Óláfsdrápa sænska was a skaldic poem composed by Óttarr svarti

Óttarr svarti

Óttarr svarti was an 11th century Icelandic skald. He was the court poet first of Óláfr skautkonungr of Sweden, then of Óláfr Haraldsson of Norway, the Swedish king Anund Jacob and finally of Cnut the Great of Denmark and England...

 in honour of the Swedish king Olof Skötkonung.

Óttarr spent some time with the Swedish king and worked eagerly for peace between Olof and the Norwegian king Olaf the Stout

Olaf II of Norway

Olaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...

.

The remaining fragments of Óláfsdrápa sænska are of some value for our knowledge of the life of Olof Skötkonung as it contradicts Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson

Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic historian, poet, and politician. He was twice elected lawspeaker at the Icelandic parliament, the Althing...

's depiction of Olof as a passive king. In Óláfsdrápa sænska Óttarr depicts Olof as having made glorious Viking expeditions in Eastern Europe.

External links

• Óláfsdrápa sœnska at Norrøne Tekster og Kvad