Olaf

Olaf, the Saint, one of the most revered of the early Norwegian kings, was born in 995, and after having distinguished himself by his gallant exploits, and made his name a terror in several warlike expeditions on the coasts of Normandy and England, succeeded, in 1015, in wresting the throne of Norway from Eric and Svend Jarl. The cruel severity with which he endeavoured to exterminate paganism by fire and sword alienated the affections of his subjects, who hastened to tender their allegiance to Canute of Denmark on his landing in Norway in 1028. Olaf fled to the court of his brother-in-law, Jaroslav of Russia, who gave him a band of 4000 men, at the head of whom he returned, in 1030, and gave Canute battle at Stiklestad, where Olaf was defeated by the aid of his own subjects, and slain. His body was removed to the cathedral of Trondheim, where the fame of its miraculous power spread far and wide; and Olaf was solemnly proclaimed patron saint of Norway in the succeeding century. See Passio et Miracula Beati Olavi, edited by F. Metcalfe (Oxford, 1881).