Olof Skötkonung
Olof Skötkonung, born around 980, is recognized as one of the early kings of Sweden, succeeding his father, Erik Segersäll, after his death in 994. Olof's reign marked a significant period of consolidation for Sweden, as he inherited a kingdom engaged in conflicts with neighboring Norway and Denmark. Notably, he forged an alliance with Danish King Svein Forkbeard, leading to a decisive victory against Norway at the Battle of Svolder in 1000. Under Olof, Sweden saw the introduction of currency minting and he became known as Skötkonung, meaning "tax king," likely due to tributes received from his conquests.
Around 1008, Olof was baptized, indicating a shift toward Christianity, although pagan beliefs persisted in Sweden for some time. He founded the Diocese of Skara, the oldest Christian district in Sweden, around 1014. His later years were marked by discontent among his subjects, particularly during conflicts with Norwegian King Olaf II, leading to a power-sharing arrangement with his son, Anund Jacob. Olof Skötkonung died in 1022, and though his reign ended, his legacy influenced the gradual Christianization of Sweden and the political landscape of Scandinavia.
Olof Skötkonung
King of Sweden
- Born: ca. 980
- Birthplace: Sweden
- Died: 1022
- Place of death: Sweden
Also known as: Olaf Skötkonung; Olof the Tax King; Olof Eriksson
Significance: Olof Skötkonung was the king of Sweden from about 995 to 1022. He was the first Swedish king to accept Christianity.
Background
Olof Skötkonung was born around the year 980. At the time, Sweden was a region inhabited by a Germanic people called the Svear (Swedes). Olof's father was Erik Segersäll, or Erik the Victorious. Erik is believed to have united the Svear tribes under his rule. For this reason, he is sometimes recognized as the first in Sweden's line of kings. Historians consider earlier kings to be primarily figures of legend. Some recorded accounts name Sigrid Storråda, or Sigrid the Proud, as Olof's mother. After Erik's death around 994, Sigrid was said to have married the Danish king Svein Forkbeard.
While Christianity flourished in southern Europe, the pagan Norse religion was still widely believed across tenth-century Scandinavia. In the early ninth century, a monk named Ansgar (later Saint Ansgar) traveled to the region to preach the Christian faith. His attempt at converting the population failed. In approximately 960, Danish king Harald I, also known as Harald Bluetooth, became the first Scandinavian ruler to accept Christianity. Some accounts claim Erik the Victorious converted to Christianity while on a visit to Denmark, but that he recanted when he returned home to Sweden.
Life's Work
Olof Skötkonung became king of Sweden upon his father's death. He inherited a kingdom that had been involved in numerous disputes with its neighbors, Norway and Denmark. King Erik had captured parts of Denmark before he died, but the territory was retaken by Svein Forkbeard. Olof responded by driving off the Danish forces and regaining his losses. Rather than continue their fight, Olof and Svein forged an alliance. Olof returned some of the land to Denmark and the two leaders set their sights on the king of Norway, Olaf Tryggvasson. As part of this alliance, some records claim Svein married Erik's widow.
In the year 1000, Swedish and Danish forces took on Norway in the Battle of Svolder, a naval engagement on the Baltic Sea. The Norwegian fleet was soundly defeated, and Olaf Tryggvasson was killed. Norway was divided among Olof, Svein, and Jarl Eirik, a Norwegian governor who allied himself with Sweden and Denmark. Eirik was granted western Norway, Svein received the Vik and Østland regions in the south, and Olof ruled the eastern provinces.
Olof was the first Swedish king to rule over both the Svear and the Geats, a Germanic people who inhabited southern Sweden. About this time, Olof became known by the title Skötkonung, meaning "tax king" or "tributary king." This may have been because he received a tribute from either his conquered lands in Norway or from King Svein. Olof was also the first Swedish king to begin minting currency. Many coins from the era bear his likeness.
Records from about 1008 indicate Olof was baptized as a Christian. Some evidence suggests his conversion came years earlier, even dating to the time he became king in 995. Olof was said to have been converted by Sigfrid, an English monk who was later named a saint. In 1014, the king founded the Diocese of Skara, the oldest Christian district in the nation.
In approximately 1015, Olaf II Haraldsson, a Norwegian descendant of Harald Bluetooth, returned to Norway and declared himself king. Olaf II drove out the forces of King Svein and began to battle Olof for control of the Swedish-held territory. For several years, Olof Skötkonung rejected attempts to make peace with Olaf II. His stance led to discontent among the people, and Olof soon became an unpopular ruler. Evidence suggests this dissatisfaction led to Olof being forced to hand over some of his power to his son, Anund Jacob. In 1019, Sweden and Norway reached a truce and Olaf II received the rights to some Swedish-held territory in Norway.
Olof Skötkonung died in 1022. Historical accounts claim his death was of natural causes.
Impact
Despite King Olof's conversion to Christianity, much of Sweden continued to adhere to the old Nordic religion. By the late eleventh century, Christianity had slowly spread throughout the nation. Sweden was not considered completely Christianized until about 1130 to 1150 when a Christian church replaced a Norse temple in the city of Uppsala, near modern-day Stockholm. In 2014, the Diocese of Skara founded by Olof celebrated its millennial anniversary.
Olof was succeeded by Anund Jacob. While he shared power with his father, Anund Jacob allied himself with Olaf II. In 1030, he supported Olaf II's failed attempt to reclaim power in Norway after he was deposed in 1028. Anund Jacob died around 1050 and was succeeded by his half-brother Emund the Old, the older son of Olof Skötkonung. When Emund died around 1060, he was not succeeded by a direct descendant, ending the family reign begun by Erik the Victorious.
Personal Life
According to some historical accounts, Olof captured the daughter of a southern chieftain on a raiding party. He took the woman, named Edla, back to Sweden as his mistress. They had three children, Astrid, Holmfrid, and Emund, the future king. Olof arranged the marriage of Astrid to King Olaf II as a means of easing tensions between the warring nations.
Olof later married Estrid, a princess of the Obotrites, a Slavic tribe from northern Germany. Estrid and Olof had two children. Their oldest child was a daughter named Ingegerd Olofsdotter. Some accounts state that Ingegerd was originally to be married to Olaf II, but her father called it off when relations between the kingdoms soured. She was instead married to a Russian prince named Yaroslav I. Estrid and Olof's youngest son was Anund Jacob.
Bibliography
Elgán, Elisabeth, and Irene Scobbie. Historical Dictionary of Sweden. 3rd ed., Rowman & Littlefield, 2015.
Holman, Katherine. The A to Z of the Vikings. Scarecrow P, 2009.
Lambert, Tim. "A Brief History of Sweden." Local Histories, www.localhistories.org/sweden.html. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.
"Olof, Skotkonung." McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia, www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/O/olof-skotkonung.html. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.
Peterson, Gary Dean. Vikings and Goths: A History of Ancient and Medieval Sweden. McFarland & Company, 2016.
Ros, Jonas. "Sigtuna." The Viking World, edited by Stefan Brink and Neil Price, Routledge, 2008, pp. 140–44.
"Sweden, Kings." Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SWEDEN.htm. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.
"The Transition to Christianity." National Museum of Denmark, en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-viking-age/religion-magic-death-and-rituals/the-transition-to-christianity/. Accessed 31 Jan. 2018.