Harold III definition of Harold III in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Harold III or Harold Hardrada (härdrä`də), Norse Harald Harðráði [Harold stern council], d. 1066, king of Norway (1046–66), half brother of Olaf II. After Olaf's defeat (1030), Harold went to serve Zoë, the Byzantine empress, in campaigns against the Seljuk Turks, but he returned (1042) to Scandinavia to join the revolt against Magnus I. Made joint king in 1046, he became sole king at Magnus's death in 1047 and engaged in the turbulent warfare of the time. In 1066 he accompanied Tostig Tostig (tŏs`tĭg), d. 1066, earl of Northumbria; son of Earl Godwin of Wessex.
..... Click the link for more information. , the exiled earl of Northumbria, on an invasion of N England. At the same time, William of Normandy was preparing an invasion of S England. The hard-pressed king of the English, Harold Harold, 1022?–1066, king of England (1066). The son of Godwin , earl of Wessex, he belonged to the most powerful noble family of England in the reign of Edward the Confessor . Through Godwin's influence Harold was made earl of East Anglia .
..... Click the link for more information. , defeated the Norse invasion at Stamford Bridge; both Harold III and Tostig fell in the battle. However, the way had been prepared for the Norman victory at Hastings.