In the year 863, Harold destroyed the host of princes who had long divided Norway, and united the whole of the provinces under his own dominion. Being enamoured of Gida, the daughter of Prince Eric, of Hadaland, he sent some persons of his suit to conduct her to court. "Tell your master," said the high-born princess, " that I will never consent to marry him, until he shall reign over the whole of Norway, instead of a few provinces." Harold was not discouraged by this reply, but regarded it as a summons to glory. He assembled troops, attacked all the remaining chiefs of provinces, exterminated them one after another, and thus won the hand of the fair Gida.

From The Percy Anecdotes