Harald Olafsson

Who was Harald Olafsson?

Harald Olafsson was a 13th-century King of Mann and the Isles. Haraldr was the son of Óláfr Guðrøðarson, King of Mann and the Isles, and a member of the Crovan dynasty of sea-kings. During Haraldr's 12-year reign, the dynasty's island-kingdom encompassed the Isle of Mann and parts of the Hebrides. At various times, Haraldr's predecessors were sometimes vassals of the Kings of Norway and those of England.

When he was 14 years old, Haraldr succeeded his father, on the latter's death in 1237. Upon taking power, Haraldr chose to live in the Hebridaen portion of his kingdom, and placed a certain Lochlann as governor of Mann. Hostilities soon broke out on Mann between Lochlann and Hebridean followers of Haraldr. When Haraldr returned to Mann Lochlann fled the island and drowned off the coast of Wales.

Some years later Haraldr was deposed from Mann by followers of the Hákon Hákonarson, King of Norway, because Haraldr refused to visit Hákon at his court in Norway. Harald made several unsuccessful attempts to reclaim Mann, before travelled to Norway and made amends with the Hákon.