Vikings: Valhalla season 1 – who is Olaf Haraldsson?

By Jonathon Wilson
Published: February 25, 2022 (Last updated: January 18, 2023)
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Who is Olaf Haraldsson in Vikings: Valhalla season 1 - netflix series

This article, “who is Olaf Haraldsson” contains spoilers regarding Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla season 1.

Access the archive of recaps, reviews, and features for Vikings: Valhalla. 

Who is Olaf Haraldsson in Vikings: Valhalla season 1?

The older brother of Harald, and the current Prince of Norway, Olad Haraldsson is the first in line to become the next King of Norway. Passionate about his role and beliefs as a devout Christian Viking, he is also an ambitious, unforgiving, and selfish individual. With the physical strength to survive, Olaf Haraldsson showcases the ability to easily defend himself during battle.

What does Olaf Haraldsson do?

Due to his role as a Christian Viking, it goes without saying that Olaf joins the army of revenge against Aethelred the Unready, although he does voice his belief that he wants a mass conversion to occur. After Freydis murders the Christian Viking that raped her, Olaf is quick to his feet in an attempt to kill her. However, Haakan stops him, with the aim of a trial to happen the following morning.

As the route to battle progresses, there’s initial tension between him and Olaf. With speculation that Olaf suggests Leif leads the battle, with the hope that he will die. Once he plays his part in the battle, Olaf kidnaps Emma of Normandy’s children and threatens their lives unless she reveals where her husband hid his gold. His threats prove worthless, though, as King Canute saves her children.

In the aftermath of the battle, Harald learns that Olaf has a 12-year-old son, Magnus. With Harald aware that Olaf isn’t to be trusted, tension rises between the two brothers. Regardless, Olaf continues with his goal to become King and unite Norway, and he forms an alliance with Kare. Not only that, but he visits King Canute’s wife Queen Aelfgifu in an attempt to work things into his favour.

Towards the end of the first season of Vikings: Valhalla, Olaf reunites with Harald and they agree to fight together again. It becomes clear that Olaf believes Kare isn’t sane enough to be trusted. And as the battle starts, Olaf reveals he was purely using Kare to split Kattegat’s forces. Once Olaf saves Harald from Kare’s men, Olaf continues to fight in the battle, in which he stabs Leif’s lover Liv to death. When the battle ends, with Olaf the champion, he becomes the King of Norway. However, in the closing moments of the first season of Vikings: Valhalla, King Sweyn sails to Norway with his fleets with the intention of “death to all traitors”. As their arrival reaches word to Olaf and his men, Olaf’s men abandon him. And nearly as quickly as he became King, Olaf drops his rope and flees from the approaching danger.

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