Sword of the North: The Legacy of Harald Sigurdsson

Preface: After a badly attempted and poorly researched free Ireland timeline I tried, i'm back with a better, more thought out one. In this one, a sort of North Sea Empire rises from what is today Norway. It starts with Harald Hardrada taking over Danemark and Noregr in an interesting way. And without anymore distractions, I proudly give you, Sword of the North!

Chapter I: King Harald the Great of Noregr and Danemark

Harald Sigurdsson paced back and forth, impatiently waiting for stage one of the plan to be complete. If this worked, he would be king of both Noregr and Danemark by the end of the night, and without any bloodshed too! This plan had been in the making since he heard about Magnus' unjust taking of his father's kingdom. It might've gone through a few different stages (and been entirely rewritten at one point), but the plot had been in his mind since his days in Byzantium. Harald knew he was destined for greatness on the levels of Julius Caesar, and it was time to fulfill his destiny. In front of him stood the door to the Royal Chambers of Magnus, the pretender king. Two guards stood before it, and Harald willingly disarmed himself. His ally Svend Estridsson was currently downstairs, wooing some of the nobility and distracting them of Magnus' absence. In return, Harald had given him Jarldom over all of Danemark!

Footsteps, at first from afar but getting closer each fall, came from behind the door. Harald stepped back and watched as Einar Thambarskelfir stepped out the door, a empty look on his face. At first, when Harald came back to take the thrones, Einar thought of him as an enemy; someone to fear. But Harald reached out his hand in good faith and offered him a deal. If Einar switched sides and helped out his master scheme, Einar would be richer and more powerful than in his wildest dreams. But then a month after Harald came back and started to "share" the crown of Noregr with Magnus, rumors of Einar's assassination flew around. They said Harald killed him to get rid of an obvious rival. His body was never found, but he simply disappeared. This greatly disturbed Magnus, who thought of him as a very close friend.

But it was a lie. Einar Thambarskelfir's death was staged, specifically to throw Magnus into grieving.

"The deed is done. He's drunk, grieving, and thinks he's seen a ghost. If you're going to do it, do it now!" Einar said with his hood down to hide his face from the guards. "Tonight, Kobenhavn will see you as it's master."

"Thank you, my dear friend. I think it's time for me to make an appearance now." Harald smirked as he walked in through the doors, shutting and barring them from inside. No one could enter the room. It would ruin his grand plan. "King Magnus! You don't look well!"

He was right; Magnus sat on the floor in a corner, hands in his hair, eyes red from sobbing. Einar had done his job well; Magnus looked as if the dead told him the Devil had chosen him next! The pretender king took a few minutes to gather the substance to answer him. "I hear your glee at my current state, Harald, but you don't understand. I saw Einar!"

"Impossible. I lopped his head off myself for planning a rebellion." Harald lied once more, rubbing the back of his neck. "I knew how... he was family to you, so I tried making peace, but he gave me no choice!"

Magnus gave up and let his body hit the floor, full out sobbing. He was a pathetic sight at the moment, and this was just what Harald needed. It would be so easy to push Magnus over the edge at this point; to kill him without actually plunging the dagger. The people of the nations needed to think Magnus killed himself; and that Harald was the grieving King who loved his nephew dearly. It was the only was this would work. Harald looked to the side and saw a small dagger on a table, probably used for breaking the seal on letters. He picked it up and tossed it towards the shivering mess on the floor.

"I s-saw him though, Harald! He told me - he told me I had committed a great sin by trying to grab power by myself and take over. I told him that he's the one who put me there, even as a young boy, and he told me - that's why the Devil took him first! He's coming for me, Harald, and i'm scared."

"I don't believe that nonsense, although... it wouldn't be the first time in the Church's history that people believed their loved ones warned them from the other side of the grave."

"Pl-please Harald! There has to be a way out of it! I know I haven't been the best King, but I don't want the Devil to take me!"

"There would be one way for it not to happen, although it'd be risky." Harald said calmly, buttering him up for the grand finale of his plan.

"What is it Harald? Tell me now!" Magnus had stood up halfway, hunching over as he walked towards his uncle.

"The Bible states that if one takes his own life, both God and the Devil lose possession of the soul." Harald lied easily. He knew Magnus, who had never gone down to the religious centers like Constantinople would know next to nothing about the actually bible, just the parts his advisers use to put him on their side.

"It.. it does? R-really? I can escape my fate? But.. it'd be cowardly to leave my throne and take my own life, Harald. I won't be see as a coward."

"No no no! You'd be seen as a great King, who, in his last moments, spit in the eyes of the devil before winning one last victory."

The idea of a victory sounded good to Magnus, who stood up with a smile. "I think that sounds like a good idea then. But.. what about the the crown? Danemark and Noregr?"

"As your uncle and the true heir to Noregr, i'd take over your Kingship. I would make you proud, nephew."

It took a bit more convincing, but eventually, Harald got his wish. The two sat down at a table and signed the documents stating that in the event of Magnus' death, all his possessions and titles go to Harald. Magnus also wrote one last note, explaining his site of Einar and his wish to avoid his fate, and took one last drink of whiskey. Magnus then got up, picked up the dagger, walked over to his bed, and prepared his last moments. After a short prayer asking God for forgiveness for his life (or death?) he laid down and slit his own throat. Harald fake screamed for the guards to come in, but it was too late for anyone to do anything. Magnus the Good, King over Danemark and Noregr, had passed away from this world. Whether his plan to escape the Devil worked or not was not known. In the midst of his death, Harald took charge. He returned to Nidaros, which he renamed Sorgseier, meaning 'sorrowful victory', in regards to the sorrow that gave him his victory. The Church of Magnus the Good and Honest was built, with Magnus becoming a saint.

At first, Harald worked on centralizing the state, electing Svend as Jarl of Danemark and Einar as Jarl of Noregr. Sorgeier became the capital of his new kingdom. Harald helped trading relations with the northern German states and Kievan Rus as well as Sweden.

All was well...

... until Harthacnut of England died in 1042. Harald saw England as his, as was a deal between Harthacnut and the late Magnus the Good. But those pesky English lords and some scum from Normandy named William all looked upon it with the same hunger that Harald had.

Harald gathered a large majority of his troops from across the realm to Sorgseier. He saw a war across the see coming, and he was ready.
 
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