancient chronicles even the “first ladies” were mentioned as “the prince’s daughter” or wife , and the woman’s own name had no meaning in this context), then her husband was in all respects an outstanding figure of his time, and became a legend during his lifetime.

Harald III Sigurdsson (Harald the Severe) (c. 1015-25 September 1066) was the youngest half-brother (by mother) of the three younger brothers of King Olaf II of Norway the Saint (995-1030), there was a 20-year difference between them. If the common mother of the brothers was Asta Gudbrandsdottir (c. 970-c. 1020) - the daughter of a certain rich but not noble Gudbrand Shishka, then their fathers belonged to the Norwegian royal dynasty of Horfagers - both were descendants of the first non-legendary king of Norway, Harald Fairhair (c. 950/975-933/945), and were each other’s second cousins. Asta's second husband, the ruler of the small Norwegian kingdom of Ringerike, Sigurd the Pig (c.970-c.1018), in 1015 took an active part in the successful conquest of the crown of Norway by his stepson, Olaf Haraldsson, from the Hladir jarl Sven Haakonsson, ruler of Norway, illegitimate son and vassal of King Canute the Great of Denmark.

And in 1030, at only 14-15 years old, Harald himself took part in the devastating battle of Stiklastadir for his older brother, as a result of which Olaf not only lost his throne, but also lost his life. Yaroslav's future son-in-law was then seriously wounded (eyewitnesses of the battle separately noted the exceptional courage and belligerence of the then very young Harald), after which he hid and was treated, and then left Norway, moving to Sweden. Later, he gathered a squad of Varangians, who, like himself, were forced to leave the country as a result of the death of Olaf II, and in 1031, together with them, he reached Rus', where he entered the service of Yaroslav the Wise. By the way, from 1028, the prince of Kyiv (who, as I already mentioned, still lived in Novgorod) raised the son of the deceased King of Norway Olaf II, Magnus (1024-1047) - Harald’s nephew. The boy was the nephew not only of the future son-in-law of Yaroslav the Wise, but also of his wife, Ingigerda of Sweden - since his mother was her sister (on the father's side, King Olaf Sjötkonung of Sweden).

In 1031-1034, 15-18 year old Harald, together with Eiliw Regnvaldson, the son of the jarl (posadnik) of Aldeigjuborg (Ladoga) Regnvald Ulvson, takes part in Yaroslav’s campaign against the Poles, and, according to the Scandinavian sagas, commands Russian troops along with more experienced commanders .

In 1034, Harald and his retinue (about 500 people) entered the service of the Byzantine emperor. Harald's detachment became part of the "special forces" of its time, known in history as the "Varangian Guard". In 1034-1036, Harald took part in campaigns against pirates in Asia Minor and Syria. In 1036-1040, his detachment was part of the Byzantine army of George Maniac in the Sicilian campaign. In 1041, as part of Varangian Guard takes part in the suppression of the Bulgarian uprising of Peter II Delyan. According to the Scandinavian sagas and the Bulgarian chronicle, Harald personally killed the Bulgarian king in battle. After these events, he became the commander of the entire guard of the Byzantine emperor. In 1042, Harald and his Varangians took an active part in the palace coup, as a result of which Emperor Michael V Calafate was overthrown and blinded. Later, due to palace intrigues, Harald falls into disgrace with the new ruler. Fleeing from the trial, the future king of Norway and his soldiers were forced to flee from Constantinople to Kyiv. By the way, during his service in Byzantium, Harald extracted a huge amount of gold and precious stones in military campaigns, and for many years he regularly sent part of this production to Yaroslav the Wise for safekeeping.

In 1043, Yaroslav, “for the murder of one famous Russian in Constantinople” (in Constantinople), sent his son, Prince Vladimir of Novgorod, together with Harald on a campaign against Emperor Constantine Monomakh. The campaign ended with the military defeat of the Russians. According to some historical chronicles, at the same time, in the winter of 1043-1044. the brave Varangian became the son-in-law of the Grand Duke of Kyiv, marrying his daughter Olissava-Elizabeth. However, this contradicts the Scandinavian sagas, which claim that Yaroslav the Wise was ready to give his daughter in marriage to Harald, who was in love with her, only after he became king.

Therefore, another (also described in the chronicles) version of the development of further events seems more logical.

The wealthy representative of the ruling Norwegian dynasty, the battle-hardened commander that Harald became by the age of 30, had nothing to catch in Kyiv. And somewhere in 1045, he moved to his native Norway, where from 1035 his nephew, the son of King Olaf II the Saint, Magnus I the Noble (1024-1047), ruled. Magnus, who was brought up in Novgorod, was able to become the king of Norway in confrontation with the governor of Denmark in Norway, Sven Knutsson (c.1016-1035) at only 11 years old, solely with the support of his uncle (by his wife) Yaroslav the Wise. For the same reason, the Kiev prince would not help Harald in his struggle for the Norwegian crown. The brave Varangian dealt with this problem on his own.

By the time his uncle arrived in Norway, his nephew, who had grown up by that time, King Magnus I, was 21 years old. The reign of the young king was popular in the country, so the experienced Harald did not undermine the internal situation to achieve his goals. Magnus’s main problem at that time was the military confrontation that had lasted since 1042 with the king of Denmark, Sven II Estridsen (1020-1074) for the Danish crown. The fact is that Magnus’s father (and Harald’s older brother), King Olaf II the Saint, laid down his head in 1030 in a battle with the strongest Scandinavian ruler of that time, the Danish king Canute II the Great (994/995-1035) (by the way, his own uncle of the wife of Yaroslav the Wise, Princess Irina of Kyiv), who 14 years earlier, in 1016, conquered England and married the widowed English queen. After the death of Olaf, Canute the Great became king of Denmark, England and Norway.

Yaroslav the Wise was able to return his father's crown to Magnus only by quickly and competently taking advantage of the confusion after the sudden death of Canute the Great in 1035. The only legitimate heir of the Dane was the 17-year-old son of the English queen Emma of Normandy, Hardeknud (1018/1019-1042), and the inexperience of the young king did not allow him to return Norway to Danish rule. Ultimately, in order to avoid senseless bloodshed, the young kings (Hardeknud was then 20, Harald was about 14) agreed in 1038 that if one of them died without an heir, then the second would inherit his throne. The first and without heirs, just three years later, died the king of England and Denmark, Hardeknud. Magnus did not have the strength to claim the English throne, but he was ready to fight for the crown of Denmark - with the nephew of Canute the Great, Sven II Estridsen. By the time Harald returned to Norway, his nephew’s confrontation with his rival was in full swing - Sven was defeated by Magnus three times in naval battles, but he was supported by the Danes, so he was not going to retreat. Of course, Harald immediately concluded a military alliance with his nephew’s enemy, Sven II. However, Magnus won his uncle over to his side, declaring him his co-ruler in 1046. Right after this, most likely, the Kiev princess became the wife of Harald III the Severe.

Harald did not share the throne with his nephew for long - a year later, on October 25, 1047, 23-year-old Magnus died under vague circumstances (possibly from a fall from a horse). He did not have time to marry, and left behind only one illegitimate daughter.

Having inherited the throne of Norway after the death of his nephew, Harald III Sigurdsson thus inherited the agreement between Magnus and Hardenkud that if one of them died without an heir, then the second would inherit his crown. And the 32-year-old son-in-law of Yaroslav the Wise was not going to give up any of the three crowns to which he had rights.

In addition to the long and bloody war with Denmark, in 1063-1065 Harald fought with Sweden, whose king (his wife was Olissava-Elizabeth’s cousin) supported the jarls who rebelled against him. At the Battle of Vänern (1063), the Norwegians defeated the combined army of the Swedes and the rebellious Uplanders.

In Norway itself, the son-in-law of the Kyiv prince successfully established centralized royal power. Those who disagreed with his policies were either killed or expelled from the country. In this, Harald relied on the help of the church, so it is not surprising that during his reign Christianity was finally established in the country. The son-in-law of Yaroslav the Wise also took care of the development of trade - it was he who founded the trading settlement of Oslo in 1048, which later became the capital of Norway.

In addition to his courage and belligerence, Harald III the Severe became famous during his lifetime as a poet. He is considered the author of many vises (poems), the most famous of which are combined into a cycle of sixteen vises under the general title “Vises of Joy”, dedicated to his (then future) wife, the Kyiv princess Olisava-Elizabeth. In them, he glorifies his military exploits, ending each of the verses with the same line, in which he complains that “the girl in Gardah (from Gardariki - the Old Norse name for Rus' - author’s note) does not want to feel inclinations towards me”:

The ship passed in front of vast Sicily. We were proud of ourselves.

The ship with people glided quickly, as one could only wish.

The last thing I hope for is that the slacker will imitate us in this.

However, the girl in the Garda does not want to feel any inclination towards me.

This is a literal translation of one of the vises; in Russian literature there are a dozen and a half of their literary adaptations, including those edited by the famous poets Lvov, Batyushkov and Tolstoy.

Such sublime love of King Harald for his wife, whose hand he sought for so long from Yaroslav the Wise, sung by him in verse, however, ended just three years after the wedding, in 1048, when he took his concubines (according to other sources - as his second wife) the daughter of an influential Norwegian tycoon, Toru Thorbergsdottir. By that time, Olisava-Elizabeth had given birth to her husband three children - daughters Maria and Ingigerda and son Magnus (although there is no exact information regarding him about who exactly his mother was - the queen or the concubine). According to the sagas, Elizabeth, first of all, as a Christian, did not reconcile herself with her husband’s bigamy, and went into voluntary exile to one of the Norwegian islands - Sala. There she and the monks were engaged in a census of Christian literature, including taking part in writing the life of St. Olaf, her husband’s elder brother. In addition, the well-educated Kiev woman was engaged in raising her children and raising her stepson, Harald’s youngest son from Torah, Olaf.

When Harald III the Severe was forced, after almost twenty years of war, to conclude a peace treaty with Denmark in 1064, thus renouncing his claims to the Danish crown, he had the resources to lay claim to the English throne, which he did , taking advantage of the death of the last childless Anglo-Saxon king, Edward the Confessor, on January 5th, 1066.

The situation for an attack on England was very favorable for Harald - the new king of the country, Harold Godwinson (c.1022-1066) - concentrated the main land and sea forces of the English kingdom on the southern coast, in anticipation of the invasion of William of Normandy. In addition, the English fleet was extremely weak and could not resist the Norwegians. In September 1066, taking advantage of favorable northern winds (which, in turn, delayed the departure of the Norman army from France), Harald's fleet (according to various estimates, from 360 to 460 ships) sailed to England, and descended from north to south along the coast from the mouth of the River Tyne to the Humber, ravaging the coastal settlements of Yorkshire along the way. A small detachment of English ships guarding these lands was forced to retreat deep into the territory, up the River Ouse and further to Wharf to Tadcaster. Harald decided to lock the British at the mouth of the river and dropped anchor on the lower Ouse in the Rikkola area, from where York was about 15 km to the north. Leaving a small garrison to protect the ships, the Norwegian army landed and moved towards York.

Due to the fact that the main forces of the English kingdom were in southern England, the local militia of Northumbria and Mercia entered into battle with Harald’s Vikings and were defeated at the Battle of Fulford on September 20, 1066 (3 km south of York) . The victory at Fulford opened York to King Harald the Severe, whose inhabitants made peace with the Norwegians and provided them with food. Moreover, part of the Northumbrian thegns (the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the nobles) joined the Norwegian army. Harald did not occupy the city, but walked with the fleet along the River Wharf, where he dropped anchor 14 km southwest of York near the town of Tadcaster.

To ensure the loyalty of the new northern English allies, the king of Norway demanded that the Northumbrian thegns provide him with hostages. On the morning of September 25, Harald, leaving a third of his troops on the ships, went with the rest of the soldiers to take hostages. The day turned out to be hot, so the warriors chose not to wear armor, but took with them “shields, helmets and pikes, and swords in baldrics, and many also had bows and arrows.”

Waiting for the Northumbrians, the Norwegians positioned themselves 13 km east of York, at the crossing of the Derwent River. And they were very unpleasantly surprised by the sudden appearance on the other side of the English army of King Harold. Harald managed to send to the ships for help, but the outcome of the fierce battle at Stamford Bridge was decided quite quickly in favor of the British - not least because the Norwegian king was killed at the very beginning of the decisive battle - an arrow pierced his throat. The Vikings who arrived from the ships could not turn the situation around - the surviving Norwegians sailed home on only 24 ships out of 400 (as many as the British allowed to take), under the leadership of King Harald's youngest son, Olaf, swearing an oath never to attack England again.

This victory (by the way, which became the last major battle in the more than 200-year history of Viking raids on the British Isles) was very costly for the British - less than a month later, in the Battle of Hastings on October 14, 1066 with the troops of Duke William the Conqueror, they suffered a crushing defeat by the Normans, as a result of which England was captured by them. The last Anglo-Saxon king, Harold Godwinson, died on the battlefield along with his two younger brothers.

On Harald's last military campaign he was accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and his daughters Maria and Ingigerda, whom he left on the Orkney Islands, located off the north-east coast of Scotland. According to the sagas, on “the same day and the same hour,” when their husband and father, King Harald, died in England, his eldest daughter Maria suddenly died in the Orkney Islands. She was about 19 years old. The collection of Scandinavian sagas “The Circle of the Earth” reports that King Harald was going to marry Mary to his comrade, Høvding Oystein Orre, the brother of his concubine Thora Thorbergsdottir, who died with him at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. The Norwegians who survived the battle with the English spent the winter with Elizabeth and Ingigerda on the Orkney Islands, and returned to Norway in the spring of 1067.

Information about the further fate of the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, who was widowed at about 40 years old, is contradictory. According to one version, after returning home with her daughter, she spent the rest of her life at the court of her son or stepson Magnus, who, after the death of Harald, became King Magnus II (1048-1069) at the age of 18 - Harald himself appointed him as his viceroy before the ill-fated trip to England. According to another version, Olisawa-Elizabeth married a second time, to the Danish king Sven II Estridssen, with whom Harald had previously fought for the throne of Denmark for almost 20 years, but never became the Danish king, but his widow became the Danish queen. Where and when the Kiev woman ended her life is unknown to historians.

Elizabeth's daughter Ingigerda (1046-1120), shortly after the death of her father, in 1067, was married to the Danish prince Olaf (the son of her mother's intended husband, the Danish king Sven II Estridssen), who became king of Denmark in 1086. After the death of her husband in 1095, Ingigerda married a second time, to the Swedish Prince Philip, who became King of Sweden in 1105. Thus, this granddaughter of Yaroslav the Wise wore two crowns during her life - Danish and Swedish.

What should be mentioned separately is that the marriage of Elizabeth and Harald could not but be significant for the mother of the Kyiv princess, Princess Irina. Because before becoming the wife of Yaroslav the Wise in 1019, the Swedish princess was the bride of her brother-in-law’s elder brother, King Olaf II the Saint of Norway, for two years. The decision about their wedding was made at the Thing (the Scandinavian analogue of the Old Russian veche) in Uppsala in the fall of 1017. The bride's father, King Olaf III of Sweden, swore an oath that he would give Ingigerda in marriage to a Norwegian. Moreover, his daughter herself wanted this marriage (Ingigerda and Olaf were in a love correspondence; in addition to the official matchmaking, the King of Norway sent his bride a gold ring with a marriage proposal, to which she agreed), and there is reason to believe that all her life she continued to love her failed husband. And she can be understood - Yaroslav was about 20 years older than his wife, and the Norwegian king was only 5-6 older than Ingigerda. In addition, the Novgorod prince was lame, which in the eyes of the young girl did not look good on him either.

Married against her will to Yaroslav, Ingigerda, however, a year later became related to her beloved Olaf - her paternal sister (from a concubine), Astrid, took her place and became the Norwegian queen. For the second time, Ingigerda became related to Olaf 15 years after his death - the children of Olisawa-Elizabeth and Harald were at the same time her own grandchildren, and Olaf's blood nephews.

Elizaveta Yaroslavna

There is no information about Yaroslav’s daughters in The Tale of Bygone Years, and therefore the story about them must be based on foreign sources.

One of these documents is the Scandinavian sagas and, first of all, the world-famous collection “The Circle of the Earth” (“Heimskringla”) by the Icelandic skald Snorri Sturluson. The warrior and traveler, singer and poet died in 1241 at the age of 63, but to this day he is the most famous Icelander who has ever lived. The sagas he recorded are, at first glance, an ingenuous and unembellished narrative about how the medieval Scandinavians lived and what they did, but behind the lines of “The Circle of the Earth” you can’t help but see living people who suffered and rejoiced, won and suffered defeats, achieved their goals and submitted to external circumstances. The inner world of the characters is visible from their actions and from the words with which they address each other. There are no metaphors, poetic exaggerations, magical transformations or miraculous qualities of the heroes. This is the difference between the Scandinavian sagas and, say, Russian epics, the Arabian Arabian Nights or the Georgian Knight in the Skin of a Tiger. In these works it is necessary to separate the poetic frame from the events that actually took place, which formed the basis of the literary or folk work. Thus, a grain of sand from reality serves as the germ of a beautiful pearl. poetic creativity. Getting acquainted with the Scandinavian sagas, you understand that their authors considered the man himself and his deeds worthy of attention, only in rare cases introducing elements of myth and fantasy into the narrative.

All over the world, sagas are considered a source of valuable information about past times. In Russia, the sagas of Snorri Sturluson were introduced into scientific circulation also V.N. Tatishchev, and N.M. based his research on them. Karamzin, as well as subsequent generations of historians. The Saga of Harald the Severe tells about the beautiful daughter of the Kyiv prince, Elizaveta Yaroslavna, and her brave husband.

The childhood years of Elizabeth's future husband are described in the Saga of Saint Olaf. When his already adult elder brother, the Norwegian king, approached three-year-old Harald, he firmly looked into his eyes, without lowering his gaze. Then the elder brother pulled him by the hair, but the little one forcefully pulled the formidable king’s mustache. “Then the king said: “You, brother, obviously won’t let anyone down!” This is what the saga says. Little Harald's favorite toys were wooden planks depicting warships, and the cherished desire was to have many warriors.

When Harald grew up, he already took part in the battle of Stiklastadir in 1030. Olav did not want to allow him to go into battle, because Harald was not yet 15 years old. The future hero of many battles and the future famous poet replied: “I will certainly fight, and if I am not yet strong enough to hold the sword, I know what must be done: I will tie the hilt of the sword to my hand. ...I want to fight alongside my comrades.”

In this battle, King Olav of Norway died, and his brother fled through the forests, away from the main roads, first to Sweden, and then to Novgorod, where the Russian prince Yaroslav and his family were then located. Along with him were other Norwegian Vikings, supporters of the deceased king.

There young Harald met his future bride. He grew stronger, matured, and he no longer needed to tie the sword to his hand to hold it. Yaroslav instructed him to command the soldiers who guarded the princely residence. Harald and his detachment went on campaigns against local Finnish tribes and Poles. Several years passed like this. The Norwegian prince liked Elizabeth, but, being just a hired soldier, deprived of his homeland and fortune, he could not count on the consent of the powerful Russian prince to this marriage.

Harald went to Constantinople, where Empress Zoe had ruled since 1034. In Byzantium, he and his squad cleared the Greek islands of pirates and fought in Asia Minor, Sicily, and Jerusalem. The saga describes in detail Harald’s dangerous campaigns, in which he “spent... many years, captured enormous wealth, gold and all kinds of jewelry. But all the property that he obtained and did not need in order to support himself, he sent with faithful people north to Holmgard [Novgorod] for safekeeping with King Yaritsleiv [Yaroslav], and immeasurable treasures accumulated there. This was to be expected, because he went on campaigns to that part of the world that is richest in gold and jewelry, and performed many feats, namely? as already said, he captured eighty cities.”

Together with Harald and other Norwegians in the fighting in the Mediterranean in 1038–1042. participated, according to G.V. Vernadsky, and Russian troops. This is quite likely, since relations with Byzantium were, in general, allied, and Yaroslav organized a military campaign against Constantinople only in 1043. In the previous period, the Grand Duke of Kiev could well have sent military aid to the Byzantines. It is possible that the very appearance of Harald in Byzantium became possible within the framework of the Russian-Byzantine agreement on military assistance, and the son of the Norwegian king thus acted as the executor of Yaroslav’s decision; he was entrusted with commanding the Norwegian-Russian detachment. This explains why Harald sent his war booty to Yaroslav for safekeeping.

Finally, Harald decided to return to Rus'. The saga succinctly says: “During this trip, Harald composed the Vises of Joy, and there were only sixteen of them with the same refrain in each... this is how he addressed Ellisiv, daughter of King Jaritsleif in Holmgard.” These poems (called "vis" by the Scandinavians) were preserved not only in the sagas. They forever remained in Russian literature in K.N.’s translation. Batyushkova.

The poems describe how the hero, risking his life, fights his enemies. Here is the closest translation to the original of two lines directly from the saga, translated by A.Ya. Gurevich:

The edge would be here

Not to the taste of a coward.

The chorus, repeated after each stanza, is best given as translated by K.N. Batyushkov: “And the Russian maiden despises Haralda!” Literally, in the Norwegian poems that have survived centuries, it says something like this: “The girl in Gardarik (in Rus') with a gold necklace around her neck does not want to know me”? or, as translated by T.N. Jackson: “However, the girl in the Gardai does not want to feel inclinations towards me.”

Harald is known in history under different names.

He was called Harald Sigurdson, which means "son of Sigurd". He is also known as Harald Gardar, which can be understood as Harald from Gard or from Gardariki (from Rus').

Most often he was called Harald the Brave and Harald the Severe or, as you can read from other translators, Harald the Cruel. As we remember, his childhood and youth provide grounds for this.

The Norwegian prince in his Scandinavian homeland did not grow up in a majestic palace, in luxury and bliss, under the supervision of numerous and caring nannies and flattering servants. Instead of a palace, his home was a log cabin; instead of gentle teachers, he was surrounded by scarred, sullen warriors. Kyiv, with its Golden Gate and the Church of Hagia Sophia, where Harald later ended up, should have been perceived by him as a fairy-tale city. Instead of learning book wisdom, the son of the Norwegian king comprehended ruthless world the cruel and bloody science of defeating. He was constantly at risk of being killed and killed himself.

And so this stern Viking with light steel eyes, in whom, it seemed, there should be nothing human left, composes soulful poems on the way to Kyiv, the leitmotif of which sounds like the desire for the Russian princess to finally pay attention to him.

Was it possible to resist such an onslaught of feelings? What girl will remain indifferent to verses of 16 stanzas in which her beauty and the deeds performed in her honor are glorified?

How could the prudent and stingy Yaroslav not give his daughter to the heir to the Norwegian throne, who arrived in Rus' as a teenager, deprived of everything and barely saved his life, and a few years later returned to the palace of the Russian prince, covered in glory and, importantly, having “so much good, how many no one in Nordic countries I haven’t seen one person own it”! And most importantly, now he was not a beggar youth, but the leader of a formidable detachment of Vikings, who stood at its head not only thanks to his ability to wield a sword, but also due to his intelligence and talent to manage people.

The author of the saga describes its hero as follows: “Harald? a man of stature and strength unlike any other and so smart that nothing is impossible for him, he wins every time he fights, and is so rich in gold that no man has ever seen anything like it.”

The marriage took place in 1044 (according to V.V. Boguslavsky, compiler of the “Slavic Encyclopedia”) or in 1045 (according to V.M. Kogan and V.I. Dombrovsky-Shalagin, authors of the collection “Prince Rurik and His Descendants”) . In the spring, Harald and Elizabeth went to Scandinavia. Skald wrote:

Happy with fame, he brought out

You are a plow with a red load,

He was carrying a golden treasury,

Harald Prince of Gard.

It would be a mistake to believe that love transformed the husband of Elizabeth Yaroslavna and he was filled with humanism. Having entered into an alliance with the king of Sweden, Harald equipped ships. Allied army landed in Denmark, where Norwegian and Swedish Vikings “fought and burned everywhere.”

Then Harald reconciled with his nephew Magnus, who ruled Norway at that time, and they began to rule the country together. Magnus soon died, and Harald became the sovereign king of Norway in 1047. His policy at this time was not very diverse: over the next 17 years, he and the Danish king continued to plunder each other’s lands.

Both kings behaved like primitive predators. The saga says about Harald: “He ordered the bondsmen to be seized, some to be mutilated, others to be killed, and many had all their property taken away. Everyone who could fled. Everywhere he ordered to burn and devastate areas.”

This was the way of action at that time, and it is not condemned by the author of the saga: “King Harald was a powerful and firm ruler of the country, strong in mind, so everyone said that there was no ruler in the Nordic countries who could equal him in intelligence decisions made and the wisdom of advice given. He was a great and courageous warrior. He possessed great strength and handled weapons more skillfully than any other man, as has already been written. But many more of his exploits remain unrecorded. This is due to our ignorance, as well as the fact that we do not want to include stories in the book that are not confirmed by witnesses. Although we have heard many speeches and come across all sorts of references, it seems to us better to subsequently add about them than to be forced to remove them.”

By the time Harald began to rule Norway, he and Elizabeth already had two daughters: Maria and Ingigerda. By this time, the daughter of the Russian prince was forced to endure an insult from her husband. Did he want to have a son? heir to the throne, and he took his concubine Thora, who bore him not one, but even two sons: Magnus and Olaf. Nevertheless, Elizabeth continued to share with her husband all the hardships of his turbulent life. When he decided, taking advantage of the disputes between the English king and his brother, to conquer England, Elizabeth and both of her daughters went on a campaign with him. The concubine remained in Norway with her son Magnus, who was proclaimed king.

England might have seemed like easy prey to Harald. During his youth, the Vikings of neighboring Denmark, led by King Canute, subjugated both England and Scotland.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, the hero of Shakespeare's tragedy, was approximately the same age as Harald and equal to that by position. Both were sons of the kings of their states. In Shakespeare's play you can see reflections of events real story. The Danish king in the play included Norway in his possessions. King Canute (or Cnut, Canute) really ruled the huge Northern Kingdom, which included almost all of Scandinavia, including Denmark, Sweden and Norway. One of the characters in the tragedy, the Norwegian prince Fortinbras (his prototype, presumably, was Elizabeth’s husband Harald), as Shakespeare writes,

...picked up from the Norwegian coasts

A gang of lawless daredevils...

Only in contrast to the play, where it is said that the Norwegian prince went to Poland, Harald was first in the Russian state with Yaroslav the Wise, and then he fought with his daredevils in the Mediterranean.

Usually the actors playing Hamlet and his friends dress very elegantly: berets or hats with feathers, short camisoles, trousers with puffs, stockings, shoes with buckles. They have swords as weapons. As we now know, clothing and weapons Danish Vikings, which were the prototypes of Hamlet, his uncle Claudius, Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and other characters in the tragedy, were somewhat different, very far from grace, but more suitable to the conditions of that harsh time.

Leather jackets, boots, chain mail, heavy swords and battle axes, weather-beaten, bearded faces? This is what could be seen at that time at the court of the Danish king, where the action of Shakespeare's play takes place. Yes, and the yard, in modern understanding this word did not exist. There was a circle of nearby warriors, reliable fighters, experienced military leaders and longship drivers. The appearance, behavior and speech of the ruthless northern warriors in both Hamlet's homeland of Denmark and Harald's homeland of Norway were different from what is usually shown on stage in Shakespeare's play.

However, the English playwright did not strive for historical authenticity, but wanted to show human passions, the height of love, the baseness of deceit, the depth of despair. He managed to demonstrate all this in this and other plays with his characteristic genius.

After the death of the Danish king Canute in 1035 Northern Kingdom collapsed, other Scandinavian states became independent from Denmark: Sweden and Norway. In England, in 1042, the representative of the Anglo-Saxon dynasty, King Edward the Confessor, began to rule. After Edward's death, disputes began between the heirs. Harald quite correctly reasoned that over the past years the Anglo-Saxons had not been able to become noticeably stronger militarily, and discord in the ruling family and the defection of the brother of the new English king to his side could only facilitate the conquest of the island state.

At first, in England, luck really smiled on Elizabeth’s husband. He won a number of victories in battles and captured several cities. But in the battle of Stanfordbruggjur (English name? Stanfordbridge, the name of the city is also reproduced as Stamford Bridge) on September 25, 1066, an arrow hit him in his unprotected throat. The wound turned out to be fatal. The King of Norway, Harald, son of Sigurd, was 50 years old.

The winner of Harald the Severe was the English king Harold Godwinson. It can be seen that both kings wore same names, although they ruled different peoples. In the saga, the king of England is called King Harald, son of Houdini.

Here is how the saga replays the episode before the decisive battle:

“King Harald, son of Houdini, came there with a huge army, both knights and footmen. King Harald, son of Sigurd, then began to go around his army and inspect how it was built. He sat on a black horse with a white star on his forehead. The horse fell under him, and the king fell off him. He quickly jumped up and said:

? Fall? a sign of good luck on your trip!

And the English king Harald told the Norwegians that they were with him:

? Do you know who the tall man who fell from his horse was? blue raincoat and a shiny helmet?

? Is it the king himself? they said.

The English king says:

? He is a tall and majestic man, but it seems that his luck has deserted him.”

The English king, as it turned out, was more knowledgeable in omens.

Became an ally of Harald Sigurdson younger brother English king, Tostig, Earl of Northumbria, who considered himself deprived. In the saga he is called Tosti-earl. Before the armed battle began, Harold Godwinson invited his brother to join his side and promised him to transfer a third of English territory to his control. He asked what the king could offer to the count's ally, the Norwegian king Harald Sigurdson. The answer is worthy of being quoted verbatim: “He could have given him in England a piece of land seven feet [feet] long or somewhat more, since he is taller than other people.” To this Count Tostig told the messenger: “Go and tell King Harald [Harold, King of England] to prepare for battle. The Norwegians will not have to say that Tosti Earl left King Harald, son of Sigurd, and went over to the army of his opponents at a time when he was supposed to be fighting in the west in England. Is it better that we all choose the same fate? either die with honor, or gain England with victory.”

The vagaries of fate are unpredictable, which even the wildest imagination of the writer cannot surpass. The daughter of the English king, who was responsible for the death of Elizabeth’s husband, subsequently married her nephew, Vladimir Vsevolodovich, who remained in history under the name Vladimir Monomakh.

Harold briefly outlived both his brother Tostig and King Harald of Norway. Very soon he had to repel the attack of the Norman Duke William. At the Battle of Hastings, exactly three months after the battle of Stanfordbridge, on December 25, the English king died. The arrow that hit the right eye turned out to be fatal.

The distance between both battle points exceeds 300 kilometers. Restore the number of troops and maintain combat effectiveness in long journey during the time that history allowed Harold between two significant battles was impossible. IN to a certain extent William won victory largely due to the fact that, in a historical sense, literally on the eve of his landing, Harold Godwinson had to repel the attack of Harald Sigurdson. Harald and Harold died, and William became king of England, founding a new dynasty.

There is a legend that during the landing, William stumbled and fell. But he was not at a loss. So that the soldiers would not consider his fall a bad omen, he exclaimed: “Glory to the Lord! England is in my hands! On his instructions, the Tower was built in London, which became a residence for centuries English kings and at the same time a place of detention for guilty representatives of the country's noble families. Many were executed right there.

At the time of the battle, Elizabeth and her daughters were in the Orkney Islands, north of Scotland. There the family of the Norwegian king was out of reach of the enemy. As Harald was sure, in any scenario, his wife and daughters could feel safe and would remain alive and unharmed. But it happened differently. As the saga tells, on the very day and the very hour when Harald died, his daughter Maria also died.

ABOUT later life Elizabeth there is conflicting information. Some sources (G.V. Vernadsky, as well as “ Slavic Encyclopedia") it is reported that she remarried former enemy, and then Harald's ally, the Danish king Svein. It is possible, however, that Thora (Harald’s concubine or his second wife) married the Danish king, and Elizabeth returned and lived out her life in Norway. This opinion is shared by E.V. Bees.

Elizabeth had the difficult fate of being the wife of a man who was the embodiment of all the qualities of a Scandinavian leader. It is generally accepted that Harald's death marks the end of the Viking Age in Europe. Elizabeth herself died in 1076.

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