Harald Hardrada and the Blinded Emperor — Documentary
An exiled Norwegian teenager became a warrior for Byzantium and then King of the North.
The story of Harald Hardrada is linked to the blinding of the emperor and the final days of the Viking Age.
After his defeat at Stiklastadir, Harald fled through Rus' to Constantinople, served in the Varangian Guard, fought in wars, and amassed wealth. Returning home, he took the Norwegian throne, built a strong government, and entered the struggle for England.
We explore Harald's journey without romanticizing the sagas: exile, service to the Byzantine emperors, brutal politics, a campaign against England, and his death at Stamford Bridge—just nineteen days before Hastings.
Watch to the end to understand why the fate of one king became the final chapter of the Viking Age.