Olav Haraldsson

The story goes that Olav Haraldsson was born in the middle of the 990s. The father Harald Grenske, who is said to have been the great-great-grandson of Harald Hårfagre, died before the boy was born. The mother Åsta Gudbrandsdatter married the large farmer Sigurd Syr, and Olav grew up with them on one of Ringerike's large farms.

Descent in a direct line from Harald Hårfagre gave the right of inheritance to the country's throne, and the mother told the boy about the kinship and created expectations of power in the future. During this time, the country was characterized by many petty kings and earls. At just 12 years old, Olav was introduced to life as a seafaring Viking when his mother sent him on a Viking voyage. He traveled with the experienced Viking Rane, who became an important teacher for the young boy.

Olav became a successful Viking chief with important allies among Europe's rulers, but also dangerous enemies. Among his allies was King Adalred II of England, who at the time was in conflict with the Danish king Svein. King Olav tore down London Bridge with the help of his longship. King Adalred II won back his land and Olav was richly rewarded.

Another of King Olav's allies was Duke Richard II of Normandy. When Olav was 19 years old, he spent many months at the duke's court in Rouen in France. Although Christianity had already been introduced in many places in Norway and King Olav II Haraldsson probably knew of this new faith, it was during this stay in Rouen that Olav was taught Christianity by the duke's own brother, Archbishop Robert of Rouen, and was baptized in 1014 in Rouen.  

Olav returned to Norway with a vision and a call to gather his kingdom into one Christian country with a new Christian legislation. During the year 1015/16, Olav was elected king of Norway by traveling from place to place and allowing himself to be chosen as king in the way that was the Vikings' form of democracy. Free men who owned their piece of land could vote. In 1016, Olav was hailed as king at the Øyreting in Trondheim. He was then the first to be elected king in all counties. Through this process, the king also introduced Christian legislation which was adopted at Mosterting in 1024.

During the 15 years Olav was king of Norway, he experienced great progress for his project, but also a lot of opposition from important and strategic people, and especially the earls I Trøndelag who had an alliance with the king of Denmark.