Astrid Olofsdotter of Sweden

Astrid Olofsdotter (Norwegian: Astrid Olavsdatter; English: Aestrith) (died 1035) was the Queen Consort of King Olav II of Norway.[1]

This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by their given name, Astrid, and not as Olofsdotter.
Astrid Olofsdotter
Astrid as imagined by artist Christian Krohg in 1899
Queen consort of Norway
Tenure1019–1035
Died1035
SpouseOlav II of Norway
IssueWulfhild of Norway
HouseHouse of Munsö
FatherOlof Skötkonung of Sweden
MotherEdla

Biography

Astrid was born to King Olof Skötkonung of Sweden and his Obotritian mistress Edla. She was the half sister of King Anund Jacob of Sweden and sister of King Emund the Old of Sweden. It is said that she and her brother Emund were not treated well by their stepmother, Queen Estrid, and that they were sent away to foster parents. Astrid was sent to a man named Egil in Västergötland.[2]

In 1016, it had been decided that Norway and Sweden should come to more peaceful relations by a royal marriage alliance. Noblemen of both countries tried to arrange a marriage between King Olav of Norway and the half sister of Astrid, Princess Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden. King Olof of Sweden agreed at first but broke his promise. King Olav was supposed to have married Astrid's half sister, Olof Skötkonung's legitimate daughter Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden. Ingegerd was, however, after his father's wishes instead married to Yaroslav I the Wise, Grand Prince of Novgorod and Kiev.[3] Astrid was married to King Olav in Sarpsborg in 1019. Some sources claim that Astrid replaced Ingegerd by the wish of her father. Other sources claim that the marriage took place against the will of her father, by the cooperation of King Olav of Norway and the Swedish jarl Ragnvald Ulfsson.[4]

Astrid was described as beautiful, articulate and generous, and well liked by others. She was the mother of Wulfhild of Norway (1020–1070), wife of Ordulf, Duke of Saxony and the stepmother of King Magnus the Good, with whom she had a good relationship. In 1030, she was widowed when her husband was killed. She left Norway and settled in the Swedish court, where she had a high position. When her stepson Magnus visited Sigtuna on his way to claim the Norwegian throne, she gave him her official support and encouraged Sweden to do so as well.

Sources

See also

References
  1. Astrid norsk drottning (Historiska världar) Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Astrid Olavsdatter – utdypning (Store norske leksikon)
  3. Yaroslav the Wise (Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 5. 1993)
  4. Olav 2 Haraldsson Den Hellige – utdypning (Store norske leksikon)

Other sources
  • Lagerqvist, Lars O. Sverige och dess regenter under 1.000 år (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982) ISBN 91-0-075007-7

Succession
Astrid Olofsdotter of Sweden
Born: Unknown Died: 1035
Preceded by
Sigrid Storråda
(Queen consort)		 Royal Consort of Norway
(Queen consort)
1019–1035 		Succeeded by
Emma of Normandy
(Queen consort)
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