Hello everyone and welcome back to the Viking Age podcast. My name is Lee and this is the third and final part of the Viking story of Harold Fine Hair.

Now, I know that some of you were expecting an episode about farms and families today.

Because, well, I told you to expect that.

But I promise I have a good reason for posting this Viking story instead. But I don't want to bore

anyone with all of those details right now. So stay tuned until the end of the

episode to hear more about some scheduling shenanigans. For now though, let's just get right on into the story.

Today we are going to conclude our series of episodes covering the rise of Harold Fine Hare, the first king of a unified Norway.

We will witness his final triumph over all of his Norwegian rivals.

And of course, talk about the famous haircut which followed.

We will then take some time to examine how Harold ruled the

realm which he had forged and explore what happens to the winners and losers of Harold's conquest.

Sound like a good plan? Let's do it. So when we last left old Harry, he had very nearly achieved his goal of conquering all of the

lands of Norway.

Over the course of a decade, he had first expanded Norway. Over the course of a decade, he had first expanded northward from his base in the southeast,

leading his forces along the eastern edge of Norway

and conquering all who stood in his path.

Within only a couple of years the entirety of the East lay in Harold's hands, and he was then able to turn his attention to the rich

petty kingdoms which dotted the West Coast.

With the assistance of some powerful allies, Harold was able to construct a fleet, and for the

following three summers, his forces fought battle after battle, all along the western coast,

eventually bringing the entirety of Northern and Central Norway under his control.

Only four years after he had left home

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