Olaf I of the Isle of Man

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Olav I was King of Man and the Isles possibly 1097-98 and 1103-53. His nickname was Morsel. He was born around 1080 and died 29 June 1153.

His father was king Godred Crovan. He succeeded, either together or after, his one or two brothers. Lagman who held the throne at least 1102-04 apparently was his (eldest) brother.

[edit] Reign

Norway's kings Magnus Barefoot and Sigurd Jorsalafare annexed the kingdom and caused disruption in successions. For forty years Olaf ruled then uncontested.

The kingdom of the Isles encompassed the Isle of Man and the Hebrides, extending from the Calf of Man to the Butt of Lewis. Olaf adopted the Latin style "rex insularum" in his charters, a translation of the Gaelic title "ri Innse Gall" (literally 'king of the foreigners' isles'), which had been in use since the late tenth century.

The islands which were under his rule were called the Sullr-eyjar (Sudreys or the south isles, in contradistinction to the Norsr-eyjar, or the "north isles," i.e. the Orkneys and Shetlands, and they consisted of the Hebrides, and of all the smaller western islands of Scotland, with Man.

took the title of Rex Manniae et Insularum (King of Man and the Isles).

Olaf I exercised considerable power, and according to the Chronicle, maintained such close alliance with the kings of Ireland and Scotland that no one ventured to disturb the Isles during his time (1113 - 1152).

In the 1130s the Church sent a small mission to establish the first bishopric on the Isle of Man, and appointed Wimund as the first Bishop. He soon after gave up his role as fisher of men, and became the hunter of men, embarking with a band of followers on a career of murder and looting throughout Scotland and the surrounding islands.

During the whole of the Scandinavian period the isles remained nominally under the suzerainty of the kings of Norway, but the Norwegians only occasionally asserted it with any vigour. Magnus Barfod about 1100 conquered the isles.

[edit] Marriage & Children

Olaf's first wife was Aufrica of Galloway, who bore him son and successor, king Godred IV.

His second wife was Ingeborg Haakonsdottir, daughter of Haakon, Earl of Orkneys. This marriage produced at least daughter Ragnhild, who married Somerled, king of Kintyre and the Isles.

Reginald III, Lagmann and Harald are mentioned as his other sons.

After half a century of reign, Olaf I was killed.