Harald (son of Olaf)

Also known as: Harald · Role: younger son of Ingild · First appears: Book Seven · Part 1

In Book Seven · Part 1, as Olaf lay dying, he bade his sons Frode and Harald rule the land and sea in yearly turns. When Harald took his turn ruling the sea, his success as a rover earned Frode’s hatred. Their queens, Signe and Ulfhild, quarrelled over which was nobler, breaking up the brothers’ fellowship; Harald and Frode divided their common goods.

Frode secretly ordered a household servant to kill Harald, then had the agent killed to conceal the crime. Harald was married to Signe, and their sons were Harald and Halfdan.

Relationship record

Life events

Olaf, dying, bade his sons Frode and Harald rule the land and the sea in yearly turns.(Book Seven · Part 1)
- With: Olaf (son of Ingild) Frode (son of Olaf)
- “For when he was in the last grip of death he took thought for his sons FRODE and HARALD, and bade them have royal sway, one over the land and the other over the sea, and receive these several powers, not in prolonged possession, but in yearly rotation.”
Harald took his turn ruling the sea, and his success as a rover earned Frode's hatred.(Book Seven · Part 1)
- With: Frode (son of Olaf)
- “After a time Harald, the younger son, received the rule of the sea, and chose soldiers who were unmarried, fearing to be baffled like his brother. Fortune favoured his choice; for he was as glorious a rover as his brother was inglorious; and this earned him his brother's hatred.”
The queens' quarrelling broke up the brothers' fellowship, and the brothers divided their common goods.(Book Seven · Part 1)
- With: Signe (daughter of Karl) Ulfhild (queen of Frode) Frode (son of Olaf)
- “Moreover, their queens, Signe and Ulfhild, one of whom was the daughter of Siward, King of Sweden, the other of Karl, the governor of Gothland, were continually wrangling as to which was the nobler, and broke up the mutual fellowship of their husbands. Hence Harald and Frode, when their common household was thus shattered, divided up the goods they held in common, and gave more heed to the wrangling altercations of the women than to the duties of brotherly affection.”
Frode secretly arranged for Harald to be killed, then had the agent killed to conceal the crime.(Book Seven · Part 1)
- With: Frode (son of Olaf)
- “Moreover, Frode, judging that his brother's glory was a disgrace to himself and brought him into contempt, ordered one of his household to put him to death secretly; for he saw that the man of whom he had the advantage in years was surpassing him in courage. When the deed was done, he had the agent of his treachery privily slain, lest the accomplice should betray the crime.”

Book Seven · Part 1

parent: Olaf (son of Ingild) “For when he was in the last grip of death he took thought for his sons FRODE and HARALD, and bade them have royal sway, one over the land and the other over the sea, and receive these several powers, not in prolonged possession, but in yearly rotation.”
siblings with Frode (son of Olaf) “For when he was in the last grip of death he took thought for his sons FRODE and HARALD, and bade them have royal sway, one over the land and the other over the sea, and receive these several powers, not in prolonged possession, but in yearly rotation.”
enemies with Frode (son of Olaf) “Moreover, Frode, judging that his brother's glory was a disgrace to himself and brought him into contempt, ordered one of his household to put him to death secretly; for he saw that the man of whom he had the advantage in years was surpassing him in courage.”
married with Signe (daughter of Karl) “Moreover, their queens, Signe and Ulfhild, one of whom was the daughter of Siward, King of Sweden, the other of Karl, the governor of Gothland, were continually wrangling as to which was the nobler, and broke up the mutual fellowship of their husbands.”
child: Harald (son of Harald) “After this, the lives of Harald and Halfdan, the sons of Harald by Signe the daughter of Karl, were attempted by their uncle.”
child: Halfdan (son of Harald) “After this, the lives of Harald and Halfdan, the sons of Harald by Signe the daughter of Karl, were attempted by their uncle.”

Book Seven · Part 2

siblings with Frode (son of Olaf) (Frode is identified as their uncle immediately before this passage.) “Harald's sons had no help for it but to feign madness.”

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Extracted from the original text of The Danish History, Books I–IX. Made with Rho MD.