Rex_Perpetuus_Norvegiae

Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae

Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae

Term for King Olaf II of Norway


Rex Perpetuus Norvegiæ (Latin, i.e. Norway's Eternal King) is a term for King Olaf II of Norway, also known as Saint Olaf (Olav den hellige).[1]

Illustration for Olav den helliges saga (1899)

Background

In written sources, the term Perpetuus rex Norvegiæ appears from the second half of the 12th century in Historia Norvegiæ.[2]

Olaf's great-nephew, King Magnus III of Norway and of Mann and the Isles, reportedly was the first king known to use the Norwegian lion in his standard although Snorri Sturluson is the only source for this. The first instance of the lion bearing an axe is found in a seal of King Eric II of Norway (1285). The axe represents Olaf II as 'martyr and saint'.[3][4]

See also


References

  1. Claus Krag. "Olav 2 Haraldsson Den Hellige". Norsk biografisk leksikon. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  2. "Historia Norvegiæ". Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  3. Leif Inge Ree Petersen. "Olav den hellige". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  4. "The National arms of Norway". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved July 15, 2016.




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