The Mediterranean Adventures of Harald Hardrada

This expansion for Lion Rampant: Medieval Wargaming Rules explores the Mediterranean world before the crusades through the adventures of the exiled Viking prince Harald Hardrada (“hard ruler”). Harald is best known for his invasion of England in 1066 as king of Norway, and for his death at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, which was a prelude to the Norman conquest of England. However, between 1033 and 1042 Harald spent his formative years as a commander in the famous Varangian Guard of Byzantium, taking part in campaigns in Upper Mesopotamia, Palestine, the Aegean Sea, Southern Italy, and the Balkans.

In this supplement you will find historical information, new upgrades (from new tactics, such as Feigned Retreat, to terrain upgrades, among others), and three mini-campaigns based on extracts from Norse sagas and Mediterranean chronicles. The first campaign is a fight against a bandit boss in the Holy Land during an armed pilgrimage to rebuild the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem; the second takes place during a Byzantine attempt to retake Sicily from its Muslim rulers; and the third one tackles the early stages of the Norman conquest of Southern Italy.

At the same time, there is no requirement to use Harald and the Varangians. This supplement includes five army lists (Varangians, Muslim Powers, Byzantines, Normans, Lombard and Byzantine Italian principalities), and alternative leaders for each of the campaigns with suggested skills based on their back stories.

The campaigns are also easily adaptable to other medieval contexts and to other rules sets.

CONTENTS
FOREWORD BY DANIEL MERSEY
INTRODUCTION
HARALD AND HIS WORLD
The Nordic and Mediterranean Lands Before the Crusades

A Brief Biography of Harald Hardrada
Sources for Harald’s Life
Essential Chronology

NEW UPGRADES AND OPTIONAL RULES

Terrain Upgrades
Shieldwall
Feigned Retreat
Javelins for Elite and Heavy Cavalry
Religious Fervour
Fearsome
Greek Fire
Talismanic Objects

ARMY LISTS

The Varangian Guard
Byzantines
Southern Italian Principalities
Normans
Muslim Powers of the Central and Eastern Mediterranean

CAMPAIGNS
Campaign 1: Harald’s Armed Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Background
The Campaign
Scenario 1.1: Ambush!
Scenario 1.2: The Disputed Shrine
Scenario 1.3: Showdown in the Desert

Campaign 2: The Invasion of Sicily

Background
The Campaign
Scenario 2.1: The Landing
Scenario 2.2: Tunnel Assault
Scenario 2.3: The Fake Funeral

Campaign 3: Fighting the Normans in Italy

Background
The Campaign
Scenario 3.1: Massacre by the River Olivento
Scenario 3.2: Payback Time … and Damned Sheep
Scenario 3.3: Saving Life and Property



Released: 20 May 2026