After Olaf was captured by the vikings, he was sold to a couple called Reas and Rekon in Eistland (Estonia). He was there for six years (966-972). Then his uncle Sigurd discovered him. Sigurd bought Olaf and took him home with him.
Eventually, Olaf was made known to King Valdemar who received him into his court. Olaf was in Russia for nine years (972-981).
When Olaf was only 12 years old, King Valdemar gave him the command of his men-at-arms. However, several Russians eventually grew envious of Olaf and talked bad about him to the king. Valdemar then grew cold toward Olaf. Olaf noticed this and chose to take his own ships and men and leave.
Olaf and his men spent the winter in Vindland as the guests of Queen Geira who ruled that portion of Vindland for her father King Burizleif. Olaf courted Queen Geira and married her Fall, 982.
Olaf and King Burizleif fought for King Harald Gormson against Emperor Otto.
In 984, Geira died. Afterward, Olaf grew tired of Vindland. He then took ships and ravaged the coasts of: Frisland (Frisia), Saxland (Saxony), and Flanders. England, Scotland, the Hebrides, the Isle of Man, Ireland, Bretland, Cumberland, and Valland. This cruise lasted from 985 to 988.
Olaf then sailed to the Scilly Isles (west of England). While there, Olaf talked to a Christian hermit who had the gift of prophecy. This prophet accurately foretold that: some of Olaf's men would mutiny, Olaf would be gravely wounded, and Olaf's would would heal in seven days. After these events happened, Olaf went back to the prophet. The prophet told Olaf about the Christian faith. Then Olaf and all his men were baptized.
In Fall, 988, Olaf sailed to England. He attended a thing there. This thing was called so that an earl's widow could decide who she would marry. The earl's widow was named Gyda and she was the daughter of King Olaf Kvaran of Dublin. A man called Alfvine sought Gyda's hand. However, Gyda chose Olaf after she met him. Alfvine then challenged Olaf to combat. They fought with twelve men each. Olaf was victorious and banished Alfvine and took his property. Olaf and Gyda were then married. They sometimes lived in England and sometimes in Ireland.
Once while Olaf was on an expecition in Ireland, he had gathered cattle and a peasant came to him and asked for the return of his cattle. Olaf told the peasant he could have them if he could pick them out. The peasant's dog then picked out the right cows. Olaf was so impressed that he asked to buy the dog. Instead, the peasant gave Olaf the dog, Vige, and Olaf gave the peasant a gold ring, in return.
In 995, Earl Haakon sent his friend Thorer Klakka to Dublin to see if this King Ole he had heard of could be Olaf Trygvason. Thorer Klakka arrived and spoke to Olaf. Olaf told him who he was. When Olaf heard of the enmity toward Jarl Haakon, he decided to go to Norway and aske the bondes to make him king.
On the way to Norway, Olaf stopped in the Orkneys. He forced Jarl Sigurd of Orkney and all his people to be baptized.
Thorer expected to lure Olaf into being trapped by Haakon. However, when Olaf arrived in Norway, the bondes were in arms against Haakon. When he arrived, Olaf found Haakon's son Erlend, fleeing. Olaf killed Erlend. The bondes then agreed to make Olaf their king and seek out Jarl Haakon.
Haakon was killed by his servant Kark who hoped for a reward from Olaf. However, Olaf had Kark beheaded, instead.
Olaf was then chosen to be King over all of Norway as Harald Fairhair had been. The underkings switched their allegiance from the Danish King to him.
In 996 and 997, Olaf made all of the people of Viken be baptized as Christians. If they resisted, he killed mutilated, or banished them. In 997, Olaf also made everyone in Agder get baptized.
Then Olaf went to Rogaland and called a thing there. He demanded that all present convert to Christianity. Three bondes stood up to speak against him, but each in turn: coughed and had trouble breathing; stammered; or became hoarse when he tried to speak. Thus, no one spoke in opposition and all Rogaland was baptized.
In Hordaland, the descendants or Hordakare had determined to oppose King Olaf. However, they met with him first and agreed to accept Christianity if Erling Skialgson could marry Olaf's sister, Astrid and Olaf would advance their family's fortunes. Olaf agreed to this deal.
Erling and Astrid were married in the summer of 997 and Olaf gave Erling the rule over all of the land north of the Sognefjord, and east to the Lidandisnes with the rights of an earl even though Erling would not accept a greater title than herse.
In the fall of 997, Olaf made all of the people of Sogn, the Fjord-districts, More, and Raumsdal be baptized. He then sailed to Hlader and razed the temple that was in Trondheim. In 998, Olaf made the people of Ringerike be baptized.
Olaf courted Sigrid the Haughty, but refused to marry her because she refused to be baptized. She vowed to take revenge on him.
Olaf burned gathered many alleged warlocks together in Tunsberg and burned them.
In 998, Olaf held a thing at Trondheim and asked all present to be baptized. They said that they would rathere fight. Since they had too great a force for Olaf to oppose, he backed down and said that he would come to their sacrifice and examine their customs. Then they would all decide which way to follow. When the time came, Olaf took hostages from the most prominent families and killed the cheif spokesperson, named Jarnskegge. Olaf then forced everyone in the Throndheim district to be baptized.
Olaf was required to marry Jarnskegge's daughter, Gudrun as payment for killing her father. Gudrun tried to kill Olaf on their wedding night. She left him the next morning.
King Olaf built the town of Nidaros (later Throndheim) and made his winter residence there.
In Spring, 999, Olaf went with a force to Halogaland and forced all of the people there to be baptized.
Olaf was very strong and and brave. He was also very generous to his friends. However, he was extremely cruel to his enemies when he was enraged. He: burnt some of them; had some torn in pieces by mad dogs; had others mutilated; and had still others cast down from high precipices. Thus, men either followed Olaf because they loved him greatly or did not oppose him because they feared his wrath.
Queen Thyra received great properties in Vindland as her bridal gift from King Burizleif. After she married Olaf, she complained because she did not have her property. She goaded Olaf to go to war to regain her property. In the summer of 1000, Olaf prepared to sail with an army.
Before he left for war, Olaf sent men and priests to Iceland who persuaded the Icelanders to be baptized. Olaf also sent Leif Eirikson to Greenland with a priest to proclaim Christianity there. (Lief's father, Eirik the Red, was not happy about this.)
After he arrived in Vindland, Olaf met King Burizleif. They agreed on the property and Olaf stayed there awhile, renewing old friendships. Unfortunately, Sigrid convinced King Svein to conspire with King Olaf and Jarl Eirik to attack and kill Olaf. As part of the plan, Earl Sigvalde went to Vindland and gained Olaf's confidence. Sigvalde managed to delay Olaf's departure until he heard that the Swedish and Danish forces were ready to attack. Olaf heard of Svein's plans, but Sigvalde assured him that Svein would not do anything. Sigvalde then said that he would join his forces with Olaf's and lead him on a safe passage, just in case. Instead, Sigvalde led Olaf into an ambush. Olaf's forces were greatly outnumbered. However, he and his men stayed and fought valiantly, killing many of their enemies. Ultimately, the enemies greater numbers gave them the victory, though. Most of Olaf's men were killed. Olaf leapt overboard and drowned, rather than let Jarl Eirik capture and kill him.
The kings and Earl Eirik kep their ships in hiding and let some of Olaf's forces pass, including Erling Skialgson's ship.
Kings Svein and Olaf and Eirik had agreed that they would each rule one-third of Norway after they killed Olaf.
