Harald Hårdråde was also pretty ruthless killing off opponents and ordering assasinations. In his last, highly successfull campaign that secured him the power, he burned all the crops and killed all the livestock of the farmers belonging in under his opponents protection, leading to massive starvation.
So no, I would not say they define "heroic kingship". The norwegian viking-kings were all brutal warriors, and they more or less had to be to succeed. That was just the way it was at those times, but I don't think they were particularly pleasent people.
SGL. Jeff Richard <richaje_at_-QMSqKoxIsnLIn0VK5N80IJaxba3L--mdSfprg2q4QA_XjC119p5NXWkhSYnrnvqe5i_KnXU7OcM.yahoo.invalid> skrev:
> Just to chip in, Harald Hårdråde Sigurdson and Olav Tryggvason are
not really considered "heroes", not in Norway at least. They were
warrior kings, who ruled with force, fighting others who would like to
do the same. Or you could maybe view them as heroes, but that would
depend what kind of definition you have of a hero.
Harald Hardrade and Olav Tryggvason not heroes? In the Heimskringla they pretty much define heroic kingship. Poor Poul Anderson.....
Jeff
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