Battle of Okinawa, (April 1–June 21, 1945), World War II battle fought between U.S. and Japanese forces on Okinawa, the largest of the Ryukyu Islands. Okinawa is located just 350 miles (563 km) south of Kyushu, and its capture was regarded as a vital precursor to a ground invasion of the Japanese

Gushiken Yoko is a Japanese professional boxer, and a World Boxing Association (WBA) junior flyweight world champion. (Read Gene Tunney’s 1929 Britannica essay on boxing.) After a promising amateur career, Gushiken turned professional in 1974. He won the first eight bouts of his pro career,

Mandan: The Okipa was the most complex of these; a four-day ritual requiring lengthy preparation and self-sacrifice by participants, it was an elaboration of the Sun Dance common to many Plains tribes. The Okipa had at least three equally important purposes: to commemorate the tribe’s divine salvation…

Southeast Asian arts: The Philippines: The traditional motifs (okir) used in wood carving by the Maranao peoples on Mindanao were replicated in the 20th and 21st centuries in their brass wares. The Maranao were the largest manufacturers of brass wares, an art that can be traced to early Chinese contacts before the arrival…

Ōkita Saburo was a Japanese economist and government official who was instrumental in developing the plan that doubled Japan’s national income in less than 10 years during the 1960s. After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo), Ōkita in 1937 joined the Ministry of

Bong Joon-Ho: Feature film director: environmentalism and animal rights with Okja (2017), about a girl’s relationship with her giant genetically modified pig. It opened at Cannes, where it competed for the top award. Bong’s next film, the darkly comic horror movie Gisaengchung (2019; Parasite), took aim at the cruelty of social and financial inequity with…

Oklahoma, constituent state of the United States of America. It borders Colorado and Kansas to the north, Missouri and Arkansas to the east, Texas to the south and west, and New Mexico to the west of its Panhandle region. In its land and its people, Oklahoma is a state of contrast and of the

Oklahoma State University, public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S., a part of Oklahoma’s State System of Higher Education. The university also operates branch campuses in Okmulgee and Oklahoma City and is part of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa (formerly

Oklahoma State University, public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S., a part of Oklahoma’s State System of Higher Education. The university also operates branch campuses in Okmulgee and Oklahoma City and is part of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa (formerly

Oklahoma City, city, Canadian, Cleveland, and Oklahoma counties, capital of Oklahoma state, U.S., and seat (1907) of Oklahoma county. It lies along the North Canadian River near the centre of the state, about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Tulsa. The city site, at an elevation of about 1,200 feet

Oklahoma City bombing, terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., on April 19, 1995, in which a massive homemade bomb composed of more than two tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil concealed in a rental truck exploded, heavily damaging the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. A

Oklahoma City: History: The Oklahoma City National Memorial, established in 1997, encompasses an outdoor memorial, a museum, and the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism.

Oklahoma City Thunder, American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City that plays in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise was based in Seattle for the first 41 years of its existence, during which, as the Seattle SuperSonics, it won three

Oklahoma City Zoological Park, zoo founded in 1904 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., which maintains one of the finest collections of antelopes and other horned ungulates in North America. The 110-acre (45-hectare) zoo has more than 2,000 specimens of some 500 species, among which are a herd of

Oklahoma State University, public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Stillwater, Oklahoma, U.S., a part of Oklahoma’s State System of Higher Education. The university also operates branch campuses in Okmulgee and Oklahoma City and is part of Oklahoma State University-Tulsa (formerly

Oklahoma City, city, Canadian, Cleveland, and Oklahoma counties, capital of Oklahoma state, U.S., and seat (1907) of Oklahoma county. It lies along the North Canadian River near the centre of the state, about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Tulsa. The city site, at an elevation of about 1,200 feet

Oklahoma: United States settlement and statehood: Known as Oklahoma Territory, the new area came to include, through further land runs, about half of the former Indian domain. Then its settlers, many of whom earned the name “Sooner” for entering the area before receiving official permission, sought union of the two territories in statehood.…

Oklahoma!, American musical first opened on Broadway in 1943, written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II—it was the first of 11 musicals written by the iconic team. Oklahoma! follows the events surrounding two love triangles between white settlers in the

Oklahoma!, American musical film, released in 1955, that was based on the Broadway musical of the same name (1943) written by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist/librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The love of two cowboys for their sweethearts is tested in the days before the Oklahoma territory’s

Gene Autry was an American actor, singer, entrepreneur, one of Hollywood’s premier singing cowboys, and the best-selling country and western recording artist of the 1930s and early ’40s. Autry, who grew up in Texas and Oklahoma, had aspired to be a singer since before he acquired a guitar at the

U.S. state flag consisting of a blue field (background) with a bison-hide shield, an olive branch, and a calumet (Native American peace pipe) above the name of the state in white lettering.Oklahoma adopted its first state flag in 1911. The red background of the flag referred to the Native American

University of Oklahoma, public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. It is part of Oklahoma’s State System of Higher Education. The main campus comprises 14 colleges, including those of architecture, fine arts, business, education, engineering, law, and arts and

Fox Islands: …meters]) on Unalaska Island and Okmok Caldera (3,520 feet [1,073 meters]) on Umnak Island. The chain is sparsely populated, with fishing as the primary economic activity.

Okmulgee, city, seat (1907) of Okmulgee county, east-central Oklahoma, U.S. It lies near the Deep Fork of the North Canadian River, south of Tulsa. Its name (meaning “bubbling water”) comes from a Creek Indian town in Alabama. It was the capital of the Creek Nation from 1868 until Oklahoma achieved

Lagos: …city’s population is centred on Lagos Island, in Lagos Lagoon, on the Bight of Benin in the Gulf of Guinea. Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city and one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa.

Benue-Congo languages: Oko and Ukaan-Akpes: These two groups together consist of three languages spoken by relatively small numbers of people living near the confluence of the Niger and Benue rivers.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian-American economist who served as the seventh director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) from 2021. She was the first woman and the first African to head the WTO. Okonjo-Iweala received an A.B. degree in economics (1976) from Harvard University and a

Hegelianism: The work of Marx: …aus dem Jahre 1844 (1932; Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844), Marx had enunciated a general critique of the Hegelian dialectic that revealed its a priori nature, which, in Marx’s view, was mystifying and alienated inasmuch as Hegel did nothing but sanction, by a method inverted with respect to real…

Nnedi Okorafor is a Nigerian American author whose science fiction and fantasy novels, short stories, and comics for both children and adults express her concepts of Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism. Okorafor often promotes young Black girls as superheroes in her work, and her writing

Nnedi Okorafor is a Nigerian American author whose science fiction and fantasy novels, short stories, and comics for both children and adults express her concepts of Africanfuturism and Africanjujuism. Okorafor often promotes young Black girls as superheroes in her work, and her writing

Andrei Okounkov is a Russian mathematician who was awarded a Fields Medal in 2006 “for his contributions bridging probability, representation theory and algebraic geometry.” Okounkov received a doctorate in mathematics from Moscow State University (1995) and held positions at the Russian Academy of

Okavango River, fourth longest river system in southern Africa, running basically southeastward for 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from central Angola, where it is known as the Kubango, to the Kalahari (desert) in northern Botswana, where the river terminates in an immense inland delta known as the

Ozolua was an African king, the greatest warrior-king of Benin (in modern Nigeria). Ozolua was able to extend the boundaries of Benin from the Niger River in the east virtually to Lagos in the west. Tradition calls him the first ruler in West Africa to have had contact with the Portuguese explorers

vestibulo-ocular reflex: …works in conjunction with the optokinetic reflex (OKR), which is a feedback mechanism that ensures that the eye moves in the same direction and at almost the same speed as an image. Together, VOR and OKR keep the image stationary on the retina, with VOR compensating for fast movements and…

okra, (Abelmoschus esculentus), herbaceous hairy annual plant of the mallow family (Malvaceae) and its edible fruit. It is native to the tropics of the Eastern Hemisphere and is widely cultivated or naturalized in the tropics and subtropics of the Western Hemisphere. Only the tender unripe fruit is

baseball: Fantasy baseball: …invented in 1980 by author Dan Okrent and a group of baseball-minded friends who regularly met at the Manhattan restaurant Le Rotisserie Francais. They formed the core of the first rotisserie league. Unlike APBA, which is based upon a prior season’s performance, rotisserie baseball and its later Internet-based fantasy variants…

Ben Okri is a Nigerian novelist, short-story writer, and poet who used magic realism to convey the social and political chaos in the country of his birth. Okri attended Urhobo College in Warri, Nigeria, and the University of Essex in Colchester, England. His first novels, Flowers and Shadows (1980)

Okrika, town and port, Rivers state, southern Nigeria. It lies on the north bank of the Bonny River and on Okrika Island, 35 miles (56 km) upstream from the Bight of Benin. The town can be reached by vessels of a draft of 29 feet (9 meters) or less. Formerly a small fishing village of the Ijo

Georgia: Rose Revolution: …noted among defense officials was Irakli Okruashvili, an opponent of the administration and its onetime defense minister. During his tenure Okruashvili had made public his observation of graft so widespread among armed forces officials that the army itself had fallen into a poor state of order. In 2007 he established…

Oktoberfest, annual festival in Munich, Germany, held over a two-week period and ending on the first Sunday in October. The festival originated on October 12, 1810, in celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von

Max Hussarek, Freiherr Hussarek von Heinlein: …manifesto of Emperor Charles (Oktobermanifest) proclaiming the federalization of Austria, but his effort was wrecked by Hungarian opposition. A short time after this last attempt at reconstruction, Hussarek resigned his ministry (October 27, 1918). He later served as president of provincial administration for the Red Cross in Vienna and…

oktōēchos, (music), group of eight melody types associated with early Byzantine liturgical chant. See

Palatine Chapel, private chapel associated with a residence, especially of an emperor. Many of the early Christian emperors built private churches in their palaces—often more than one—as described in literary sources of the Byzantine period. Such structures in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Tur.)

Oktyabrsky, city, Bashkortostan, western Russia, on the right bank of the Ik River. Founded as a settlement in 1937, when extraction of oil began nearby in the Volga-Ural oil and natural-gas region, it was incorporated in 1946. A decline in petroleum production since the 1950s resulted in a switch

October Manifesto, (Oct. 30 [Oct. 17, Old Style], 1905), in Russian history, document issued by the emperor Nicholas II that in effect marked the end of unlimited autocracy in Russia and ushered in an era of constitutional monarchy. Threatened by the events of the Russian Revolution of 1905,

Little Octobrist, member of a Communist organization for children aged nine and under, closely associated with the Komsomol (q.v.) for youth aged 14 to

Little Octobrist, member of a Communist organization for children aged nine and under, closely associated with the Komsomol (q.v.) for youth aged 14 to

The Narrow Road to the Deep North, travel account written by Japanese haiku master Bashō as Oku no hosomichi (“The Narrow Road to Oku”), published in 1694. This poetic travelogue, considered one of the greatest works of classical Japanese literature, was begun in 1689 when Bashō sold his home

Ōkubo Toshimichi was a Japanese politician and one of the samurai leaders who in 1868 overthrew the Tokugawa family, which had ruled Japan for 264 years, and restored the government of the emperor. After the Meiji Restoration he spent much of his career helping to establish Japan as a progressive

Japanese literature: Late Tokugawa period (c. 1770–1867): poets such as Ryōkan, Ōkuma Kotomichi, and Tachibana Akemi proved that the tanka was not limited to descriptions of the sights of nature or disappointed love but could express joy over fish for dinner or wrath at political events. Some poets who felt that the tanka did not provide…

Ōkuma Shigenobu was a politician who twice served as prime minister of Japan (1898; 1914–16). He organized the Rikken Kaishintō (“Progressive Party”) and founded Waseda University. After receiving a conventional education, Ōkuma turned to Western studies and took the then-unusual step of learning

Okumura Masanobu was a painter and publisher of illustrated books who introduced innovations in woodblock printing and print-design technique in Japan. Masanobu taught himself painting and print designs by studying the works of Torii Kiyonobu (died 1729), thus starting his career as Torii’s

Okumura Masanobu was a painter and publisher of illustrated books who introduced innovations in woodblock printing and print-design technique in Japan. Masanobu taught himself painting and print designs by studying the works of Torii Kiyonobu (died 1729), thus starting his career as Torii’s

Katsu Shintarō was a Japanese actor whose portrayal of Zatoichi, a blind master swordsman, in a series of motion pictures and on television brought him fame and influenced similar films in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Katsu was perhaps the most popular star in Japanese screen history, starring in 25

Arthur M. Okun: …of the widely cited “Okun’s Law,” which stipulated that for every 3 percent rise in the rate of economic growth above the economy’s long-term potential growth rate, unemployment would decrease by 1 percent. But during the turbulent 1970s, when stagflation (a stagnating economy with inflation) afflicted the country, the…

Arthur M. Okun was an American economist who served as chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers (1968–69). After obtaining a B.S. (1949) and a Ph.D. (1956) in economics from Columbia University, Okun taught at Yale University (1961–69). He was, however, on leave from Yale for most of his

Arthur M. Okun was an American economist who served as chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers (1968–69). After obtaining a B.S. (1949) and a Ph.D. (1956) in economics from Columbia University, Okun taught at Yale University (1961–69). He was, however, on leave from Yale for most of his

Okuni was a Japanese dancer who is credited as being the founder of the Kabuki art form. Although many extant contemporary sources such as paintings, drawings, and diaries have shed light on Okuni’s life, the accuracy of such primary sources has been difficult to establish. Very little is known

Ōkuninushi, in the mythology of the Izumo branch of Shintō in Japan, the central hero, a son-in-law of the storm god, Susanoo. Before becoming “Master of the Great Land,” Ōkuninushi underwent a series of ordeals, mainly at the hands of his many mischievous brothers. His compassionate advice to the

Ōkuninushi, in the mythology of the Izumo branch of Shintō in Japan, the central hero, a son-in-law of the storm god, Susanoo. Before becoming “Master of the Great Land,” Ōkuninushi underwent a series of ordeals, mainly at the hands of his many mischievous brothers. His compassionate advice to the

Ōkura Kihachirō was the founder of one of the largest zaibatsu, or gigantic industrial-financial combines that dominated the Japanese economy throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Abandoning his traditional family business, Ōkura became a weapons dealer in the turbulent period

East Timor: Geography: Its chief town, Pante Makasar, is a port and has an airport. The hilly offshore island of Atauro, which also has an airport, has a population occupied mainly with fishing. The currency is the U.S. dollar.

Kaigetsudō Ando was a Japanese painter of the Edo (Tokugawa) period who was an early practitioner of the genre known as ukiyo-e (“pictures of the floating world”). Among other subjects, these pictures provided scenes from the pleasure quarter, or entertainment district, of such cities as Edo or

Central Asian arts: Arctic regions: …knowledge are assigned to the Okvik culture, which some scholars date to the pre-Christian era, but which others assign to its early centuries. Okvik art is concerned primarily with the representation of the human figure, differing in that respect from the contemporary or slightly later Old Bering Sea culture, where…

Central Asian arts: Arctic regions: The so-called Okvik Madonna (University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks) is perhaps the most expressive of these statuettes.

Wehrmacht: Creation and structure of the Wehrmacht: The Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (OKW; Wehrmacht High Command) was designed to exercise command and control of the three branches of the Wehrmacht—the Heer (army), the Luftwaffe (air force), and the Kriegsmarine (navy)—each of which had its own high command.

Mbembe: …agents of social control, the okwa, the most powerful, has certain authority over women and authority to issue orders in such matters as public works. Members of the okwa also select the village chief.

Japanese art: Painting: …formed under the genius of Maruyama Ōkyo might be summarily described as lyrical realism. Yet his penchant for nature studies, whether of flora and fauna or human anatomy, and his subtle incorporation of perspective and shading techniques learned from Western examples perhaps better qualify him to be noted as the…

Ol Doinyo Lengai, active volcano, northern Tanzania, East Africa, located at the southern end of Lake Natron. It rises to an elevation of 9,442 feet (2,878 metres) and is one of the many volcanoes situated along the East African Rift System. Ol Doinyo Lengai (“Mountain of God”) contains basalts

northern white rhinoceros: …population, two females, resides at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Most researchers divide white rhinoceroses into two subspecies—the northern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) and the southern white rhinoceros (C. simum simum)—but some, citing differences in comparative anatomy and DNA, suggest that the

Frank Sinatra was an American singer and motion-picture actor who, through a long career and a very public personal life, became one of the most sought-after performers in the entertainment industry; he is often hailed as the greatest American singer of 20th-century popular music. Sinatra’s father,

Wu-Tang Clan: Prelude: …his cousins Gary Grice and Russell Jones in the housing projects on Staten Island, New York. They watched kung fu movies, participated in rap battles with other local MCs (a term for rappers) and studied the teachings of the Five Percent Nation, an offshoot of the Nation of Islam. In…

Paul Robeson: Stardom on the stage and screen: …his incomparable performance of “Ol’ Man River.” The role of the boat’s stevedore had been expanded by composers Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II from the musical’s source material—Edna Ferber’s 1926 novel—specifically for Robeson, and the lyrics of “Ol’ Man River” had been written as Joe’s statement against racism…

Olkhon Island, island in Lake Baikal, administered as part of Irkutsk oblast (province), east-central Russia. It is separated from the lake’s western shore by the straits of Olkhon and the Maloye More (Little Sea). Its area is 280 square miles (730 square km), and its highest point, Mount Zhima,

African literature: Yoruba: Afolabi Olabimtan wrote a realistic novel, Kekere ekun (1967; “Leopard Boy”), a heavily Christian work. Akinwunmi Isola wrote O le ku (1974; “Fearful Incidents”), a realistic novel.

Santalales: Families: The taxonomically contentious Olacaceae is another tropical woody family, with 14 to 30 genera and about 100 to 165 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas. Although many members may not appear parasitic (they are considered hemiparasites), they have haustorial connections to their hosts. Members of Olacaceae produce rather…

Mbari Mbayo Club: Jinadu Oladepo created brass figures and bracelets and pendants that were worn by the Oshogbo artists as a kind of insignia. Senabu Oloyede and Kikelomo Oladepo both worked in cloth dyeing (traditionally reserved for women) and used the traditional indigo dye, producing works contemporary in…

Mbari Mbayo Club: Senabu Oloyede and Kikelomo Oladepo both worked in cloth dyeing (traditionally reserved for women) and used the traditional indigo dye, producing works contemporary in style.

Indiana Pacers: Despite losing star guard Victor Oladipo to a season-ending injury in January 2019, the Pacers rallied to another playoff berth in 2018–19. The team again made the playoffs in 2019–20. That feat was followed by three losing seasons during which the team never won more than 35 games per…

Olaf was the king of Sweden (c. 980–1022) whose apparent efforts to impose Christianity were frustrated by the leading non-Christian Swedish chieftains. The son of King Erik the Victorious and Gunhild, the sister of Bolesław, the Christian king of Poland, Olaf opposed the development of a strong

Olav V was the king of Norway (1957–91), succeeding his father, King Haakon VII. Olav was educated at the Norwegian military academy and at the University of Oxford in England. As crown prince he was a celebrated athlete and sportsman, excelling at ski jumping and yachting. He won a gold medal in

Olaf Sihtricson was the king of the Danish kingdoms of Northumbria and of Dublin. He was the son of Sihtric, king of Deira, and was related to the English king Aethelstan. When Sihtric died about 927 Aethelstan annexed Deira, and Olaf took refuge in Scotland and in Ireland until 937, when he was

Olaf Guthfrithson was the king of Northumbria and of Dublin. Olaf was the son of Guthfrith (or Godfrey), king of Dublin. He is often confused with Olaf Sihtricson. Olaf Guthfrithson became king of Dublin in 934 and was in England in 937, where he took part in the Battle of Brunanburh against

Olaf Tryggvason was a Viking king of Norway (995–c. 1000), much celebrated in Scandinavian literature, who made the first effective effort to Christianize Norway. Olaf, the great-grandson of the Norwegian king Harald I Fairhair and the son of Tryggvi Olafsson, a chieftain in southeastern Norway,

Olaf II Haraldsson ; feast day July 29) was the first effective king of all Norway and the country’s patron saint, who achieved a 12-year respite from Danish domination and extensively increased the acceptance of Christianity. His religious code of 1024 is considered to represent Norway’s first

Olaf IV Haakonsson was the king of Denmark (as Olaf III, 1376–87) and of Norway (1380–87). He was the son of Haakon VI and of Margaret (Margrete), daughter of Valdemar IV, king of Denmark. After Valdemar’s death in 1375, Olaf was elected (1376) king of Denmark and succeeded his father as king of

Olaf III Haraldsson was the king of Norway (1066–93) who guided the nation through one of its most prosperous periods, maintaining an extended peace rare in medieval Norwegian history. He also strengthened the organization of the Norwegian church. A son of King Harald III Hardraade, Olaf fought in

Olaf IV Haakonsson was the king of Denmark (as Olaf III, 1376–87) and of Norway (1380–87). He was the son of Haakon VI and of Margaret (Margrete), daughter of Valdemar IV, king of Denmark. After Valdemar’s death in 1375, Olaf was elected (1376) king of Denmark and succeeded his father as king of

Olaf (IV) Magnusson was the king of Norway (1103–15), the illegitimate son of King Magnus III Barefoot. On the death of his father in 1103, he was proclaimed king jointly with his elder brothers, Eystein I and Sigurd, who administered the young Olaf’s share of the kingdom until his early death. He

Olaf (IV) Magnusson was the king of Norway (1103–15), the illegitimate son of King Magnus III Barefoot. On the death of his father in 1103, he was proclaimed king jointly with his elder brothers, Eystein I and Sigurd, who administered the young Olaf’s share of the kingdom until his early death. He

Olaf Sihtricson was the king of the Danish kingdoms of Northumbria and of Dublin. He was the son of Sihtric, king of Deira, and was related to the English king Aethelstan. When Sihtric died about 927 Aethelstan annexed Deira, and Olaf took refuge in Scotland and in Ireland until 937, when he was

Olaf III Haraldsson was the king of Norway (1066–93) who guided the nation through one of its most prosperous periods, maintaining an extended peace rare in medieval Norwegian history. He also strengthened the organization of the Norwegian church. A son of King Harald III Hardraade, Olaf fought in

Olaf Sihtricson was the king of the Danish kingdoms of Northumbria and of Dublin. He was the son of Sihtric, king of Deira, and was related to the English king Aethelstan. When Sihtric died about 927 Aethelstan annexed Deira, and Olaf took refuge in Scotland and in Ireland until 937, when he was

Olaf was the king of Sweden (c. 980–1022) whose apparent efforts to impose Christianity were frustrated by the leading non-Christian Swedish chieftains. The son of King Erik the Victorious and Gunhild, the sister of Bolesław, the Christian king of Poland, Olaf opposed the development of a strong

Ivar the Boneless: …recorded as the companion of Olaf the White, known to history as the Danish king of Dublin, in several battles on the island of Ireland during the 850s. Ivar and Olaf formed short-lived alliances with certain Irish rulers, including Cerball, king of Ossory, and campaigned and plundered in the county…

Olaf Tryggvason was a Viking king of Norway (995–c. 1000), much celebrated in Scandinavian literature, who made the first effective effort to Christianize Norway. Olaf, the great-grandson of the Norwegian king Harald I Fairhair and the son of Tryggvi Olafsson, a chieftain in southeastern Norway,

Olav V was the king of Norway (1957–91), succeeding his father, King Haakon VII. Olav was educated at the Norwegian military academy and at the University of Oxford in England. As crown prince he was a celebrated athlete and sportsman, excelling at ski jumping and yachting. He won a gold medal in

Haakon VI Magnusson: …Danish throne for his son Olaf V (1370–87) by placating Danish magnates fearful of Hanseatic intervention. Olaf also succeeded to the Norwegian throne on Haakon’s death (1380), but he died in 1387 at the age of 17, leaving his mother (Haakon’s widow), Margaret, to rule in both Denmark and Norway.

Olaf II Haraldsson ; feast day July 29) was the first effective king of all Norway and the country’s patron saint, who achieved a 12-year respite from Danish domination and extensively increased the acceptance of Christianity. His religious code of 1024 is considered to represent Norway’s first

Icelandic literature: The sagas: …oldest saga is the fragmentary Ólafs saga helga (“Saga of St. Olaf”), written about 1180. In form it is a hagiographic narrative, laying emphasis on miracles worked through the agency of the saint. It was probably written in the monastery of Þingeyrar, which played an important part in cultural life…