The Battle of Fitjar at Stord was the last battle in a war between the sons of
Eric Bloodaxe and their uncle King
Haakon the Good for power over Norway. It also formed part of a contest between Norway and Denmark to control the area of
Oslofjord. Erling Eiriksson, Sigurd Sleva and
Harald Greycloak, three of the
sons of Eric Bloodaxe (
Eirikssønnene) landed unnoticed on
Hordaland in 961 and surprised the king at
Fitjar. The battle was won by the forces of King Haakon, but he was wounded in the battle and died soon after it. According to
Fagrskinna and
Heimskringla, the dying king, wishing to end the conflict, handed over his kingship and retinue (
hird) to Harald Greycloak, sending a letter to that effect. After Haakon's death, Harald Greycloak and his brothers became kings of Norway, but they had little authority outside western Norway. The third son of Eric Bloodaxe, Harald was the most powerful of the brothers by right of being the eldest surviving son. The succession issue was finally settled after Harald ascended the throne as
Harald II of Norway. However, the Norwegians were severely tormented by years of war, and many were dissatisfied by the destruction of pagan shrines by the hands of the Christian sons of Eric. After the assassination of Harald II,
Harald Bluetooth (Harald I of Denmark) managed to force the people of Norway into temporary subjection. ==Legacy==