The Heimskringla on Olaf Kyrre

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > Preliminary Remarks.

• attestation: Olaf's long reign contained so few events that he earned the epithet 'the Quiet' (Kyrre), and the saga seems written to fill the gap between Harald Hardrade and Magnus Barefoot.

  "There are but few events in Olaf's long reign, and hence he is very appropriately called the Quiet (Kyrre). As Hildebrand says, this saga seems to be written simply to fill out the empty space between Harald Hardrade and Magnus Barefoot"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 1. Olaf'S Personal Appearance.

• attestation: Olaf became sole king of Norway after the death of his brother Magnus in 1069.

  "Olaf remained sole king of Norway after the death (A.D. 1069) of his brother King Magnus"

• attestation: Olaf was stout and well-proportioned, with yellow silken hair, white skin, and beautiful eyes; widely regarded as the handsomest man of noble appearance.

  "Olaf was a stout man, well grown in limbs; and every one said a handsomer man could not be seen, nor of a nobler appearance. His hair was yellow as silk, and became him well; his skin was white and fine over all his body; his eyes beautiful, and his limbs well proportioned"

• attestation: Olaf was generally silent and reserved at Things but became merry and talkative at drinking parties.

  "He was rather silent in general, and did not speak much even at Things; but he was merry in drinking parties. He loved drinking much, and was talkative enough then"

• attestation: Olaf was peaceful, cheerful, and loved gentleness and moderation throughout his reign.

  "He was cheerful in conversation, peacefully inclined during all his reign, and loving gentleness and moderation in all things"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 2. Of King Olaf'S Manner Of Living.

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre moved the king's high-seat from the middle of a long bench (the old Norwegian fashion) to a high bench across the room.

  "It was the fashion in Norway in old times for the king's high-seat to be on the middle of a long bench, and the ale was handed across the fire (1); but King Olaf had his high-seat made on a high bench across the room"

• attestation: Olaf introduced chimney-places in rooms and floor-strewing in both summer and winter.

  "he also first had chimney-places in the rooms, and the floors strewed both summer and winter"

• attestation: Olaf founded a merchant town at Bergen, which quickly attracted many wealthy people and foreign merchants.

  "King Olaf founded a merchant town at Bergen, where very soon many wealthy people settled themselves, and it was regularly frequented by merchants from foreign lands"

• attestation: Olaf laid the foundations for the large Christ church of stone but completed little of it during his lifetime; he also completed the old wooden Christ church.

  "He had the foundations laid for the large Christ church, which was to be a stone church; but in his time there was little done to it. Besides, he completed the old Christ church, which was of wood"

• attestation: Olaf built great feasting-houses in Nidaros and other merchant towns, replacing private feasts; drinking was only permitted in these designated houses.

  "King Olaf also had a great feasting-house built in Nidaros, and in many other merchant towns, where before there were only private feasts; and in his time no one could drink in Norway but in these houses"

• attestation: In Olaf's time, elaborate foreign clothing fashions were introduced: costly plaited hose, gold leg-rings, long narrow-armed coats with ties, high silk-edged shoes.

  "At this time also much unusual splendour and foreign customs and fashions in the cut of clothes were introduced; as, for instance, costly hose plaited about the legs. Some had gold rings about the legs, and also used coats which had lists down the sides, and arms five ells long"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 3. Fashion Of King Olaf'S Court.

• attestation: Olaf adopted the foreign court fashion of having a grand-butler stand at the end of the table to fill cups for distinguished guests.

  "King Olaf used the fashion, which was introduced from the courts of foreign kings, of letting his grand-butler stand at the end of the table, and fill the table-cups for himself and the other distinguished guests who sat at the table"

• attestation: Olaf employed torch-bearers at the table, with one candle per distinguished guest.

  "He had also torch-bearers, who held as many candles at the table as there were guests of distinction present"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 4. Arrangement Of King Olaf'S Court.

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre maintained a court of 120 courtmen-at-arms, 60 pursuivants, and 60 house-servants.

  "King Olaf had 120 courtmen-at-arms, and 60 pursuivants, besides 60 house-servants, who provided what was wanted for the king's house wherever it might be"

• attestation: When bondes challenged Olaf for keeping a retinue fifty percent larger than the law allowed, he replied that he ruled no better than his father despite having more people.

  "It does not happen that I rule the kingdom better, or produce greater respect for me than ye had for my father, although I have one-half more people than he had. I do not by any means do it merely to plague you, or to make your condition harder than formerly"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 5. King Svein Ulfson'S Death.

• relationship: Norwegian king Olaf married Ingerid daughter of Danish king Svein, while Danish prince Olaf married Ingegerd daughter of Norwegian king Harald.

  "Olaf, the king of Norway, was married to Ingerid, a daughter of Svein, the Danish king; and Olaf, the Danish King Svein's son, married Ingegerd, a daughter of King Harald, and sister of King Olaf of Norway"

• relationship: Olaf Kyrre had a son called Magnus by Thora, Joan's daughter; Magnus was handsome and promising and raised at court.

  "King Olaf Haraldson, who was called by some Olaf Kyrre, but by many Olaf the Bonde, had a son by Thora, Joan's daughter, who was called Magnus, and was one of the handsomest lads that could be seen, and was promising in every respect. He was brought up in the king's court"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 6. Miracles Of King Olaf The Saint.

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre built a stone church in Nidaros on the spot where King Olaf the Saint's body had first been buried, with the altar directly over the grave site.

  "King Olaf had a church of stone built in Nidaros, on the spot where King Olaf's body had first been buried, and the altar was placed directly over the spot where the king's grave had been"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 8. King Olaf Was Blessed With Peace.

• attestation: In Olaf Kyrre's days, Norway had bountiful harvests and prosperity unmatched since the days of Harald Harfager.

  "In the days of King Olaf there were bountiful harvests in Norway and many good things. In no man's life had times been so good in Norway since the days of Harald Harfager"

• attestation: Olaf moderated many measures his father had maintained with severity; he was generous but strict, wise, and understood the kingdom's advantage.

  "King Olaf modified for the better many a matter that his father had inaugurated and maintained with severity. He was generous, but a strict ruler, for he was a wise man, and well understood what was of advantage to the kingdom"

• attestation: Olaf expressed joy at seeing his subjects sitting happy and free in a guild consecrated to his uncle, the sainted Olaf, contrasting it with the terror of his father's reign.

  "I have reason to be glad when I see my subjects sitting happy and free in a guild consecrated to my uncle, the sainted King Olaf. In the days of my father these people were subjected to much terror and fear; the most of them concealed their gold and their precious things"

• attestation: Olaf declared that his people's freedom was his gladness, seeing them openly wearing their wealth instead of hiding it.

  "now I see glittering on his person what each one owns, and your freedom is my gladness"

• attestation: Olaf's reign was free from internal strife, and his nearest neighbours stood in great awe of him despite his gentle nature.

  "In his reign there was no strife, and he protected himself and his realm against enemies abroad; and his nearest neighbours stood in great awe of him, although he was a most gentle man"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 9. Meeting Of Olaf Kyrre And Canute The Saint.

• relationship: Olaf Kyrre and Canute the Holy were brothers-in-law

  "King Olaf Kyrre was a great friend of his brother-in-law, the Danish king, Canute the holy."

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre and Canute the Holy met at Konungahella on the Gaut river, where kings customarily held meetings

  "They appointed a meeting and met at the Gaut river at Konungahella, where the kings used to have their meetings."

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre declined to lead the expedition, citing his father Harald's death in England and the loss of Norway's best men

  "when King Harald, my father, went westward to England, he got his death there; and at that time the best men in Norway followed him."

• attestation: Olaf gave Canute sixty large ships with equipment and lendermen as chiefs

  "So King Olaf gave Canute sixty large ships, with excellent equipment and faithful men, and set his lendermen as chiefs over them"

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 10. A Bonde Who Understood The Language Of Birds.

• attestation: King Olaf's men reported being best entertained at a bonde's house in one of the king's districts

  "They said it was in the house of a bonde in one of the king's districts."

• attestation: King Olaf ordered his men to kill the bonde's horse and bring it to his ship without letting blood fall on the ground

  "Cut off the horse's head; but take care of yourselves that ye let no blood come to the ground, and bear the horse out to my ship."

• attestation: The bonde composed a verse revealing the crows accused the king of stealing the horse

  "The foul bird said My old mare's head I row along; And, in her song, She said the thief Was the land's chief."

• attestation: King Olaf rewarded the bonde with gifts and remitted all the land-rent of his dwelling

  "Then the king gave him good presents, and remitted all the land-rent of the place he lived on."

• attestation: The skald Stein composed verses praising Olaf's generosity in scattering bounty far and wide

  "The pillar of our royal race Stands forth adorned with every grace. What king before e'er took such pride To scatter bounty far and wide?"

• attribution: Olaf Kyrre was described as giving gold, brave clothes, helms, ring-mail coats, axes and swords to his men

  "Brave clothes to servants he awards, Helms and ring-mail coats grace his guards; Or axe and sword Har's warriors gain"

• attribution: Olaf Kyrre is called 'Norway's royal son, Who from the English glory won'

  "King Olaf, Norway's royal son, Who from the English glory won, Pours out with ready-giving hand His wealth on children of the land."

• attestation: King Olaf ordered the bonde to pilot them around the ness

  "Show us the way round the ness, for here thou must be a good pilot."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 11. Of King Olaf Kyrre'S Death.

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre died of disease at his estate of Haukby in Ranrike

  "Once when he was east in Ranrike, on his estate of Haukby, he took the disease which ended in his death."

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre was king of Norway for twenty-six years, from 1068 to 1093

  "He had then been king of Norway for twenty-six years (A.D. 1068-1093)"

• attestation: Olaf Kyrre's body was taken north to Nidaros and buried in Christ church which he himself had built

  "King Olaf's body was taken north to Nidaros, and buried in Christ church, which he himself had built there."

• attribution: Olaf Kyrre was described as the most amiable king of his time

  "He was the most amiable king of his time, and Norway was much improved in riches and cultivation during his reign."

Heimskringla > part in the government with his brother Hardaknut. In the same autumn > 1. Beginning Of The Reign Of King Magnus And His Cousin Hakon.

• relationship: Olaf Kyrre was father of Magnus Barefoot

  "Magnus, King Olaf's son"