Olaf II Haraldsson of Norway (995-29 July 1030) was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028, succeeding Sweyn Forkbeard and preceding Canute. He became the patron saint of Norway due to his conversion to Christianity in 1015, and St. Olave's Church in London, among many other churches, are named in his honor.
Biography[]
Olaf was born in 995, the son of Harald Grenske and Asta Gudbrandsdatter, as well as the brother of Harald Hardrada. Olaf's father was a petty king, and Olaf raided Estonia and Finland for plunder in 1008. He was almost killed in an ambush by the Finns at Herdaler, but he succeeded in escaping (despite the loss of several troops), and he took part in Sweyn Forkbeard's invasion of England.
Olaf converted to Christianity while visiting the court of Duke Richard II of Normandy, and he returned to Norway in 1015 with the goal of uniting Norway under his rule. In 1016, he defeated Jarl Sweyn Haakonsson of Lade and became the new king of Norway. He made enemies with King Canute of Denmark, and he was defeated at the Battle of Helgea in 1026 despite being allied with Sweden. Olaf would make his last stand at the Battle of Stiklestad in 1030, where nobles and peasants loyal to Canute rose up against him. He was impaled by a spear during the battle, and he was slain.
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