Harald Hardrada (Civ6)/Varangian

Harald III (c. 1015 – 25 September 1066), also known as Harald Sigurdsson or by his epithet Hardrada (meaning "hard ruler"), was king of Norway from 1046 until his death, also known for leading the Byzantine Varangian Guard, and for his invasion and attempted takeovers of Denmark and England. He leads the Norwegians in Civilization VI.
Harald wants to recruit his own mercenaries to establish his Varangian Guard; with these mercenaries he receives large yield gains when defeating his opponents.
This is one of Harald Hardrada's two alternate personas, the other being Konge Harald Hardrada.
== Intro ==
 All men fear the approach of your ships, King Harald of Norway, Thunderbolt of the North. Your longboats dominate the waves, always at the ready to unleash their berserker armies on an unsuspecting shore. May Odin bless your kingdom and may the skalds sing tales of the victories of your mighty warriors.
== In-Game ==
Harald Hardrada's unique agenda is Harald's Saga. He likes civilizations who have Suzerainty with city-states, and dislikes those who have little or no Suzerainty over city-states.
His leader ability is Varangian Guard. He receives a 75% discount when levying units from city-states and his units cost 2 less maintenance, and his Stave Churches grant 1 each. From Civilization VI: Rise and Fall onward, beside the bonuses above, any unit defeated by one of his levied units awards him with , , and equal to half of the defeated unit's Combat Strength. 
== Detailed Approach ==
Befriend City-States with Harald to create a large army worthy of Valhalla. When Harald levies units from City-States, cheaper with his unique ability, he receives large amounts of , , and from killing enemy units. The Stave Church further helps his generation which, if you go with the Theocracy government, allows the purchase of more units for his army. Norway’s Knarr ability allows Harald to send his large army across the Ocean easily since he gains early ocean traversal and ignores embarkation penalties. The Berserker gives his army an extra punch when you unlock the Military Tactics technology. His best victory is Domination, but he can use his military might for any victory.
== Lines ==
Harald Hardrada is voiced by Atli Rafn Sigurðsson. He speaks Old Norse with some anachronistic modern Icelandic pronunciations. For instance, the vowels y and æ are pronounced incorrectly as they have changed quite a bit from Old Norse to modern Icelandic.
=== Voiced ===
Codename 	Quote (English translation) 	Quote (Old Norse) 	Notes
Agenda-based Approval 	Honor demands we stand firm when our thralls are threatened, and you and I are both people of honor. 	Mikill skipaafli... þat er fǫgur sjón. 	The voiceovers for the Varangian persona's Agenda-based Approval and Disapproval lines are identical to those for the Konge persona; only the subtitles are different.
Agenda-based Disapproval	A good king is one who cares for those who would be his jarls. You are no good king. 	Sjór þinn er varnarlaus, vinr minn. Árás væri auðveldaverk. 	The voiceovers for the Varangian persona's Agenda-based Approval and Disapproval lines are identical to those for the Konge persona; only the subtitles are different.
Attacked 	This will make a great saga! The skalds will sing of my valor! (lit. "You suppose you are to control the fire you have started. No-ho-ho-ho... No! It is too great for you!")	Þú ættir þik eldinum eiga stjórna er þú hefir kveikt. Ne-he-he-he... Nei! Hann er þér of mikill! 	
Declares War 	Now comes a storm you cannot escape. You can only hope for a quick death. (lit. "To victory! To Odin's halls!") 	Til sigrs! Til halla Óðins! 	Harald was actually Christian and, according to his Saga, had believers in the old custom put to death, so this and other references to Norse mythology would have been out of character for him.
Defeated 	So, I will join the einherjar in Valhalla and feast, while you toil away here. 	Ferk at sitja sáttr einherjum saman í Valhǫllu, meðan þú herkir hér. 	
Greeting 	Harald Sigurdsson stands before you: a Viking unlike any the seas and lands have ever known. Hah, are you afraid? 	Haraldr Sigurðarsonr stendr fyrir þér: aldregi var víkingr slíkr lands né lagar. Hah, ertu hræddr?	
Quote from Civilopedia 	He must gain the victory before whom the banner is borne. 	Sá mun hafa sigr er merkit er fyrir borit. 	This is a quote by Harald Hardrada in his saga from Heimskringla (Part I, Chapter 22) by Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241). The English line is taken from a translation by Samuel Laing and the Old Norse line is directly from the saga.
=== Unvoiced ===
Delegation: I have sent you traders with gifts of rune stones. They are powerful - the stones, not the traders.
Accepts Delegation from Player: Your delegation has arrived. We welcomed them with a feast in the longhouse.
Accepts Player's Declaration Of Friendship: Friend? Yes, I am a friend.
Rejects Player's Declaration Of Friendship: No, not for all the treasure in Asgard.
Requests Declaration of Friendship: In all my travels I have never met someone as great as I am until I met you. Let us be friends, then.
Player Accepts Declaration of Friendship: Thank you, friend.
Trade Deal Accepted: Thank you, friend.
Denounced by Player: Hah, I’ve burned kingdoms for lesser insults. You'll pay for this.
Denounces Player: There will be no place for you at Odin's table. You are a disgrace.
Too Many Troops Near His Border: I don't remember asking to see your troops, are you that hungry for war?
Invitation to Capital: I have travelled far and wide, but I have never seen your capital. Tell me of it.
Invitation to City: Tell me, friend: would you like to visit our nearby city? It is no Bilskirnir, but it is nice.
Accepts Player's Invitation: Thank you, my friend.
== Civilopedia entry ==
== Trivia ==
* Varangian Harald Hardrada's leader ability is named after the Byzantine elite unit composed mainly of Norse mercenaries, while his leader agenda references the Heimskringla, a collection of sagas written by Snorri Sturluson about the lives of different Nordic kings, including Harald.
* Harald Hardrada's diplomacy screen presents many longships near a shore at sunrise.
* Historically, Harald Hardrada was a Catholic, but Varangian Harald's preferred religion is Eastern Orthodoxy in-game. This likely reflects the religious views of the Byzantine Empire, which Harald served at this point in his life.
** This also makes Varangian Harald the only leader with a different preferred religion than his other persona.
* Harald Hardrada's wife, Elisiv of Kiev, was the granddaughter of Anna Porphyrogenita, sister to Basil II.
** Elisiv's brother, Vsevolod I, is the ancestor of Peter.
* Harald Hardrada is the ancestor of Wilhelmina and Kristina.
* This persona represents Harald between 1033 and 1042, when he led the Byzantine Varangian Guard.
== Gallery ==
File:Harald Hardrada (Varangian) Promo (Civ6).jpg|Promotional image of Varangian Harald Hardrada
File:Harald Hardrada (Varangian) loadscreen (Civ6).png|Harald Hardrada (Varangian) on the loading screen
== Videos ==
thumb|center|300px|Persona Spotlight: Harald Hardrada (Varangian)
== Related achievements ==
== See also ==
* Harald Hardrada (Civ6)/Vikings, Traders, and Raiders!
* Harald Hardrada in other games
ru:Харальд Суровый (Civ6)#Варяг
Category:Norwegian
Category:Civilization VI: Leader Pass