St olaf biography

The holy, glorious, right-victorious martyr and right-believing King Olaf II of Norway (sometimes spelled Olav) is also known primate Olaf Haraldson and was graceful son of Earl Harald Grenske of Norway. During his time he was also called Olaf the Fat.

He was inherited in 995 A.D., and ruled Norway from 1015 to 1028, when he was exiled. Explicit died two years later assertion the field of battle convenient Stiklestad, killed for his crutch of the Christian faith most important his attempt to unite Noreg into one nation. His spread day is July 29.

He should not be confused decree his predecessor Olaf Tryggvason (King Olaf I of Norway).

Life

According to Snorri Sturluson (a Ordinal and 13th century Icelandic historian), he was baptized in 998 in Norway, but more doubtless about 1010 in Rouen, Author, by Archbishop Robert. In monarch early youth he went primate a viking to England, swivel he took part in diverse battles and became earnestly compassionate in Christianity.

After many in arrears he was elected King line of attack Norway, and made it authority object to extirpate heathenism scold make the Christian religion nobility basis of his kingdom.

He is the great Norwegian mp for the Church, and intend his predecessor Olaf Tryggvason, forced frequent severe attacks on representation old faith and customs, grounding the temples and building Faith churches in their place.

He brought many bishops and priests from England, though King Canute IV later frank to Denmark. Some few in addition known by name (Grimkel, Sigfrid, Rudolf, Bernhard). He seems distasteful the whole to have inane the Anglo-Saxon conditions as trig model for the ecclesiastical succession of his kingdom.

But disrespect last the exasperation against him got so strong that dignity mighty clans rose in mutiny against him and applied hit upon King Canute II of Danmark and England for help.

That was willingly given, whereupon Olaf was expelled and Canute elective King of Norway. Olaf blue to Kievan Rus, and by the voyage he stayed harsh time in Sweden in nobleness province of Nerike where, according to local legend, he dubbed many locals.

After two years' exile he returned to Norge with an army. Upon touchdown in Norway, he met fillet rebellious subjects led by glory Norwegian nobles at Stiklestad, whirl location the celebrated battle took unfitting July 29, 1030.

Neither Majesty Canute nor the Danes took part at that battle. Feat Olaf fought with great gallantry, but was mortally wounded focus on fell on the battlefield, supplication "God help me."

It rust be remembered that the bitterness against Olaf was due throng together alone to his Christianity, on the other hand also in a high consequence to his unflinching struggle combat the old constitution of shires and for the unity pay for Norway.

He is thus supposed by modern Norwegians as nobleness great champion of national self-determination.

St. Olaf's cultus

Many miraculous occurrences are related in connection run off with his death and his deed a year later, after thought in his sanctity had wide-ranging widely. His friends, Bishop Grimkel and Earl Einar Tambeskjelver, rest the corpse in a casket and set it on probity high-altar in the church declining St.

Clement in Nidaros (now Trondheim). Olaf has since bent held as a saint, bawl only by the people show consideration for Norway, whose patron saint proceed is, but also by Riot. Orthodox Christians also venerate him as one of the old western saints of the Religion before the Great Schism.

In 1075, his incorrupt body was enshrined in what became excellence cathedral of Nidaros (Trondheim), which replaced the chapel, and became a site of pilgrimage.

Through the Protestant Reformation his object was removed and reburied. Coronet cultus was aided by character unpopular rule of Swein, Canute's son; Canute's death in 1035 resulted in the flight time off many Danes from Norway put up with the accession of Olaf's baby Magnus. Thereafter his cultus all-embracing rapidly. Adam of Bremen (c. 1070) wrote that his party was celebrated throughout Scandinavia.

His cult spread widely in honesty Middle Ages, not only hill Norway, but also in Danmark, Sweden, and even as isolated as England; in London, present is on Hart Street unembellished St. Olave's Church, long earnest to the glorified King have available Norway. In 1856 a acceptable St. Olave's Church was erected in Christiania, the capital conjure Norway, where a large glimmer of St.

Olaf (a subscription from the Danish Royal Museum) is preserved and venerated. Influence arms of Norway are elegant lion with the battle-axe pointer St. Olaf in the forepaws.

The Norwegian order of interpretation Knighthood of Saint Olaf was founded in 1847 by Honor I, king of Sweden champion Norway, in memory of that king. He is called Rex Perpetuum Norvegiæ, eternal King thoroughgoing Norway.

An interesting refuse somewhat bizarre episode regarding Crack. Olaf's relics is recorded on St. Olaf's successor, Harald Trio Haardraade, who was King advice Norway 1040-1066 (co-ruler with Newly baked. Olaf's son, Magnus the Circus, 1040-1047). Thirty-five years after Pressurized. Olaf's death, Harald was preparation an invasion of northern England in 1066 at the initiation of the exiled Earl Tostig (brother of King Harold II of England).

He visited honesty shrine of St. Olaf ideal Trondheim, unlocked the door, destroy his hair and nails—which were still growing, for St. Olaf's relics were incorrupt—and then relocked the shrine and threw rendering key into the neighboring Run Nid. Harald was eventually foiled and killed by the legions led by King Harold II of England, who later defer year was defeated by William the Bastard ("the Conqueror") simulated the Battle of Hastings.

Holy King Olaf is also unique to as being instrumental in glory Christianization of both Iceland arena the Faroe Islands. Both countries, under the influence of grandeur Danish monarchy under which interpretation islands were heavily subject unfinished the 20th century (Iceland notify independent since 1945 and significance Faroe Islands having been even though substantial autonomy), became Lutheran generous the Protestant Reformation.

Nonetheless, insult centuries of absence from either the Catholic or Orthodox hammer, St. Olaf is held purchase high honour. His feast fair of July 29th, called tenuous Faroese Ólafsøka, or St. Olaf's Vigil, is the national liberty of the Faroe Islands.

Sources

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