Olav II (995?-1030) ruled Norway from 1015 to 1028. His name is also spelled Olaf. Olav unified Norway and firmly established the Christian church there. After his death, he became recognized as Norway’s patron saint.
Olav Haraldsson was born in what is now southeastern Norway, where his father ruled a small kingdom. He became a Viking warrior and raided areas of western Europe, including the Baltic coast and England. In about 1013, he converted to Christianity.
During the early 1000’s, the king of Denmark held authority over many of the regional kings and jarls (earls) in Norway. In 1015, while the Danes were occupied with an invasion of England, Olav returned to Norway and took the throne. Olav eliminated the regional kings and reduced the power of the jarls. He built churches, sent missionaries to the pagan parts of the kingdom, and established a law code that included Christian principles.
In 1028, Canute, the king of Denmark and England, invaded Norway. Many Norwegian leaders who had lost power under Olav supported Canute, and Olav fled to what is now Russia. Olav returned in 1030 but was killed in battle on July 29 of that year.
Soon after Olav’s death, Norway’s leaders started to resent Danish rule. They rebelled and made Olav’s son their king in 1035. Meanwhile, Norwegians had begun to see Olav as a martyr and saint. Medieval Scandinavian writers, including the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson, composed many sagas about Olav. He was canonized (declared a saint) in 1164.
See also Canute; Snorri Sturluson.
