Olafr 'the Lewd' of Carrick
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Olafr Björnsson, nicknamed 'the Lewd', was the Chief of Carrick under the Kingdom of Mann from 879-902 and Chief of Galloway from 900-902.

Early Life

Olafr was born on February 6, 876, to Björn Ketillsson and his wife Asta. He was the middle child of his two brothers, Ketill and Sæmundr.

Björn became King of Mann in 878 following the Manx Independence War. When he died nine months later, his sons were deemed too young by the council to succeed him, and the throne was given to their uncle Helgi Ketillsson instead. Olafr inherited the Chiefdom of Carrick, and his brother Ketill inherited the Chiefdom of Galloway.

After their father's death, Ketill and Olafr were largely raised by their mother Asta and their aunt Jorunn. Both brothers were also heavily influenced by the elders of their respective tribes during their upbringing to distrust each other, due to a longstanding rivalry between them.

Duel with Ketill

Ketill was appointed to the position of Spymaster of Mann in 888 by his uncle, King Helgi. This intensified the rivalry between Ketill and Olafr, as Olafr had ambitions to hold the position himself. Ketill soon began using the kingdom's spy networks in an attempt to undermine Olafr. Olafr learned of Ketill's plans in 892 through information received from a captured spy. He challenged Ketill to a duel, and on August 21 defeated and killed him. For his bravery during the combat, Olafr was appointed Marshal of Mann by Helgi.

Following Ketill's death, Olafr attempted to claim the Chiefdom of Galloway for his own, as Ketill's younger brother. He was outmaneuvered by the Queen, Gurli Mikli, who convinced the tribal leaders of Galloway to support her son Rikulfr as their next chief.

Manx Succession Crisis of 896

In February 896, Rikulfr (now King of Mann) was in the field during a campaign against Cil Dara, when he suffered a fatal heart attack and died. Rikulfr had not designated an heir, and his only son Geirr was five years old at the time. Olafr, his brother Sæmundr, and Rikulfr's brother Froði were the only adult males of the Flatnefr line at the time. Both Froði and Olafr claimed the throne, but in the end the council supported Froði's claim, again largely thanks to the influence Gurli Mikli, and he was crowned king in December 896.

Murder of Geirr Rikulfrsson

Olafr still coveted the Chiefdom of Galloway, which he viewed as having been stolen from him in 892 by Gurli's machinations. In January 900, he marched his army south into Galloway, ostensibly to join King Froði's effort in the Manx Subjugation of Jorvik. After making camp for the night outside the tribe, Olafr's forces entered the village under cover of darkness, kidnapped several children from important tribal families, and murdered Chief Geirr. What remained of the Galloway tribe the next day had no choice but to accept Olafr as their new chief.

Imprisonment and Death

During the Conquest of Connacht, Froði was wounded at the Battle of Tuam and unable to lead the army. He placed his brother Arni in command. This decision enraged Olafr, who felt that as Marshal, the honor should have been his. After the war, Arni began pressuring Froði to replace Olafr as Marshal, insisting that he could not be trusted. When Froði refused, and failed to act against Olafr following his usurpation of Galloway, Arni decided to kill Froði and take the throne for himself.

With the help of his Spymaster, Olafr Þorsteinnsson, Arni located three men from Galloway willing to testify that they had witnessed Olafr murder Geirr, which was by law sufficient evidence to imprison him. Arni believed that Olafr would refuse a summons to court, and would resist if the army was sent to bring him into custody. Instead, Arni allowed Þorsteinnsson to spread rumors in Carrick that he had fallen deathly ill and was preparing to hand the throne to Refil, anticipating that Olafr would travel to Mann and attempt to take the throne himself. The plot worked as expected; Olafr arrived in Mann in January 901, and was arrested shortly after. He was thrown into the dungeons, where he would die two years later.

In Literature

Wifrið Þakespear's play Olafr and Ketill featured Olafr Björnsson as one of the titular characters.

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