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Birth:          ABT  970 Sweden
Death:          1022 

Notes
a Christian
d winter of 1021/22
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olof_Sk%C3%B6tkonung
Olof Skötkonung (c. 980–1022) was King of Sweden, son of Eric the Victorious and, 
according to Icelandic sources, Sigrid the Haughty. He succeeded his father in c. 
995. He stands at the threshold of recorded history, since he is the first Swedish ruler 
about whom we have substantial knowledge. He is also commonly regarded as the first 
king known to have ruled both the Swedes and the Geats.
Etymology[edit]

One of many explanations to the name Skötkonung is that it is derived from the 
Swedish word "skatt", which can mean either "taxes" or "treasure". The latter 
meaning has given the interpretation "tributary king" and one English scholar 
speculates about a tributary relationship to the Danish king Sweyn Forkbeard, who 
was his stepfather.[1] This explanation is however highly speculative as it is not 
supported by any evidence or historical sources. Another possible explanation of the 
name is that it means "treasure king" and refers to the fact that he was the first 
Swedish king to stamp coins.[2] An ancient land ownership ceremony which placed a 
parcel of earth in someone's lap (Swedish: sköte) was called scotting and may have 
been involved in this epithet.[3]

The Icelandic "Óláfr sænski" means "Olaf the Swedish", an epithet used to 
distinguish him from the Norwegian kings Olaf Tryggvasson and Olaf Haraldsson.

Life[edit]

Our knowledge of Olof is mostly based on Snorri Sturluson's and Adam of Bremen's 
accounts, which have been subject to criticism from source-critical scholars. The 
eldest account by Adam of Bremen (c. 1075), relates that Sweyn Forkbeard was 
expelled from his Danish realm by the Swedish King Eric the Victorious in the late 10th 
century. When Eric died (c. 995), Sweyn returned and regained his kingdom, marrying 
Eric's widow. Meanwhile, however, Olof had succeeded his father Eric, gathered an 
army, and launched a surprise attack against Sweyn. The Danish king was once again 
expelled while Olof occupied his lands. After this, however, the conflict was resolved. 
Since Sweyn had married Olof's mother he was reinstated on the Danish throne and 
the two kings were thereafter allies.[4] Snorri Sturluson (c. 1230) and the other 
Icelandic saga writers likewise say that Sweyn married Olof's mother after the death of 
Eric the Victorious, however without mentioning any conflict. Also, Snorri describes 
Sweyn and Olof as equal allies when they defeated the Norwegian king Olav 
Tryggvason in the battle of Svolder 1000, and thereafter divided Norway between 
themselves (see below).[5] It is commonly believed that Adam's account about 
Sweyn's defeats at the hand of Eric and Olof is partial and might have been 
misinterpreted; the marriage to Olof's mother may in fact have sealed Sweyn's 
precedence position.[6]
Death[edit]
Judging from Snorri Sturluson's chronology of events, Olof died a natural death in the 
winter of 1021–1022.[28] Adam of Bremen asserts that he died at approximately the 
same time as Cnut the Great (1035), which is certainly too late.[29]

According to a legend he was martyred at Stockholm after refusing to sacrifice to 
pagan gods. Since the 1740s, it has been claimed that he was buried in Husaby in the 
Christian part of his kingdom, but such identifications are controversial.[30]

Family[edit]

Olof was the son of Eric the Victorious (Erik Segersäll) and a woman whose identity is 
debated. According to Adam of Bremen she was the sister or daughter of Boleslaw I 
Chrobry of Poland, according to Icelandic sources she was Sigrid the Haughty (Sigrid 
Storråda), a daughter of the Viking chief Skoglar Toste. Certain sources say that Olof 
had a brother called Emunde.

With his first spouse (a mistress), Edla, daughter of a Slavic chief, he had three 
children:
Emund the Old, King of Sweden in c. 1050-1060
Astrid, d. after 1035, married to Olaf II of Norway (Olaf the Saint)
Holmfrid (possibly sister of Olof), married to Sven Jarl of Norway

With his second spouse, Queen Estrid of the Obotrites, he had two children:
Anund Jacob, King of Sweden in 1022-c. 1050
Ingegerd, d. 1050, married to Yaroslav I of Kiev

Parents
BJORNSSON Erik VIII "Segersall" "Victorious" (ABT  930 - ABT  995)
____ Sigrid (Starrade) ("the Proud") (ABT  950 - )

Siblings
ERIKSSON Olaf III "Skotkonung" (ABT  970 - 1022)

Marriage To ____ Endia (Edla) (ABT  985 - )
    m.  

Notes


Children by ____ Endia (Edla) ABT  985 - 
OLAFSDOTTIR Astrid (ABT  999 - )

Marriage To OF THE OBOTRITES Estrid ( 979 - 1035)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
____ Mieceslas (III) (ABT  950 - )
----- ----- ()

Children by OF THE OBOTRITES Estrid  979 - 1035
OLAFSDOTTIR Ingegerd (Ingegreda) (1001 - 10 Feb 1050)

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