Olaf Magnusson of Norway

Olaf Magnusson
Coin bearing Olaf's name. Last Norwegian monarch positively identified on a coin until Sverre.[1]
King of Norway
Reign	1103 – 22 December 1115
Predecessor	Magnus III
Successor	Eystein I and Sigurd I
Born	1099
Died	22 December 1115 (aged 17) Nidaros
Burial	Nidaros Cathedral
House	Hardrada
Father	Magnus III of Norway
Mother	Sigrid Saxesdatter
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Olaf Magnusson (1099 – 22 December 1115) was king of Norway 1103–1115. He was the son of King Magnus Barefoot and Sigrid, daughter of Saxe of Vik.^[2]

Olaf became king together with his half-brothers Sigurd Jorsalfar and Øystein Magnusson when his father Magnus Barefoot died in 1103. He was king of Norway for twelve years, but unlike his brothers he did not leave a lasting impression on the nation. Since he was still very young, his older brothers acted as regents for his part of the kingdom. In 1107, King Sigurd was to lead a Norwegian crusade in support of the newly established crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, returning to Norway in 1111. During this period, King Øystein served as regent for his brother, using his energy and willpower to create a strong and stable country.

In 1115, Olaf fell ill and died when he was only 17 years old. He was succeeded by his co-ruler brothers. He was always counted as "Olaf IV" until 1957 (when Olav V became king, who otherwise would have been VI), and counting him was dropped from the official Norwegian list of monarchs.^[3]

References

1. "Olav Magnusson (1103-1115)". University of Oslo. 1995.
2. Olaf Magnusson (Store norske leksikon)
3. "Olav 4 Håkonsson" (in Norwegian). Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved 28 August 2012.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Olaf Magnusson of Norway

16. Sigurd Syr Halfdansson, King of Ringeringe               8. Harald III of Norway                       17. Åsta Gudbrandsdatter               4. Olaf III of Norway                             18. Torberg Arnesson               9. Tora Torbergsdatter                       19. Ragnhild Erlingsdatter               2. Magnus III of Norway                                   10. Johan or Árni lági                       5. Thora                             1. Olaf Magnusson of Norway                                         6. Saxe of Vik                             3. Sigrid Saxesdatter