Olaf was born around 820, in Ireland. His father was the Hiberno-Norse warlord Ingjald Helgasson. Some traditional sources portray Olaf as a descendant of Ragnar Lodbrok – for instance, the Eyrbyggja Saga, claims that Olaf's paternal grandmother (Thora) was a daughter of Ragnar's son Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye. However, this connection seems unlikely, given that Sigurd appears to have lived in the mid-9th Century and Ragnar himself may have lived until the 860s. Irish fragments provide a different genealogy, suggesting that Olaf's father was Godfred, son of Ragnall, son of Godfred, son of Godfred.[1]
He was named King of Dublin around 853. According to Irish sources, Olaf ruled jointly with his kinsman Ímar. Olaf married Aud the Deep-minded (Auðr), daughter of Ketil Flatnose, the ruler of the Hebrides, according to Icelandic traditions (Landnámabók, Laxdæla saga). The Irish sources name Olaf's wife only as the daughter of a "King Aedh".[2]
Olaf and Auðr had a son, Thorstein the Red (Þorsteinn rauðr), who attempted to conquer Scotland in the 870s. At some point Olaf had a falling-out with the clan of Ketil and sent Auðr and their son back to her father's house. According to Landnámabók, Olaf and Þorsteinn Rauðr were both killed in the British Isles.
Thorstein the Red was married to Þuriðr Eyvindardóttir Austmann, and they had several children: Gróa, Álof, Þorgerðr, Þórhildr, Vigdís, Ósk, Ólafr feilan, ancestor of Ari Fróði, author of Landnámabók.[3] The family was related to the Vinland explorers and the Sturlung family.[4]
Identification and historical conjecture
Olaf may be identical with the Viking warlord Amlaíb Conung, who according to Irish sources was killed in 871/2 by Causantín mac Cináeda, king of Alba. However, both Gwyn Jones and Peter Hunter Blair dispute this identification.
Old Norse sources mention two Olafs belonging to the ninth-century house of Vestfold. The first of these, Olaf the White, because of his connections with Dublin and with Ketil Flatnose, must be identified with Olaf king of Dublin, as described in early Irish and Scottish chronicles. We are also told in the Heimskringla of Olaf Guthfrithsson of Vestfold who on good archaeological evidence can be identified with the king buried in the Gokstad ship. It is possible that there was only one such king, Olaf Guthfrisson of Vestfold, who in his earlier days ruled from Dublin and raided in Scotland and who later in 871 returned to claim his Vestfold kingdom. The Irish Three Fragments of Annals, while not actually proving such a theory, do support the case for regarding Olaf Guthfrithsson of Vestfold as being the same as Olaf the White of Dublin and the Scottish Isles. The Fragments claim that Olaf of Dublin ended his reign there when c. 871 he returned to Norway to support his father Guthfrith in a struggle for a kingdom. This passage, then, would identify Olaf of Dublin, alias Olaf the White of Landnamabok with Olaf Guthfrithsson of Norway.[5]
^Warlords and Holy Men, by Alfred P. Smith, Edinburgh University Press 2010, first published in 1984 by Edward Arnold Publishers, Ltd. p159-160
References
Steenstrup, Johannes C.H.R. Normannerne, vol. 2. Kjøbenhavn, 1878: Vikingetogene mod Vest. pp. 119 ff.
Forte, Angelo, Richard Oram and Frederik Pedersen. Viking Empires. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005 ISBN0-521-82992-5.
Jones, Gwyn. A History of the Vikings. 2nd ed. London: Oxford Univ. Press, 1984.
Gísli Sigurðsson. The Medieval Icelandic Saga and Oral Tradition: A Discourse on Method. Cambridge, MA: Harvard U.P., 2004.
Bilbao, Jon. “Sobre la leyenda de Jaun Zuria, primer señor de Vizcaya” in Amigos del País, hoy, Real Sociedad Vascongada de Amigos del País (Comisión de Vizcaya), Bilbao, 1982, pp. 235–263.
Warlords and Holy Men, by Alfred P. Smith, Edinburgh University Press 2010, first published in 1984 by Edward Arnold Publishers, Ltd.
olaf, white, norse, Óláfr, hinn, hvíti, viking, king, lived, latter, half, century, contents, life, identification, historical, conjecture, ancestry, notes, references, external, linkslife, editolaf, born, around, ireland, father, hiberno, norse, warlord, ingj. Olaf the White Old Norse olafr hinn Hviti was a viking sea king who lived in the latter half of the 9th century Contents 1 Life 2 Identification and historical conjecture 3 Ancestry 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksLife EditOlaf was born around 820 in Ireland His father was the Hiberno Norse warlord Ingjald Helgasson Some traditional sources portray Olaf as a descendant of Ragnar Lodbrok for instance the Eyrbyggja Saga claims that Olaf s paternal grandmother Thora was a daughter of Ragnar s son Sigurd Snake in the Eye However this connection seems unlikely given that Sigurd appears to have lived in the mid 9th Century and Ragnar himself may have lived until the 860s Irish fragments provide a different genealogy suggesting that Olaf s father was Godfred son of Ragnall son of Godfred son of Godfred 1 He was named King of Dublin around 853 According to Irish sources Olaf ruled jointly with his kinsman Imar Olaf married Aud the Deep minded Audr daughter of Ketil Flatnose the ruler of the Hebrides according to Icelandic traditions Landnamabok Laxdaela saga The Irish sources name Olaf s wife only as the daughter of a King Aedh 2 Olaf and Audr had a son Thorstein the Red THorsteinn raudr who attempted to conquer Scotland in the 870s At some point Olaf had a falling out with the clan of Ketil and sent Audr and their son back to her father s house According to Landnamabok Olaf and THorsteinn Raudr were both killed in the British Isles Thorstein the Red was married to THuridr Eyvindardottir Austmann and they had several children Groa Alof THorgerdr THorhildr Vigdis osk olafr feilan ancestor of Ari Frodi author of Landnamabok 3 The family was related to the Vinland explorers and the Sturlung family 4 Identification and historical conjecture EditOlaf may be identical with the Viking warlord Amlaib Conung who according to Irish sources was killed in 871 2 by Causantin mac Cinaeda king of Alba However both Gwyn Jones and Peter Hunter Blair dispute this identification Old Norse sources mention two Olafs belonging to the ninth century house of Vestfold The first of these Olaf the White because of his connections with Dublin and with Ketil Flatnose must be identified with Olaf king of Dublin as described in early Irish and Scottish chronicles We are also told in the Heimskringla of Olaf Guthfrithsson of Vestfold who on good archaeological evidence can be identified with the king buried in the Gokstad ship It is possible that there was only one such king Olaf Guthfrisson of Vestfold who in his earlier days ruled from Dublin and raided in Scotland and who later in 871 returned to claim his Vestfold kingdom The Irish Three Fragments of Annals while not actually proving such a theory do support the case for regarding Olaf Guthfrithsson of Vestfold as being the same as Olaf the White of Dublin and the Scottish Isles The Fragments claim that Olaf of Dublin ended his reign there when c 871 he returned to Norway to support his father Guthfrith in a struggle for a kingdom This passage then would identify Olaf of Dublin alias Olaf the White of Landnamabok with Olaf Guthfrithsson of Norway 5 Ancestry EditAncestors of Olaf the WhiteGudrǫdr veidikonungr jagtkonge HalfdanssonOlaf Gudrǫdrsson Geirstad Alf Alfhild AlfarinsdatterHelgi Olafsson of DublinIngjald Hviti HelgassonRagnar Lodbrok Sigurdr ormr i auga RagnarssonAslaug Aslaug Aslanga Kraka SigurdsdottirThora Tora SigurdsdotterAElla of NorthumbriaHeluna Blaeja Olaf the WhiteNotes Edit Fragm 127 195 Fragm 151 S 175 Steenstrup p 120 121 see IF 1 genealogy IXa Gisli Sigurdsson 262 Warlords and Holy Men by Alfred P Smith Edinburgh University Press 2010 first published in 1984 by Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd p159 160References EditSteenstrup Johannes C H R Normannerne vol 2 Kjobenhavn 1878 Vikingetogene mod Vest pp 119 ff Forte Angelo Richard Oram and Frederik Pedersen Viking Empires Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2005 ISBN 0 521 82992 5 Jones Gwyn A History of the Vikings 2nd ed London Oxford Univ Press 1984 Gisli Sigurdsson The Medieval Icelandic Saga and Oral Tradition A Discourse on Method Cambridge MA Harvard U P 2004 Bilbao Jon Sobre la leyenda de Jaun Zuria primer senor de Vizcaya in Amigos del Pais hoy Real Sociedad Vascongada de Amigos del Pais Comision de Vizcaya Bilbao 1982 pp 235 263 Warlords and Holy Men by Alfred P Smith Edinburgh University Press 2010 first published in 1984 by Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd External links EditStirnet Viking03 subscription required mentions Olaf Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olaf the White amp oldid 1115409568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
