Editing Olaf III of Norway (section)

== Biography ==
Olaf was a son of King [[Harald III of Norway|Harald Hardrada]] and [[Tora Torbergsdatter]]. Olaf joined his father during the [[Norman conquest of England|invasion of England]] during 1066. However, he was only 16 years old during the [[Battle of Stamford Bridge]] on 25 September 1066. He stayed guarding the ships at [[Riccall]] and did not participate in the fighting. After the Norwegian defeat, he sailed with the remains of the Norwegian strike force back to [[Orkney]], where they wintered. The return journey to Norway took place in summer 1067.<ref>Per G. Norseng [http://www.snl.no/Olav_3_%28Haraldsson%29_Kyrre ''Olav 3 (Haraldsson) Kyrre'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>

After the death of his father, Olaf shared the kingdom with his brother [[Magnus II of Norway|Magnus II]] (''Magnus 2 Haraldsson'') who had become king the previous year. When King Magnus died during 1069, Olaf became the sole ruler of Norway.<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://denstoredanske.dk/Geografi_og_historie/Norge_og_Sverige/Norge_1066-1397/Olav_3._Kyrre|title=  Olav 3. Kyrre|publisher= Den Store Danske |access-date= 20 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=  https://nbl.snl.no/Magnus_2_Haraldsson|title=  Magnus 2 Haraldsson, Konge|publisher= Norsk biografisk leksikon  |author= Claus Krag  |access-date= 20 May 2016}}</ref>

During his reign, the nation of Norway experienced a rare extended period of peace. He renounced any offensive foreign policy, instead protecting Norway's sovereignty through agreements and marriage connections. Domestically he emphasized the church's organization and the modernization of the kingdom. The latter resulted in, among other things, the reorganization of the [[Housecarl|body-guard]] and of measures under which key cities, especially [[Bergen]], could better serve as a royal residence. According to the ''[[Heimskringla]]'' by [[Snorri Sturluson]], Olaf is said to have founded the city of [[Bergen, Norway|Bergen]] (originally called Bjørgvin).<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Heimskringla/Saga_of_Olaf_Kyrre|title=  Saga of Olaf Kyrre|publisher=   Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson |access-date= 20 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=   https://snl.no/Bj%C3%B8rgvin|title =  Bjørgvin|publisher =    Store norske leksikon  |author= Hallvard Magerøy|access-date= 20 May 2016}}</ref>

The death of Harald Hardrada and the serious defeat suffered by the Norwegians in 1066 tempted the Danish king, [[Svend Estridsen]], to prepare for an attack on Norway. King Svend no longer felt bound by the ceasefire agreement signed with Harald Hardrada in 1064, since it would only be valid for the two kings during their own lives. However Olaf made peace with King Svend and married the king's daughter [[Ingerid of Denmark|Ingerid]]. Later, Olav's half sister [[Ingegerd of Norway|Ingegerd]] married King Svend's son  [[Olaf I of Denmark|Olaf]]. Although there were some attacks on England by Danish forces, peace persisted between Denmark and Norway. Olaf also made peace with [[William the Conqueror]] of England.

King Olaf broke with his father's line in his relationship to the church. Harald Hardrada had developed a continuing conflict with the [[Archbishopric of Bremen]] due to the archbishop's authority over the Norwegian church. Unlike his father, Olav recognized that authority fully. Political considerations may have been behind this conciliatory attitude, as may have been Olaf's concern with the church organization. Until his time bishops had formed part of the king's court and traveled with him around the country to take care of the ecclesiastical affairs while the king took care of worldly matters. The bishops established fixed residence in Oslo, Nidaros and Bergen. King Olaf also took the initiative for the construction of churches, including [[Christ Church, Bergen|Christ Church]] in Bergen and [[Nidaros Cathedral]] in [[Trondheim]].<ref>Odd Brochmann  [http://www.snl.no/Nidarosdomen ''Nidarosdomen'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>

Olaf strengthened the power of the king and instituted the system of [[guilds]] in Norway. There are strong indications that the government of King Olaf began writing secure provincial laws to a greater extent. The Norwegian law [[:no:Gulatingsloven|Gulatingsloven]] was probably put in writing for the first time during his reign.<ref>Per G. Norseng [http://www.snl.no/Gulatingsloven ''Gulatingsloven'' (Store norske leksikon)]</ref>

King Olaf died of illness on 22 September 1093 in Haukbø, [[Rånrike]], then part of [[Norway]] (now Håkeby, [[Tanum Municipality]], Sweden).<ref name="NBL"/> He was buried at the Nidaros Cathedral.<ref name="NBL"/> His marriage to Ingerid did not produce any children. His successor as king, [[Magnus III of Norway|Magnus III]] nicknamed Magnus Barefoot (''Magnus Berrføtt''), was acknowledged to be his illegitimate son.<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://nbl.snl.no/Magnus_3_Olavsson_Berrf%25C3%25B8tt|title=  Magnus 3 Olavsson Berrføtt, Konge|publisher=  Norsk biografisk leksikon|author=  Claus Krag|access-date=  20 May 2016|archive-url=  https://web.archive.org/web/20160624174427/https://nbl.snl.no/Magnus_3_Olavsson_Berrf%25C3%25B8tt|archive-date=  24 June 2016|url-status=  dead}}</ref>