Olaf III of Norway

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Olaf III of Norway (c. 1050-Håkeby, 1093), also known as Olaf Haraldsson (son of Harald) and Olav Kyrre (the peaceful or silent), was king of Norway from 1067 until his death in 1093. During his reign the nation experienced a rare extended period of peace.

A son of King Harald Hardråde and Tora Torbergsdatter, Olaf took part in 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 (Magnus Haraldsson) from 1067 until Magnus' death in 1069, when Olaf became sole ruler of Norway.

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. The marriage did not produce any children. However, his successor Magnus III, nicknamed Magnus Berrføtt (Magnus Barefoot), was a bastard son of Olaf's.

Olaf is said to have to founded the city of Bergen in 1070. An abstract equestrian statue of Olaf Kyrre was placed in Bergen in 1998.

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 (Gulatingsloven) was probably put in writing for the first time during his reign. Olaf improved relations with the pope and founded dioceses and churches in Bergen en Nidaros (Trondheim). He was buried at Nidaros.

Around 1225, Snorri Sturluson wrote a saga about Olaf in the Heimskringla, a history of the kings of Norway.

[edit] See also

• List of Norwegian monarchs

[edit] External links

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

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

v • d • e Monarchs of Norway Fairhair dynasty (except *) Harald Fairhair · Eric Bloodaxe · Haakon the Good · Harald Greycloak · Haakon Sigurdsson* · Olaf Tryggvason · Eiríkr Hákonarson (R)* & Sveinn Hákonarson (R)* & Hákon Eiríksson (R)* · Sweyn Forkbeard*†§ · Olaf the Saint · Hákon Eiríksson (R)* · Canute the Great*†§ · Sveinn Álfífuson · Magnus the Good† · Harald Hardrada · Magnus Haraldsson · Olaf Kyrre · Haakon Magnusson & Magnus Barefoot · Olaf Magnusson · Eystein Magnusson · Sigurd the Crusader · Magnus the Blind · Harald Gille · Sigurd Munn · Eystein Haraldsson · Inge Haraldsson · Haakon Herdebrei · Magnus Erlingsson · Sverre Sigurdsson · Haakon Sverresson · Guttorm Sigurdsson · Inge Bårdsson · Haakon Haakonsson · Magnus the Law-mender · Eric Magnusson · Haakon V Magnusson House of Bjelbo Magnus Ericsson‡ · Haakon VI Magnusson‡ · Olaf IV Haakonsson† The Kalmar union Margaret†‡ · Eric of Pomerania†‡ · Christopher of Bavaria†‡ · Charles I‡ House of Oldenburg (Union with Denmark) Christian I† · Hans† · Christian II† · Frederick I† · Christian III† · Frederick II† · Christian IV† · Frederick III† · Christian V† · Frederick IV† · Christian VI† · Frederick V† · Christian VII† · Frederick VI† Independence of 1814 Christian Frederick† House of Bernadotte (Union with Sweden) Charles II (not Bernadotte)‡ · Charles III John‡ · Oscar I‡ · Charles IV‡ · Oscar II‡ House of Schleswig-Holstein- Sonderburg-Glücksburg Haakon VII · Olav V · Harald V (R) Regent · † also Monarch of Denmark · ‡ also Monarch of Sweden · § also Monarch of England