Olaf was driven into exile in Kievan Rus. [40] Like Freyr, he became associated with fertility, which led to his adoption as a patron saint by farmers, fishermen, sailors and merchants of the Hanseatic League, who turned to him for good yield and protection. But Olaf's success was short-lived. St Olave's Church, York, is referred to in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 1055[33] as the place of burial of its founder, Earl Siward. Also, Olaf and Grimkell most likely did not introduce new ecclesiastical laws to Norway; these were ascribed to Olaf at a later date. During his reign, the nation of Norway experienced a rare extended period of peace. He is sometimes called Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae (English: "Norway's Eternal King"), a designation which goes back to the 13th century. Olaf II Haraldsson (c. 995 – 29 July 1030), later known as Saint Olaf (and traditionally as St. Olave), was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In Norway today, he is commonly referred to as Olav den hellige (Bokmål; Olaf the Holy) or Heilag-Olav (Nynorsk; the Holy Olaf) in honour of his sainthood. [18] In 1016 at the Battle of Nesjar he defeated Earl Sweyn, one of the earls of Lade and hitherto the de facto ruler of Norway. Olaf II Haraldsson ( 995-July 29 1030 ),a.k.a, Saint Olaf, was King of Norway from 1015-28 . Olaf II Haraldsson (995 – 29 July 1030), later known as St. Olaf (and traditionally as St. Olave), was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. When King Magnus died during 1069, Olaf became the sole ruler of Norway. king of Norway byname Olaf the Quiet , Norwegian Olav Kyrre died 1093, Norway king of Norway (1066–93) who guided the nation through one of its most prosperous periods, maintaining an extended peace rare in medieval Norwegian history.… Other names, such as Oláfr hinn helgi, Olavus rex, and Olaf (as used in English) are used interchangeably (see the Heimskringla of Snorri Sturluson). A notable one is The Passion and the Miracles of the Blessed Olafr.[11]. The Norwegian synoptic histories also mention Olaf. Grimketel initiated the beatification of Olaf on 3 August 1031. Olaf resolved his conflict with the Swedish king Olaf Skötkonung by 1019 and joined forces with the king’s son Anund Jakob when Canute, king of England and Denmark, threatened to conquer Norway. Numerous royal, grand ducal and ducal lines are descended from Ordulf and Wulfhild, including members of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. The skaldic verses attributed to Olaf do not speak of Christianity at all, but use pagan references to describe romantic relationships.[10][20]. After the death of his father, Olaf shared the kingdom with his brother Magnus II (Magnus 2 Haraldsson) who had become king the previous year. Media in category "Olaf II of Norway" The following 5 files are in this category, out of 5 total. King Cnut, though distracted by the task of governing England, ruled Norway for five years after Stiklestad, with his son Svein and Svein's mother Ælfgifu (known as Álfífa in Old Norse sources) as regents. But Grimkell was only a member of Olaf's household and no permanent sees were created until c. 1100. Olav II de Heilige Haraldson was born in 995, at birth place, to Sigurd Syr av Norge and rsta Sigurdsson (born Gudbrandsdotter). Antatt relikvieskrin skisse.jpg 700 × 665; 119 KB. Numerous Danish churches were dedicated to Olaf during his reign, and the sagas give glimpses of the young king's efforts to promote the cult of his deceased father. St. Olaf was also, together with the Mother of God, the patron saint of the chapel of the Varangians, the Scandinavian warriors who served as the bodyguard of the Byzantine emperor. On the way home he wintered with Duke Richard II of Normandy. Sigrid Undset noted that Olaf was baptised in Rouen, the capital of Normandy, and suggested that Olaf may have used priests of Norman descent for his missionaries. In Norway today, he is commonly called Olav den hellige (Bokmål; Olaf the Holy) or Heilage-Olav (Nynorsk; the Holy Olaf) in honour of his sainthood. [6] He was also called Olaf 'The Lawbreaker' for his many brutal ways of converting the Norwegian populace. [18] [9] He stayed for some time in the Swedish province of Nerike, where, according to local legend, he baptised many locals. 995. Olaf II Haraldsson, later known as St. Olaf (and traditionally as St. Olav), was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. In pagan times, Scandinavian kings derived their right to rule from their claims of descent from the Norse god Odin, or in the case of the kings of the Swedes at Old Uppsala, from Freyr. It was founded in 1463 or 1464 by Heinrich Kalteisen at his retirement home, the Dominican Monastery in the Altstadt ("Old City") neighborhood of Koblenz. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Olaf-II-Haraldsson, The Catholic Encyclopedia - Biography of St. Olaf Haraldson. Check out Olaf II Haraldsson by S91 on Amazon Music. [b] The nine miracles reported in Glælognskviða form the core of the catalogue of miracles in this office. Died [41], Popular tradition also made marks in the ecclesiastical material. (Etymology: Anu - "forefather", Leifr - "heir".) Olav is the modern equivalent in Norwegian, formerly often spelt Olaf. This became typical of Scandinavian monarchies. An office, or prayer service, for Olaf is found in the so-called Leofric collectar (c. 1050), which Bishop Leofric of Exeter bequeathed in his last will and testament to Exeter Cathedral. [10], Finally, many hagiographic sources describe St. Olaf, but these focus mostly on miracles attributed to him and cannot be used to accurately recreate his life. Olaf attempted to reconquer Norway in 1030 with help from Anund Jakob but was defeated by a superior Norwegian peasant and Danish army in the Battle of Stiklestad (1030), one of the most celebrated battles in ancient Norse history. [18] He made peace with King Olof Skötkonung of Sweden through Þorgnýr the Lawspeaker, and was for some time engaged to Olof's daughter, Princess Ingegerd, though without Olof's approval. [36] But the shrine did not last. Jump to: General, Art, Business, Computing, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Religion, Science, Slang, Sports, Tech, Phrases We found 6 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word olaf ii haraldsson: Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "olaf ii haraldsson" is defined. Olaf seized the opportunity to win back the kingdom, but he fell in 1030 at the Battle of Stiklestad, where some of his own subjects from central Norway took arms against him. During his reign, the nation of Norway experienced a rare extended period of peace. Olaf (or Olav) II, Saint (Olaf Haraldsson), A.D. 995–1030, king of Norway 1016–29: patron saint of Norway. The icon of the Madonna Nicopeia,[34] presently in St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, which is believed to have been traditionally carried into combat by the Byzantine military forces, is believed to have been kept in this chapel in times of peace. The Passio a miracule beati Olavi, the official record of Olaf's miracles, contains an episode where Olaf helps a man escape from the huldrefolk, the "hidden people" of Norwegian folklore. In 1026 he lost the Battle of the Helgeå,[citation needed] and in 1029 the Norwegian nobles, seething with discontent, supported the invasion of King Cnut the Great of Denmark. Thus St. Olaf was also the last saint venerated by both the Western and Eastern churches before the Great Schism. Olaf II Haraldsson, born in around A.D. 995, is credited with Christianizing Norway. His remains were enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral, built over his burial site. Born: abt. His name in Icelandic is Ólafur, i… Updates? Saint Olaf is symbolised by the axe in Norway's coat of arms and Olsok (29 July) is still his day of celebration. Other names, such as Oláfr hinn helgi, Olavus rex, and Olaf are used interchangeably (see the Heimskringla of Snorri Sturluson). [5], St.Olaf II's Old Norse name is Ólafr Haraldsson. St Olave Hart Street in the City of London is the burial place of Samuel Pepys and his wife. Canute forced Olaf to flee to Russia (1028), where the Norwegian ruler took refuge with his Swedish wife’s relatives. Olaf II Haraldsson of Norway JOHN JANARO The "conversion of the barbarians" was gradual as Christianity became inculturated among whole populations, and wove an unprecedented fabric of unity among hitherto perpetually warring pagan clans. He was the last Western saint accepted by the Eastern Orthodox church. It was here he converted to Christianity and was baptized at the Notre Dame Cathedral. Olaf II Haraldsson, also called Saint Olaf, Norwegian Hellig-Olav, (born c. 995—died July 29, 1030, Stiklestad, Norway; feast day July 29), the first effective king of all Norway and the country’s patron saint, who achieved a 12-year respite from Danish domination and extensively increased the acceptance of Christianity. At this time, local bishops and their people recognised and proclaimed a person a saint, and a formal canonisation procedure through the papal curia was not customary; in Olaf's case, this did not happen until 1888. Olav is the modern equivalent in Norwegian, formerly often spelt Olaf. Ta kasvas üles Ringerikes Kagu-Norras. Olaf swiftly became Norway's patron saint; Bishop Grimkell performed his canonisation only a year after his death. Modern historians[citation needed] generally agree[citation needed] that Olaf was inclined to violence and brutality, and note that earlier scholars often neglected this side of his character. Heimskringla (c. 1225), by Snorri Sturluson, largely bases its account of Olaf on the earlier Fagrskinna. Saint; King of NORWAY. Especially during the period of Romantic Nationalism, Olaf was a symbol of Norwegian independence and pride. But Olaf II died before the East-West Schism and a strict Roman Rite was not well-established in Scandinavia at the time. Pope Alexander III confirmed Olaf's local canonisation in 1164, making him a universally recognised saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Olaf sündis 995. aastal Harald Grenske peres ning oli Harald Kaunisjuukse lapselapselaps. [a] The cult of Olaf unified the country and consolidated the christianisation of Norway. Olaf II Haraldsson (Old Norse: Óláfr Haraldsson) (995 – July 29, 1030) was king of Norway from 1015 to 1028, (known during his lifetime as "the Big" (Óláfr Digre) and after his canonization as Saint Olaf or Olaus). Judging from the bare outlines of known historical facts, he appears to have been a fairly unsuccessful ruler, whose power was based on an alliance with the much more powerful King Cnut the Great; who was driven into exile when he claimed power of his own; and whose attempt at a reconquest was swiftly crushed. The Church of Norway may be dated from 1024, when Olaf and his ecclesiastical adviser, Bishop Grimkell, presented a religious code at Moster. The exact location of the battle is uncertain and the Finnish equivalent of Herdaler is unknown. Olav was baptized in 1030, at baptism place. Olaf tried to force Christianity on them, but they revolted in 1029, and drove him first to Sweden and then to Kiev (in modern Russia). (Etymology: Anu – "forefather", Leifr – "heir".) A Pilgrim's Office in Oslo gives advice to pilgrims, and a Pilgrim Centre in Trondheim, under the aegis of the Cathedral, awards certificates to pilgrims when they complete their journeys. [39] Around the 12th century, folk traditions and iconography of Olaf absorbed elements of the gods Thor and Freyr from Norse mythology. Despite these events they survived. The union produced a daughter, Wulfhild, who married Ordulf, Duke of Saxony in 1042. His religious code of 1024 is considered to represent Norway’s first national legislation. PM Churchill's 26-Great Grandfather. In Christian times this legitimation of a dynasty's right to rule and its national prestige was based on its descent from a saintly king. HRE Ferdinand I's 14-Great Grandfather. Within a few years he had won more power than any of his predecessors on the throne had enjoyed. Richard was himself an ardent Christian, and the Normans had also previously converted to Christianity. For various reasons, most importantly the death of King Cnut the Great in 1035 but perhaps also a certain discontent among Norwegian nobles with Danish rule in the years after Olaf's death in 1030, Olaf's illegitimate son with the concubine Alvhild, Magnus the Good, assumed power in Norway, and eventually also in Denmark. [12], It is said that Olaf participated alongside fellow Viking Thorkell the Tall in the Siege of Canterbury in 1011.[13]. Before leaving, Olaf was baptised in Rouen[9] in the pre-Romanesque Notre-Dame Cathedral by Richard's brother Robert the Dane, archbishop of Normandy. This church is believed to have been near the church of Hagia Irene in Constantinople. Olaf most likely did try to bring Christianity to the interior of Norway, where it was less prevalent. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae (English: Eternal/Perpetual King of Norway) and canonised at Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. The oldest is the Glælognskviða or "Sea-Calm Poem", composed by Þórarinn loftunga, an Icelander. Olaf II. Olaf himself is portrayed in later sources as a saintly miracle-working figure to help support this quick view of conversion for Norway, but the historical Olaf did not act this way, as seen especially in the skaldic verses attributed to him. Its altarpiece contains a painting of the saint, shown as a martyr king defeating a dragon, representing victory over his pagan past. The son of the lord Harald Grenske and a descendant of the Norwegian ruler Harald I Fairhair, Olaf was reared as a pagan and became a Viking warrior in the Baltic region. [32] Apart from the early traces of a cult in England, there are only scattered references to him outside the Nordic area. Olav II Haraldsson (oma eluajal tuntud ... Elulugu. Olaf sailed to the southern coast of Finland sometime in 1008. Olave was the traditional spelling in England, preserved in the name of medieval churches dedicated to him. But this stone is hard to interpret. Olav is the modern equivalent in Norwegian, formerly often spelt Olaf. King Olaf Haraldsson of Norway had the given name Óláfr in Old Norse. Deceased", "St. Olaf Church, Patron of Norway Catholic Church", "St. Olave's Anglican Church – Beauty and Tradition in Toronto's Bloor West Village", A History of Norway and The Miracles of the Blessed Olafr, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Olaf_II_of_Norway&oldid=994740500, Pre-Reformation saints of the Lutheran liturgical calendar, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from March 2017, Articles with Norwegian-language sources (no), Articles with German-language sources (de), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Articles needing additional references from July 2012, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the New International Encyclopedia, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, St. Olave's Anglican Church, Toronto, ON, Canada, The primary school and GAA club in Balally, Dublin, Ireland, both named for St. Olaf, The oldest picture of St. Olaf is painted on a column in the, St Olaf St a secondary street in Lerwick, Shetland, Ekrem, Inger; Lars Boje Mortensen; Karen Skovgaard-Petersen (2000), Langslet, Lars Roar; Ødegård, Knut (2011), This page was last edited on 17 December 2020, at 08:45. Olaf nevertheless won the battle. Olaf’s popularity, his church work, and the aura of legend that surrounded his death, which was supposedly accompanied by miracles, led to his canonization in 1031. He became an equally important saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church (feast day 29 July) and one of the last famous saints before the Great Schism. [26] But large stone crosses and other Christian symbols suggest that at least Norway's coastal areas were deeply influenced by Christianity long before Olaf's time; with one exception, all of Norway's rulers since Håkon the Good (c. 920–961) were Christians, as was Olaf's main opponent, Cnut the Great. [14][15][16] The journey resulted in the Battle at Herdaler, where Olaf and his men were ambushed in the woods. "[21] Winroth does not claim that Olaf was not Christian, but argues that we cannot think of any Scandinavians as fully converting as portrayed in the later hagiographies or sagas. Olaf II's Old Norse name is Ólafr Haraldsson. She later married Sigurd Syr, with whom she had other children, including Harald Hardrada, who later reigned as king of Norway. [7], Olaf Haraldsson had the given name Óláfr in Old Norse (etymology: Anu- "forefather", -laibaR —"heir"). Several churches in England were dedicated to him (often as St Olave); the name was presumably popular with Scandinavian immigrants. Ta ristiti Rouenis, kus ta oleks pidanud kohtama benetiktiinlikku suundumust. In 1019 Olaf married Astrid Olofsdotter, King Olof's illegitimate daughter and the half-sister of his former fiancée. This may have been in 1014, restoring London and the English throne to Æthelred the Unready and removing Cnut.[17]. [38], Recently the pilgrimage route to Nidaros Cathedral, the site of St. Olaf's tomb, has been reinstated. Olaf saw it as his calling to unite Norway into one kingdom, as Harald Fairhair had largely succeeded in doing. The Oldest Saga of St. Olaf (c. 1200) is important to scholars for its constant use of skaldic verses, many of which are attributed to Olaf himself. Olaf returned to Norway in 1015 and declared himself king, obtaining the support of the five petty kings of the Norwegian Uplands. This is generally accepted to be the earliest datable church foundation dedicated to Olaf and is further evidence of a cult of St. Olaf in the early 1050s in England. The basilica of Sant'Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso in Rome has a Chapel of St Olav. Early depictions of Olaf portray him as clean-shaven, but after 1200 he appears with a red beard, which may have been absorbed from Thor. Another St. Olave's Church south of London Bridge gave its name to Tooley Street and to the St Olave's Poor Law Union, later the Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey: its workhouse in Rotherhithe became St Olave's Hospital and then an old people's home a few hundred metres from St Olav's Church, which is the Norwegian Church in London. Eysteinn Erlendsson is commonly believed to have written. His popularity spread rapidly; churches and shrines were constructed in his honour in England, Sweden, and Rome. Olaf II (Haraldsson) Święty, norw. HM George I's 16-Great Grandfather. Olaf Haraldsson had the given name Óláfr in Old Norse. "St. Olaf and the Skalds." Olaf Haraldsson was born circa 995, at birth place, to Harald Gudrødsson Grenske and Åsta "Astrid" Grenske (born Gudbrandsdottir). 1177–1188). After fighting the Danes in England, Olaf Haraldsson returned to Norway in 1015 and declared himself king. [4], The saga of Olav Haraldsson and the legend of Olaf the Saint became central to a national identity. Olaf’s popularity, his church work, and the aura of legend that surrounded his death, which was supposedly accompanied by miracles, led to his canonization in 1031. Miracles performed by St. Olaf appear for the first time in Þórarinn loftunga's skaldic poem Glælognskviða, or "Sea-Calm Poem", from about 1030–34. This calls for an explanation of the status he gained after his death. In his book The Conversion of Scandinavia, Anders Winroth argues that there was a "long process of assimilation, in which the Scandinavians adopted, one by one and over time, individual Christian practices. Olaf annihilated the petty kings of the South, subdued the aristocracy, asserted his suzerainty in the Orkney Islands, and conducted a successful raid on Denmark. When the Danish king Sweyn (Svein) I gained the advantage in England, Olaf went to Spain and also to France, where he was baptized at Rouen (1013). Returning to Norway in 1015, Olaf conquered territory that had previously been held by Denmark, Sweden, and the Norwegian earl Haakon of Lade; by 1016 he had consolidated his rule in all Norway. By this time he was also being called Norway's Eternal King. The exact position of Saint Olaf's grave in Nidaros has been unknown since 1568, due to the effects of the Lutheran iconoclasm in 1536–37. n. From Thor, he inherited the quick temper, physical strength and merits of a giant-slayer. [10], Icelanders also wrote extensively about Olaf and there are several Icelandic sagas about him, including Fagrskinna (c. 1220) and Morkinskinna (c. 1225–1235). It has been suggested that it could be in Uusimaa. The main route, approximately 640 km long, starts in the ancient part of Oslo and heads north, along Lake Mjosa, up the Gudbrandsdal Valley, over Dovrefjell and down the Orkdal Valley, ending at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. It seems that, like many Scandinavian kings, Olaf used his Christianity to gain more power for the monarchy and centralise control in Norway. Olaf's local canonization ( The first people honored as saints were the martyrs. Define Olaf III Haraldsson. [21] The codification of Christianity as the legal religion of Norway was attributed to Olaf, and his legal arrangements for the Church of Norway came to stand so high in the Norwegian people's and clergy's eyes that when Pope Gregory VII attempted to make clerical celibacy binding on the priests of Western Europe in 1074–75, Norwegians largely ignored it, since there was no mention of clerical celibacy in Olaf's legal code for their church. Olaf lost many men but made it back to his boats. A widely used account of Olaf's life is found in Heimskringla from c. 1225. It praises Olaf and mentions some of the famous miracles attributed to him. For the video game character, see. role of Olaf II. U.S. President [WASHINGTON] 's 22-Great Grandfather. [a] Grimkell later became the first bishop of Sigtuna in Sweden. As a teenager, he went to the Baltics, Denmark, and England, and wintered with Duke Richard II of Normandy on his way home. When he died in 1464, he was buried in front of the shrine's altar. His name in Icelandic is Ólafur, in Faroese Ólavur, in Danish Olav, in Swedish Olof, in Finnish Olavi. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Harald was born Before 950, in Grenland, Vestfold fylke, Norge. He was posthumously given the title of Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae ( Norway's Eternal King ) and canonized in Nidaros ( now Trondheim) by Bishop Grimkell one year after his death the the Battle of Stiklstad . He was the Archbishop of Nidaros in Norway from 1452 to 1458. Olaf has traditionally been seen as leading the Christianisation of Norway, but most scholars of the period now believe that Olaf had little to do with the process. Olav (Haraldsson) den Hellige (ur.995, zm. Normans were somewhat familiar with the culture of the people they were to convert and in some cases may have been able to understand the language. Although its facts are dubious, the saga recounts Olaf's deeds as follows: About 1008, Olaf landed on the Estonian island of Saaremaa (Osilia). Omissions? It was originally a gift presented to Pope Leo XIII in 1893 for the golden jubilee of his ordination as a bishop by Norwegian nobleman and papal chamberlain Baron Wilhelm Wedel-Jarlsberg. But the relics of St. Olaf are no longer in the Nidaros Cathedral. Lindow, John. After the death of his father, Olaf shared the kingdom with his brother Magnus II (Magnus 2 Haraldsson) who had become king the previous year. The texts used for the liturgical celebration of St. Olaf during most of the Middle Ages were probably compiled or written by Eystein Erlendsson, the second Archbishop of Nidaros (1161–1189). He is also venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church.[28]. Sigurd was born between 952 and 957, in Vestfold, Norway. Narodil se v roce, kdy se Olaf Tryggvason vrátil do Norska a ujal se vlády. [19], Questions have also been raised about the nature of Olaf's Christianity. [41], "St. Olaf" redirects here. [30] Another took place on the day of his death, when a blind man regained his sight after rubbing his eyes with hands stained with Olaf's blood. The oldest is the Glælognskviða or "Sea-Calm Poem", composed by Þórarinn loftunga, an Icelander. As a teenager Olaf went to the Baltic, then to Denmark and later to England. Saint Olaf ou Olav Haraldson ou Olaf II de Norvège dit le Gros ou le Saint, roi de Norvège de 1015 à 1028, est né vers 995 et mort le 29 juillet 1030. Harald Grenske died when Åsta Gudbrandsdatter was pregnant with Olaf. This is probably why the earliest traces of a liturgical cult of Olaf are found in England. Owing to Olaf's later status as Norway's patron saint, and to his importance in later medieval historiography and in Norwegian folklore, it is difficult to assess the historical Olaf's character. [8], St. Olaf was born in Ringerike,[9] the son of Åsta Gudbrandsdatter and Harald Grenske, a petty king in Vestfold,[2] whom later Icelandic sagas would describe as a great-great-grandchild of Harald Fairhair, Norway's first king. During his lifetime he was known as Olaf 'the fat' or 'the stout' or simply as Olaf 'the big' (Ólafr digri; Modern Norwegian Olav digre). Olaf attempted to reconquer Norway in 1030 with help from Anund Jakob but was defeated by a superior Norwegian peasant and Danish army in the Battle of Stiklestad (1030), one of the most celebrated battles in ancient Norse history. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Born. In 1029, King Cnut's Norwegian regent, Jarl Håkon Eiriksson, was lost at sea. When King Magnus died during 1069, Olaf became the sole ruler of Norway. He is also recognized as the patron saint of the Faroe Islands.[23][24]. Olaf brought with him Grimkell, who is usually credited with helping Olaf create episcopal sees and further organising the Norwegian church. He founded the town of Borg, later known as Sarpsborg, by the waterfall Sarpsfossen in Østfold county. In 1152/3, Nidaros was separated from Lund as the archbishopric of Nidaros. The Norwegian synoptic histories also mention Olaf. Canute’s control of the trade routes to the west of Norway, and the prospect of his ruling more indirectly than Olaf had done, won the support of leading Norwegian chieftains. Only after Norway was made a metropolitan province with its own archbishop in 1153—making the Norwegian church, on the one hand, more independent of its king, but on the other hand, more directly responsible to the Pope—did canon law gain a greater prominence in the life and jurisdiction of the Norwegian church. In: DuBois, Thomas A., ed. This English cult seems to have been short-lived. Olaf II Haraldsson, also called Saint Olaf, Norwegian Hellig-Olav, (born c. 995—died July 29, 1030, Stiklestad, Norway; feast day July 29), the first effective king of all Norway and the country’s patron saint, who achieved a 12-year respite from Danish domination and extensively increased the acceptance of Christianity. Olaf II Haraldsson, also called Saint Olaf, Norwegian Hellig-Olav, (born c. 995—died July 29, 1030, Stiklestad, Norway; feast day July 29), the first effective king of all Norway and the country’s patron saint, who achieved a 12-year respite from Danish domination and extensively increased the … Three factors are important: the later myth surrounding his role in the Christianisation of Norway, the various dynastic relationships among the ruling families, and the need for legitimisation in a later period.[25]. The Dominican Monastery was secularized in 1802 and bulldozed in 1955. Harald Grenske died when Åsta was pregnant with Olaf. Numerous churches in Norway, Sweden, and Iceland were dedicated to him. rsta was born circa 970, in Vestfold, Norway. He ordered his ships to depart despite a riding storm. Many Christian institutions with Scandinavian links as well as Norway's Order of St. Olav are named after him. The Osilians, taken by surprise, had at first agreed to Olaf's demands, but then gathered an army during the negotiations and attacked the Norwegians. Olaf was born in 995, the son of Åsta Gudbrandsdatter and Harald Grenske, great-great-grandchild of Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway.