He married Yaroslav’s daughter Princess Elisaveta (Elisiv)

It is a fact that he married Yaroslav’s daughter Princess Elisaveta (Elisiv). Harald requested permission to return to Norway after Zoe and Constantine IX were restored to the throne in June 1042. Despite Zoe's refusal, Harald managed to escape into the Bosphorus with two ships and a few faithful companions. The Byzantine cross-strait iron chains destroyed the second ship, but Harald's ship sailed safely into the Black Sea after successfully maneuvering over the barrier. Despite this, Kekaumenos praises Harald's commitment and passion for the empire, which he apparently maintained even after returning to Norway and becoming king. Harald returned to Kievan Rus later that year after fleeing Constantinople. During his second visit, he married Elisabeth (known as Ellisif in Scandinavian sources), the daughter of Yaroslav the Wise and granddaughter of Swedish King Olof Skötkonung. Yaroslav attacked Constantinople shortly after Harald arrived in Kiev, and it is thought that Harald provided him with crucial information on the state of the empire.

It's probable that the marriage with Elisiv was already agreed upon during Harald's first visit to Rus', or that they were at least acquainted. During his service in the Byzantine Empire, Harald wrote a love poem in which he said that she would not accept his gold rings, though Morkinskinna claims that Harald had to remind Yaroslav of the promised marriage when he returned to Kiev. According to the same story, Harald approached Yaroslav during his first visit to Rus', wanting to marry Elisiv, but was turned down since he was not wealthy enough. In any event, the fact that Harald was permitted to marry Yaroslav's daughter is important, given that his other children were married to individuals such as Henry I of France, Andrew I of Hungary, and the daughter of Constantine IX.