The other counties in Norway were governed on Harald’s behalf by appointed earls. New historic research tends to say that Harald also grew up somewhere between Karmøy and Bergen, possibly on Avaldsnes. In a skaldic poem about king Harald we can read:

The Saga tells that Harald was exceedingly tall and strong, very handsome, wise and loved by his people. He had many wives and many children, among these were Gyda from Hordaland and princess Ragnhild of Denmark.

Harald gathered great wealth on his Viking expeditions across the North Sea. He had close connections with the English king Athelstan who fostered Harald’s youngest son Håkon. Harald’s own favourite son was Eric Bloodaxe, and before Harald died, he led Eric to his high-seat and gave him the power over all the land. Harald died at Avaldsnes around AD 930, and was buried in a mound beside the Karmsund. No one knew exactly were Harald Fairhair was buried, but the closest guess is now the ship burial Grønhaug which is situated by the Karmsund, at Hauge, close to the king’s manor. Recent research reveals that the ship in Grønhaug was a burial for a royal person who died around 930.