![\"Harald](\"https:\/\/avaldsnes.info\/content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Harald-Harfagre-sine-kongsgardar1.jpg\")
<\/a>THE ROYAL MANORS OF HARALD FAIRHAIR<\/strong>.<\/b> All Harald\u2019s royal manors were located in the region of Rogaland and Hordaland.<\/p><\/div>\n (Haraldr h\u00e1rfagri<\/em>) (Harald Fairhair\/Finehair), (Ca. 850 \u2013 931\/32) King of Norway from ca. 872 -931<\/strong><\/p>\n Harald Fairhair: Founder of the kingdom of Norway and founder of a royal dynasty<\/strong><\/p>\n The Saga of Harald Fairhair tells that Gyda refused to marry Harald \u201cbefore he was king over all of Norway\u201d. . Gyda goads Harald to unify the kingdom<\/strong><\/p>\n The battle of Hafrsfjord<\/strong> The ancient Lay of Harald<\/a> tells that Harald\u2019s foes were \u201cmen who came from the East. The strongest among them was Haklang<\/em>, who may have held court at Utstein.<\/p>\n Harald and his followers bore red shields and red cloaks. His enemies bore white shields.<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0<\/span>Harald Fairhair\u2019s\u00a0 possible royal support points on the first half of the 900s<\/p>\n \u00a4<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 Green color marks the regions that, according to old written sources, were most central in Harald Fairhair’s kingdom \u00a0(after Krag 1995 : 87)<\/p>\n<\/dd>\n Harald Fairhair \u2013 a King of Western Norway<\/strong> Other sources, which are older than Snorri, tell a different story, here Harald\u2019s mother was Ragnhild, daughter of King Harald Goldbeard in Sogn.<\/p>\n Newer research indicates that Snorri Sturluson was doing political agitation on behalf of the Norwegian king of the 13th<\/sup> century when he placed Harald among the Ynglinge bloodline. Snorri did this to establish a Norwgian hereditary claim to Viken, the region around Oslo, which both the Danish and Swedish kings claimed as theirs area.<\/p>\n Did Harald come to Avaldsnes as heir or conqueror?<\/strong> Hj\u00f8r descended from the Augvald dynasty, and could prove a nobler family lineage than Harald Fairhair, who had a rather unclear ancestry.<\/p>\n But could it be that also Harald Fairhair had a hereditary claim in this area? Scholars have asked if it was possible for Harald to establish such a seat of power in Southwest Norway without already having long family roots here or owning land in the area?<\/p>\n Connections between the Kings at Avaldsnes and the Ynglinge Bloodline from Vestfold.<\/strong> These dendrochronological studies provide the first archaeological connection between Avaldsnes and the Ynglinge bloodline in Vestfold. Perhaps this could also provide a new perspective on the unification process of Norway?<\/p>\n These surveys have presented the possibility that one of the princesses from Avaldsnes was married off to a member of the Ynglinge bloodline from Vestfold. She would have travelled south in the Oseberg ship, which would also have served as her dowry. It is likely that, upon her demise, the ship would have travelled with her on her final voyage to the afterworld.<\/p>\n A neck ring and an arm ring of silver from the Viking Age. Found by the seaside at Eike, Avaldsnes. Possibly rings given to show alianse with people who performed important duties for the king. (Photo Marit Synn\u00f8ve Vea)<\/p><\/div>\n Did Harald Fairhair have ancestors from both Avaldsnes and the Ynglinge bloodline? Can we assume there was an alliance between Vestfold and the kings at Avaldsnes in the early 9th<\/sup> century? And if so, against whom was the allegiance intended? Could it have been the Danish kings, who were in control of the Viken area at this time?<\/p>\n See: Harald Fairhair’s Royal Seat at Avaldsnes<\/strong> “Harald seems to have chosen Avaldsnes at Karm\u00f8y with great care as his real residence \u2013 you could call the place “the stronghold of\u00a0 Western Norway”. (Prof. Magnus Olsen)<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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(Harald H\u00e5rfagres Saga, Ill. E. Werenskiold)<\/p><\/div>\n\n
\nThe Battle of Hafrsfjord took place at some time between the year 868 and 900. This battle is traditionally regarded as the major turning-point in Harald\u2019s quest to join the whole of Norway into one kingdom. It is probably more true to say that the battle represented his enemies\u2019 last death throes.<\/p>\n\n
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\nThe chronicler Snorri Sturluson places Harald Fairhair among the Ynglinge bloodline. \u00a0However, the lay Ynglingatal<\/em>, which is Snorri’s “source” and the Ynglinge bloodline’s “family tree”, never mentions Harald Fairhair even once. Snorri \u00a0writes that Harald came from Vestfold in Eastern Norway, and that his father was Halfdan the Black and his mother was Ragnhild Sigurdsdotter from Ringerike<\/p>\n
\nIt is said that Harald Fairhair established Avaldsnes as \u00abNorway\u2019s Oldest Royal Seat\u00bb, but Avaldsnes had been a royal seat ever since the third century. When Harald settled down at Avaldsnes, he dispelled the sitting king Hj\u00f8r and his queen Lufvina from the thrown.<\/p>\n
\nDendrochronological studies carried out in 2009 show that the Osebergship, found in Vestfold, is built of oaks from the same area of South West Norway as the Gr\u00f8nhaug and Storhaug ships.\u00a0 Considering that these two vessels are buried close by the royal estate at Avaldsnes, it seems very likely that the Avaldsnes kings built both these and the Oseberg ship.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nArkeologi i Nord: KARM\u00d8Y OG OSEBERG<\/a>
\nNRK: OSEBERGSKIPET KOMMER FRA KARM\u00d8Y<\/a>
\nAftenposten: OSEBERGSKIPETS G\u00c5TE L\u00d8ST<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe royal seat at Avaldsnes must have been very important for the kings who strove to achieve a united Norway. Its strategic location near the strait of Karmsund meant that the king in power had control of all shipping traffic along the coast here. They could demand a toll from passing vessels and keep enemy ships at bay. Moreover, the resources at the royal manor allowed the kings to keep many warriors there<\/p>\n