Olof Skötkonung

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Olof Skötkonung was a 10th century Swedish king, son of Eric the Victorious. He and his father are generally counted as the first kings of Sweden.

One famous episode of his life is the battle of Svolder in c. 1000 AD, where he and his Danish ally Sweyn Forkbeard defeated the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason, who had influenced the rise of Christianity in his homeland.

Olof may not have been the first king of Sweden to be baptized, but he was the first one to remain Christian until his death. He was most likely baptized by Sigfrid, an English missionary. While most of the populace remained pagan despite his conversion, he did found the first diocese of Sweden, in Skara 1014 AD.

He is also notable for coining the first coins in Swedish history, and for founding the city of Sigtuna. All in all, he was very important in the process in which Sweden turned into an modern European state.