Olav Tryggvason

Olav Tryggvason was born circa 968. He spent his youth engaging in Viking raids in England and the area around the Baltic Sea. The plunder he obtained on these raids brought him immense wealth and power. Olav was converted to Christianity in the spring of 995. He became one of Norway’s most important early missionary kings, alongside Håkon the Good and St Olav.

Olav Tryggvason’s mission was to combat paganism and capture the Norwegian crown. Pursuit of this objective eventually brought him to Trøndelag, where he campaigned against Håkon Sigurdsson, the unpopular Earl of Lade and de facto ruler of Norway. In Trøndelag, Olav was greeted as a liberator, and in the spring of 995 he assumed royal power in Norway. Olav Tryggvason was king of Norway from 995 until 1000, when he was killed at the Battle of Svolder, a massive naval engagement that saw Olav’s fleet of warships pitted against the navies of both the Danish and Swedish kings, as well as the new Earl of Lade, Erik Håkonsson.
 

The Statue

The statue of Olav depicts him as a warrior with sword in hand. Between his feet lies the head of an idol, which is meant to symbolise the defeat of Norse paganism. Olav’s face bears a striking resemblance to Norway’s famous Arctic explorer and diplomat Fridtjov Nansen (1861–1930).