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Olaf III redirects here. It can also refer to Olof III Skötkonung of Sweden.

Olaf III of Norway (c. 1050 – 1093), also known as Olaf Haraldsson (son of Harald) and Olav Kyrre (the peaceful or silent), was king of Norway from 1067 until 1093. ^[1]

Biography

Olaf was a son of King Harald Hardråde and Tora Torbergsdatter. Olaf joined his father during the invasion of England during 1066. However, he was only 16-years old during the Battle of Stamford Bridge during September 1066. He stayed on a ship and did not participate in the fighting. After the Norwegian defeat, he sailed and the remains of the Norwegian strike force back to Orkney, where they wintered. The return journey to Norway took place in summer 1067.^[2]

After the death of his father, Olaf shared the kingdom with his brother Magnus II (Magnus Haraldsson) who had become king the previous year. Magnus died during 1069, when Olaf became sole ruler of Norway.

During his reign the nation experienced a rare extended period of peace. He renounced any offensive in foreign policy and protect rather than Norway as a kingdom of its own, through agreements and marriage connections. Domestic he laid emphasis on building the church organization and modernize the kingdom. The latter resulted in among other things the reorganization of the body-guard and of measures under which key cities, especially Bergen, could better serve as a royal residence and as a bishop. Olaf is said to have founded the city of Bergen in 1070.

The serious defeat of Harald Hardrada and the Norwegians had suffered 1066, tempted the Danish king, Svend Estridsen, to prepare for an attack on Norway. Svend no longer felt bound by the ceasefire agreement was signed with Harald Hardrada 1064, since it would only be valid for the two kings during their own lives. Olaf made peace with Svend Estridsen and married his daughter Ingerid. Later, Olav half sister married Svend Oluf son, later the Danish king. Although there were some attacks attack on England by Danish forces, peace consisted between Denmark and Norway. Olaf also made peace with William the Conqueror of England.

King Olaf broke with his father's line in relationship to the church. Harald Hardrada had developed into a continuing conflict with the Archbishopric of Bremen on the archbishop's authority over the Norwegian church. Olav recognized that authority fully. Political considerations may be a sufficient explanation for the conciliatory attitude. Olaf was also concerned with the church organization. Until his time bishops had formed part of the king's court and traveled with him around the country to take care of the ecclesiastical affairs while the king took care of worldly matters. The bishops established fixed residence in Oslo, Nidaros and Bergen. King Olaf also took the initiative for the construction of churches, including Christ Church in Bergen and Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.^[3]

Olaf also strengthened the power of the king and instituted the system of guilds in Norway. There are strong indications that the government of King Olaf began to writing secure provincial laws to a greater extent. The Norwegian law Gulatingsloven was probably put in writing for the first time during his reign. ^[4]

King Olaf died of illness during the autumn of 1093 in Håkeby, today located in Tanum Municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. He was buried at Nidaros Cathedral. His marriage to Ingerid did not produce any children. However, his successor Magnus III, nicknamed Magnus Berrføtt (Magnus Barefoot), was his illegitimate son. Around 1225, Snorri Sturluson wrote a saga about Olaf in the Heimskringla, a history of the kings of Norway.

Memorial

A memorial to King Olaf Kyrre was placed in Bergen, Norway in connection with the city's 900 year anniversary. The abstract equestrian statue by noted Norwegian sculptor, Knut Steen, was unveiled on 21 May 1998.

References

^ Olav 3 Haraldsson Kyrre (Store norske leksikon)
^ Olav 3 (Haraldsson) Kyrre (Store norske leksikon)
^ Nidarosdomen (Store norske leksikon)
^ Gulatingsloven (Store norske leksikon)

External links

Saga of Olaf Kyrre Part of Heimskringla
The statue of Olaf in Bergen

Ancestry

Ancestors of Olaf III of Norway

4. Sigurd Syr Halfdansson, King of Ringerike

2. Harald III of Norway

10. Gudbrand Kula

5. Åsta Gudbrandsdatter

1. Olaf III of Norway

24. Arnmod earl

12. Arne Arnmodsson

6. Torberg Arnesson

26. Thorstein Gallows

13. Tora Torsteinsdotter

3. Tora Torbergsdatter

28. Thorleif Skjalg

14. Erling Skjalgsson

7. Ragnhild Erlingsdatter

30. Tryggve Olafsson

15. Astrid Tryggvasdotter

31. Astrid Eiriksdottir

Regnal titles
Olaf Kyrre House of Hardrada Cadet branch of the Fairhair dynasty Born: c. 1050 Died: 1093
Preceded by Magnus Haraldsson	King of Norway 1067–1093 with Magnus Haraldsson (1067–1069)	Succeeded by Haakon Magnusson & Magnus Barefoot

[1] Olav 3 Haraldsson Kyrre (Store norske leksikon)

[2] Olav 3 (Haraldsson) Kyrre (Store norske leksikon)

[3] Nidarosdomen (Store norske leksikon)

[4] Gulatingsloven (Store norske leksikon)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 [[Image:Olav Kyrres saga-Tittelfrise-G. Munthe.jpg|400px|thumb|right|Title page of Saga of Olav Kyrre from ''[[Heimskringla]]'']]
-'''Olaf III of Norway''' (c. 1050 – 1093), also known as '''Olaf Haraldsson''' (son of Harald) and '''Olav Kyrre''' (the peaceful or silent), was king of [[Norway]] from 1067 until 1093. <ref>[http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Olav_3_Haraldsson_Kyrre/utdypning ''Olav 3 Haraldsson Kyrre''(Store norske leksikon)]</ref>
+'''Olaf III of Norway''' (c. 1050 – 1093), also known as '''Olaf Haraldsson''' (son of Harald) and '''Olav Kyrre''' (the peaceful or silent), was king of [[Norway]] from 1067 until 1093. <ref>[http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Olav_3_Haraldsson_Kyrre/utdypning ''Olav 3 Haraldsson Kyrre'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>
 ==Biography==
-A son of King [[Harald III of Norway|Harald Hardråde]] and [[Tora Torbergsdatter]], Olaf took part in the [[Norman conquest of England|Viking invasion of England]] in 1066 and may have fought in the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]]. After his father fell in the battle, which marked the end of the Viking era, Olaf shared the kingdom with his brother [[Magnus II of Norway|Magnus II]] (Magnus Haraldsson) from 1067 until Magnus' death in 1069, when Olaf became sole ruler of Norway.
+Olaf was a son of King [[Harald III of Norway|Harald Hardråde]] and [[Tora Torbergsdatter]]. Olaf joined his father during the [[Norman conquest of England|invasion of England]] during 1066. However, he was only 16-years old during the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]] during September 1066. He stayed on a ship and did not participate in the fighting. After the Norwegian defeat, he sailed and the remains of the Norwegian strike force back to [[Orkney]], where they wintered. The return journey to Norway took place in summer 1067.<ref>[http://www.snl.no/Olav_3_%28Haraldsson%29_Kyrre ''Olav 3 (Haraldsson) Kyrre'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>
+After the death of his father, Olaf shared the kingdom with his brother [[Magnus II of Norway|Magnus II]] (Magnus Haraldsson) who had become king the previous year.  Magnus died during 1069, when Olaf became sole ruler of Norway.
-During his reign the nation experienced a rare extended period of peace. Olaf made peace with [[William the Conqueror]] of England. He also made peace with [[Svend Estridsen]] of [[Denmark]], who held a claim to the throne, and married his daughter [[Ingerid of Denmark|Ingerid]]. The marriage did not produce any children. However, his successor [[Magnus III of Norway|Magnus III]], nicknamed Magnus Berrføtt (Magnus Barefoot), was a bastard son of Olaf's.
+During his reign the nation experienced a rare extended period of peace. He renounced any offensive in foreign policy and protect rather than Norway as a kingdom of its own, through agreements and marriage connections. Domestic he laid emphasis on building the church organization and modernize the kingdom. The latter resulted in among other things the reorganization of the body-guard and of measures under which key cities, especially [[Bergen]], could better serve as a royal residence and as a bishop. Olaf is said to have founded the city of [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] in 1070.
-Olaf is said to have founded the city of [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] in 1070. An abstract equestrian statue of Olaf Kyrre was placed in [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] in 1998.
+The serious defeat of Harald Hardrada and the Norwegians had suffered 1066, tempted the Danish king, [[Svend Estridsen]], to prepare for an attack on Norway.  Svend no longer felt bound by the ceasefire agreement was signed with Harald Hardrada 1064, since it would only be valid for the two kings during their own lives. Olaf made peace with Svend Estridsen and married his daughter [[Ingerid of Denmark|Ingerid]]. Later, Olav half sister married Svend Oluf son, later the Danish king. Although there were some attacks attack on England by Danish forces, peace consisted between Denmark and Norway. Olaf also made peace with [[William the Conqueror]] of England.
-Olaf was the first Norwegian king who learned how to read and write. He strengthened the power of the king and instituted the system of [[guilds]] in Norway. Also, the Norwegian law [http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulatingsloven Gulatingsloven]  was probably put in writing for the first time during his reign. <ref>[http://www.snl.no/Gulatingsloven ''Gulatingsloven'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>
+King Olaf broke with his father's line in relationship to the church. Harald Hardrada had developed into a continuing conflict with the [[Archbishopric of Bremen]] on the archbishop's authority over the Norwegian church. Olav recognized that authority fully. Political considerations may be a sufficient explanation for the conciliatory attitude. Olaf was also concerned with the church organization. Until his time bishops had formed part of the king's court and traveled with him around the country to take care of the ecclesiastical affairs while the king took care of worldly matters.  The bishops established fixed residence in Oslo, Nidaros and Bergen. King Olaf also took the initiative for the construction of churches, including [[Christ Church, Bergen|Christ Church]] in Bergen  and [[Nidaros Cathedral]] in [[Trondheim]].<ref>[http://www.snl.no/Nidarosdomen ''Nidarosdomen'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>
-Olaf improved relations with the [[Pope]] and founded [[dioceses]] and churches in [[Bergen]] and [[Nidaros]] ([[Trondheim]]). Olaf died in 1093 in Håkeby. He was buried at Nidaros. Around 1225, [[Snorri Sturluson]] wrote a saga about Olaf in the [[Heimskringla]], a history of the kings of Norway.
+Olaf also strengthened the power of the king and instituted the system of [[guilds]] in Norway. There are strong indications that the government of King Olaf  began to writing secure provincial laws to a greater extent. The Norwegian law [http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulatingsloven Gulatingsloven]  was probably put in writing for the first time during his reign. <ref>[http://www.snl.no/Gulatingsloven ''Gulatingsloven'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>
+King Olaf died of illness during the autumn of 1093 in Håkeby, today located in [[Tanum Municipality]] in [[Västra Götaland]] County in western [[Sweden]]. He was buried at Nidaros Cathedral.  His marriage to Ingerid  did not produce any children. However, his successor [[Magnus III of Norway|Magnus III]], nicknamed Magnus Berrføtt (Magnus Barefoot), was his illegitimate son. Around 1225, [[Snorri Sturluson]] wrote a saga about Olaf in the [[Heimskringla]], a history of the kings of Norway.
+==Memorial ==
+A memorial to King Olaf Kyrre was placed in [[Bergen, Norway]] in connection with the city's 900 year anniversary.  The abstract equestrian statue by noted Norwegian sculptor, [[Knut Steen]], was unveiled on 21 May 1998.
 ==See also==
 * [[List of Norwegian monarchs]]