Saint Olav - King of Norway

I. Olav's Childhood

A boy was born in Ringerike at the end of the tenth century, and was given the name Olav. His mother was called Åsta, his father Harald Grenske, but the boy was never to see his father. Harald was a local king in Vestfold, but what he liked best was to go on Viking journeys to the East. He was also unfaithful to his wife Åsta. While he was staying in Sweden, he made a proposal of marriage to Sigrid Storråde. She refused. But when he kept on insisting, she saw to it that he was burnt to death in his room. When this happened Åsta was pregnant with Olav.

Harald was Harald Hårfagre's1 great- grandson. Valuable qualities were found in this family, such as resolute will, the ability to govern, to gather together and organise - but there were also less valuable traits, like wildness, cruelty, delight in revenge, greed, and an unserious relationship to women. Olav Haraldsson inherited these qualities. His mother Åsta later married Sigurd Syr. Olav's stepfather was a peaceful man who liked best the work of a farmer: every day he went out to the fields and meadows to see that the work was being carried out well. He was a calm and steady man, prudent, familiar with the laws. Olav grew up on Sigurd Syr's big farm. This is how the Icelandic poet and historian Snorre (1179-1241), describes the boy: «He quickly became a fine boy. He was handsome in appearance, about medium height... He was very sturdy had great strength, light brown hair, a broad face, light skin and a ruddy countenance. He had unusually keen eyes - they were beautiful, and so keen that one could be afraid to look him in the eye when he was angry. Olav was a fine sportsman and could do many things. He was good at shooting with the bow, and took aim well. He was a better spear-caster than most, he was dexterous and had a sure eye for all kinds of work with his hands... He was called Olav Digre.» (This Norse word can mean fat or coarse-limbed; I incline to favour the latter interpretation, since he himself liked this nickname.) «He spoke fearlessly and alertly. He was quickly an adult in all things, both in strength and in intelligence, and all his relatives and acquaintances loved him. He sought honour in his sports and always wanted to be the first.»

He did not have a very good relationship to his stepfather, Sigurd Syr. Perhaps Olav rather looked down on this farmer who was so much concerned with the earth. Sigurd, on his side, no doubt thought Olav too reckless in his speech and too brash in many things. But he kept calm about all this. Olav had a better relationship to his mother Åsta. They made plans for the future together. Olav wanted to be a Viking.