Olof of Sweden

Olof (III) Skötkonung , (980-1022) wire of Erik Segersäll and Sigrid Storråda, is the first Christian king of Sweden. Its nickname could mean " king with the berceau".

It has a score of years when it succeeds his father in 995. In 995, it gives refuge in its states to his brother-in-law, the jarl Eric Håkonsson of Hladir which had to give up the Norway with the king Olaf Tryggvason. A little later the remarriage of his/her mother with the king Sven Barbe Fourchue seals the reconciliation of the Sweden with the Denmark. in 1000, combined in Sven and Erik, Olof overrides Olaf Tryggvason with the battle of Svöldr. The Norwegian finds there death and its kingdom is divided between the winners.

One also estimates that it is reign of Olof (or perhaps of his/her Erik father) which date Swedish supremacy on the Götaland, area more sensitive to advanced Christianity than that of Uppsala. According to the legend, Olof was baptized there in the source of Husaby (in the province of Västergötland) in 1008 by the English bishop Sigfrid.

Olof however had concluded an agreement from statute quo with its people envisaging the maintenance of the pagan worship with Uppsala with the great sacrifice of the month of goi (semi février/mi March) as well as the establishment with Skara with the Västergötland of one évéché created towards 1013 by Unwam archbishop of Hamburg - Bremen (1013-1029) in favor of Thurgot.

It is also Olof which struck the first Swedish parts, carrying its effigy, with Sigtuna during the years 990. In the popular memory, king Olof left finally the memory have been the first to institute the perception of a regular tax.

In 1015, Olaf Haraldsson, a Viking of royal blood that Olof already had to fight, is essential in its turn on the throne of Norway: it is the future Olaf Saint. Olof Skötkonung initially will fight against him but its subjects themselves soon will oblige it to treat.

Olof had taken initially as concubine Edla, the girl of Jarl de Vindland, which gave him three children: the future king Emund III Gamle, Astrid and Holmfrid. He married then in union legitimates the girl of a prince of Odobrites of the Mecklembourg known only under the Scandinavian name of Estrid with which he had two other children: Anund born towards 1007, St Jacques day before, and which was baptized for that under the Christian name of Jakob in spite of the reserves of its subjects which declared that " never a king of Svear had not been called ainsi" and which succeeded to him its death. He have also a girl Ingigerd (+1050) one moment been engaged to the Norwegian king Olaf Haraldsson Digre ('' the Large '') she married finally Jarzleifr (Iaroslav Wise the), the son of Valdimar (Vladimir the Saint) prince of Kiev-Novgorod.

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