The tradition to establish diplomatic relationswith foreign countries through the conclusion of dynastic marriages in Russia appeared many centuries ago. The Grand Prince of Kiev, Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise, was particularly successful in this practice. He not only betrayed his children for heirs and heirs to the throne in “foreign” countries, but also himself was married to the daughter of the King of Sweden - Ingigerd. One way or another, women in Scandinavia at that time enjoyed broader freedoms and rights than women in Europe. After marrying a Russian ruler, Ingigerd received as a gift from Yaroslav the Wise an entire city - Ladoga. Nine children were born in the marriage of the Kiev prince and the Swedish princess, and thanks to their offspring the Russian ruler was able to intermarry with the royal houses of Europe. In this sense, the fate of the middle daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, who married the heir to the Norwegian throne, is interesting. Who would have thought that Elizaveta Yaroslavna (Ellisiv) would become the queen of a small Viking state. But it happened that way.
Harald Sigurdarson
Избранник русской княжны появился на свет в 1015 year His parents were the Norwegian King Sigurd Pig and Asta Gudbrandsdottir. Harald had a brother, Olav, who was later called Fat and then Holy.
The ruler of the Norwegian state became exactlyOlav, but Harald did not give up hopes that someday he would also manage to rule the country, especially since his name symbolized certain ambitions for the throne. And his expectations in the future, indeed, were justified.
Already a sixteen year old teenager, Haraldiii became the outcast prince. His brother Olav, who became the head of the whole kingdom, once wanted to marry the daughter of King Ingigerde of Sweden, but she married Yaroslav the Wise. Defeated by the Danes, he, hiding first in Sweden and then in Novgorod, loses power in Norway. He will be killed in the Battle of Stiklasadir, where he will fight with the troops of the Norwegian nobility.
Harald, like his brother, was forced to seek refuge, first with the Swedish king, and then with the prince of Kiev.
In Novgorod
Yaroslav Vladimirovich the Wise met the guestaffable enough The prince identified him as a brigade, but not as an ordinary soldier, but in the status of one of the retainers-managers, since the position was binding. And in such a young age, Harald wanted to glorify himself in battle by all means. He was attracted by the adventures and glory of the commander. The prince imagined how he mined gold and jewels with a shield and sword, turning into an influential grandee.
What does Harald III Stern doing, beingin the service of the Russian prince? He is absorbed in the intricacies of military affairs: a young man spends almost all his time with the retinue, which often receives orders to collect tribute from the territories conquered by Yaroslav the Wise. The failed heir to the Norwegian throne repeatedly suppresses uprisings, riots and even went on a military campaign against Poland, together with the prince of Kiev.
Meeting sweetheart
Legend has it that Elizaveta Yaroslavna and Haraldwere just made for each other. Romantics, who lived at the turn of the 18-19 centuries, declared that when the young Viking saw the young princess, he was immediately struck down by her beauty. He was struck by a thin camp, a swan gait, sable eyebrows and the clear eyes of the daughter of a Russian prince. One would assume that from the side of Harald the Severe it was love at first sight. But such a hypothesis still does not hold water.
Elizaveta Yaroslavna (1025-1066) wasfourth offspring in the family of the ruler. And when the Norwegian prince first stayed in Novgorod, then Ellisiv was from 6 to 9 years old. So what about the swan gait at this age can not speak.
Some historians doubt that, having spentsome time in Novgorod (from 1031 to 1034 years), Harald woke to a juvenile girl. Why? Everything is very simple. First, at that time the prince was concerned about the fate of his eldest daughter Anna, who had already “gone to the brides”. Well, and secondly, the “Norwegian guest” was not considered a priori as a groom, because, despite the high title, in fact, he was “goal like a falcon”. Certainly, he could carry out plans to ask for the “hands and hearts” of the young princess in the future. But he clearly realized that without wealth and fame, Elizabeth Yaroslavna would not be available to him. And Harald decided to get them by any means.
War Viking Feats
The war for the Norwegian prince was a favoriteby deed. He personified the brave Viking warrior. Harald was not only a brave soldier, but also an intelligent military strategist. After victories as a reward, he received gold and silver, which symbolized luck, well-being and happiness. First, the Norwegian heir to the throne served by the Byzantine Prince Michael IV.
He helped him fight sea pirates inAegean Sea and became a member of a military expedition to Sicily. Then Harald went to suppress the Delyan insurgency in Bulgaria. In addition, he fought in Sicily and the African continent. Thus, he became the most experienced commander. And the wealth obtained as a result of the battles he regularly sent to Novgorod. When his patron Michael IV died, the prince fell into disgrace. He suddenly became a robber, that was slander, and landed in a dungeon. After some time, the Varyag fled and was again in Novgorod.
Poems in honor of the beloved
Once again in the possession of Yaroslav the Wise, he remembered his daughter Ellisiv.Now she has become a real beauty, Slavonic feminine and Byzantine sophisticated. Now Elizabeth Yaroslavna was an enviable bride, and Harald could not help falling in love with the princess. In her honor, he composed "Visa of joy." So called verses in which the warrior-viking admires the beauty and beauty that endowed Ellisiv.
In terms of genre affiliation "VisaJoy "were songs of praise. But in his work the young Norwegian does not forget to mention his persona, positioning himself as the best contender for the hand and heart of his daughter Yaroslav the Wise. And in the end, he achieves his own.
The prince gives the go-ahead for the wedding
As the images that have reached our days show that Princess Elizabeth Yaroslavna was really beautiful.
From childhood she was accustomed to magnificence andthe pomposity of her father’s palace, while luxury and wealth were taken for granted. In other words, any royal house of Europe would consider it an honor to take into his family the middle daughter of Yaroslav the Wise. But Elizabeth Yaroslavna became the wife of Harald III.
Upon arrival in Novgorod, the Viking received hisdisposal of all the treasures that he conquered as a result of his feats of arms. The heir to the Norwegian throne became the wealthiest man in Russia. And under such circumstances, Yaroslav the Wise, naturally, agreed to marry his daughter with a Viking. And he gave the nod to the wedding, not so much because he saw in Harold a worthy spouse, as he wanted by this union to strengthen friendly relations with the countries of northern Europe. The wedding ceremony took place in the winter of 1043-1044.
Back to Norway
Over the next six monthsthe newlyweds lived in Garda. Soon after, they went to Norway. Subsequently, the Icelandic skald Stev Blind wrote: "He was a lot of gold and the king's daughter."
Remarkable is the fact that in the poetry of skaldsa woman was associated with gold jewelry or with a certain female occupation. When the skalds assured that the Varyag had indeed taken wealth and beautiful cargo from Gardariki, they meant gold jewelry and the Russian princess.
В любом случае свадьба дочери Ярослава Мудрого и the son of King Sigurd the Pig further strengthened good-neighborly relations between Russia and Norway. Harald, as a result of his marriage to the Russian princess, briefly became close to the authoritative jarl Sveyn Ulvsson, who later occupied the Danish throne.
Government years in home country
Arriving home, Harald shared power in the country with his nephew Magnus.
He received half the wealth as a reward,conquered by the Vikings in long hikes, and Harald received the right to manage 50% of the territories of Norway. But soon, internecine strife for spheres of influence began to flare up more often between relatives. As a result, the son of Sigurd Pig became the full ruler in his country. But after a while, his nephew took revenge on his uncle. Before his death, Magnus bequeathed the Danish kingdom to Svein Ulvsson, and the lion's part of the Norwegian army was forced to withdraw. As a result, Harald's troops retreated back to Norway. The husband of Elizabeth Yaroslavna was beside himself with indignation.
He has the idea of becoming the ruler of Denmark.Every year in spring, he mobilizes his army and leads it to war with the Danes, plundering and destroying their homes. For such cruelty they called him Harald the Severe Ruler. Yes, he was cool and never forgot the offense caused to him. As a result, ordinary people suffered. However, he was an experienced commander and a man who was well versed in the intricacies of military tactics. In Byzantium, he perfectly mastered the wisdom of combat techniques and successfully practiced the knowledge gained in northern Europe.
Alien in the northern country
But how did she treat her husband's thirst for conquests?Elizaveta Yaroslavna (Queen of Norway)? How could she even demolish the temper of Harald the Severe? The history does not give unequivocal answers to these questions. It is likely that the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise attempted to pacify his foreign policy ambitions. But one cannot exclude the possibility that the newly-born Queen of Norway compared her spouse with her father, who was also not averse to expanding the borders of her state. She could only appeal to the Christian virtues and hope that Harald will still end the brutal war. One way or another, she felt like a stranger in this cold, ever-fighting country. The princess’s position was aggravated by the fact that she had no patrons in Norway from relatives, and her father no longer provided Ellisiv and did not supply Harald with troops.
Second wife
Having lost the support of an influential father-in-law,Norwegian ruler decided to marry again. At that time, the nobility were granted the right to have several wives. And only one was considered official. Only three years have passed since the wedding of Harold and Elizabeth Yaroslavna, as the son of Sigurd Pig wanted to marry Tora Torberdsdottir - the daughter of a wealthy Norwegian magnate.
By the time Princess Ellisiv gave birth to two daughters- Ingigerd and Maria. According to the sources, “Halley Shuttle's Band” and “The Harald Stern Ruler Saga”, the relationship between the Norwegian king and Torah Torbergdsdottir quickly turned into passionate love. In Norway, this was the number one topic for discussion. Subsequently, Torah gave birth to a son, Olav.
Rumors of divorce from Ellisiv
Gradually, Harald began to drift away from Elizabeth Yaroslavna, and Tora took her place. She even went with him on military campaigns.
Some sources talk about breakingrelationship between Harald and daughter Yaroslav the Wise. But whether he was in reality can not be argued. In any case, the Norwegian Viking was not alone in his last campaign: he was accompanied by Elizaveta Yaroslavna (daughter of Yaroslav the Wise).
Last hike
Some time after Norwayceased attempts to seize Denmark, the son of Sigurd the Pig again began to feel nostalgia for feats of arms. One day, a man from England appeared in his country who informed Harold that he had every chance of taking the British throne. Having become infected with this crazy idea, the Varyag began collecting troops. But soon he began to dream bad dreams, which could be interpreted as a warning against rash acts. But the Norwegian still decided to make a campaign. He left the throne on his nephew, and he himself dreamed of becoming the king of Great Britain. He wanted to settle there forever.
Initially, he was a success.He was even recognized by the English monarch. But King Harold hastily united an army around himself and opposed the impostor. In the Battle of Stamford Bridge, the Norwegian army was defeated, and the husband Ellisiv was killed on the battlefield.
The fate of the princess after the death of her spouse
After Princess Elizabeth Yaroslavna with Olavand Ingigerd returned. Daughter Mary passed away at the same time as her father. The sources are silent about the future of the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise. It is known that Ingigerd became the king's wife from Denmark, Olav Sveinsson, and then ruled this Scandinavian country.
