Harald Sigurdsson (
Old Norse:
Haraldr Sigurðarson; c. 1015 – 25 September 1066), given the epithet
Hardrada (
harðráði, roughly translated as "stern counsel" or "hard ruler") in the
sagas, was
King of Norway (as
Harald III) from 1046 to 1066. In addition, he unsuccessfully claimed the
Danish throne until 1064 and the
English throne in 1066. Prior to becoming king, Harald had spent around fifteen years in exile as a
mercenary and military commander in
Kievan Rus' and in the
Byzantine Empire.