This rather abstractly painted artwork, by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg (c. 1852–1925), was inspired by the storied life of the historical figure, Olaf Haraldsson (c. 995-1030), known as Saint Olaf and King Olaf II of Norway (r. 1015-1028). In particular, it depicts the main parental and mentoring figures in the early life of the king. A brief summary of Olaf’s family would be helpful for understanding the intricate relationships of the people in the scene.
Olaf Haraldsson was the son of Harald of Grenland and Ásta in Norway. They were a noble family with links to the Fairhair or Finehair Dynasty, named after King Harald Finehair of Norway (r. 860-940). Olaf’s father, Harald of Grenland, was life-long friends with a man named Rane (or Hrani) the Widely-Traveled. This Hrani aligned himself closely with Olaf’s family and their political interests. The family’s status quo, however, was thrown into chaos when Harald was murdered around 995, the death occurring shortly before Olaf’s birth. Hrani the Widely-Travelled was said to have helped Ásta and young Olaf escape their enemies, and he remained allied to the family when Ásta remarried. Her new husband was Sigurd Syr (sometimes spelled Sigurth Syr), ruler of Hringaríki. These figures—Olaf Haraldsson, his mother Ásta, his stepfather Sigurd Syr, and the loyal family friend Hrani the Widely-Travelled—are the characters featured in the artwork above. Snorri Sturluson (c. 1179-1241), an Icelandic politician, scholar, and prolific author, described the close relationship of these people in his Heimskringla (History of the Kings of Norway). He wrote, “Oláf, the son of Harald of Grenland, was brought up in the establishment of Sigurth Syr, his stepfather, and his mother Ásta. Hrani the Widely-Travelled lived with Ásta and was Oláf Haraldsson’s foster father” (Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla, Saint Olaf’s Saga, chapter 1).
At Ásta’s encouragement, Olaf Haraldsson and Hrani the Widely-Travelled grew to have a close bond. Going above and beyond in his role as the young noble’s foster father, Hrani served as a mentor and guardian during Olaf’s early adventures. There was no shortage of adventuring opportunities at that time, for a massive wave of Viking activity was targeting England in the first decades of the 11th century. Teenage Olaf joined in on the trend, reportedly reaching the shores of England around 1009. During that transformational journey, Olaf was accompanied by his right-hand man, Hrani, and a fleet of ships crewed by a veteran band of loyal warriors. For the next years, Olaf operated as a Viking and a mercenary leader in the regions of England, Spain and Normandy, gaining great wealth and also acquiring a valuable knowledge of war and politics. Around 1015, Olaf—now a well-traveled, wealthy, and militarily-experienced Viking warlord—finally returned to his homeland to seize the Norwegian throne, which had been left vacant since the death of King Olaf Tryggvason (r. 995-1000). On this return to his home and the announcement of his ambitions, Snorri Sturluson wrote:
“Now on a certain day, when King Oláf had not been there so very long, he asked King Sigurth [Syr] his stepfather, his mother Ásta, and his foster father Hrani to have a private conference with him. Then he spoke as follows…Now I shall disclose to you what has been in my mind for a long time, which is that I mean to regain my paternal inheritance; nor shall I go to see either the king of Denmark or the king of Sweden to ask them any favor, although they have for some time called their own what was the heritage after Harald Finehair. Rather, to tell you the truth, do I intend to seek my patrimony at the point of the sword…” (Snorri Sturluson, Heimskringla, Saint Olaf’s Saga, chapter 35).
It should be noted, Christian Krohg was not explicitly clear about any specific time or setting for his painted meeting between Olaf, Ásta, Sigurd, and Hrani. Nevertheless, based on the ages of the figures and the seemingly intense and serious nature of the discussion, it is likely that the artwork depicts Olaf’s revelation to his family that he intended to become the king of Norway. As the opening sentence of the article gave away, the nobleman’s campaign for the throne was successful and he became King Olaf II of Norway (r. 1015-1028).
Written by C. Keith Hansley
Sources:
- Heimskringla, by Snorri Sturluson and translated by Lee Hollander. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1964, 2018.
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle translated by Benjamin Thorpe in 1861 and republished by Cambridge University Press, 2012.
- The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester translated by Thomas Forester. London: Petter and Galpin, originally published 1854.
- https://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/collection/object/NG.K_H.1957.0067
