Olaf Cuaran (Olaf Kvaaran) (d.
981), was also known as
Olaf Sitricsson. In
Irish he is known as
Amlaíb Cuaran. His nickname,
cuaran, means "sandals".
Sigtrygg Caech, Olaf's father, ruled
Deira, a part of
Northumbria, until his death in
927. Upon Sigtrygg's death,
Athelstan annexed Deira and Olaf fled to
Scotland. Until
937, he spent time in Scotland and
Ireland and, according to some accounts, participated in the
Battle of Brunanburh as part of the defeated alliance.
Among his wives was
Gormflaith, daughter of
Murchad mac Finn, King of Leinster, and future wife of
Brian Boru. She was mother of his successor,
Sigtrygg Silkbeard.
Athelstan died in
939 and
Olaf Guthfrithson, king of
Dublin at the time, invaded Northumbria and compelled
Edmund, Athelstan's successor, to surrender Deira. When Olaf Guthfrithson died in
942, Olaf Cuaran succeeded him, finally recovering the throne of his father in addition to the throne of Dublin. Two years later, however, Edmund expelled him from Northumbria and Olaf was left with only Dublin.
Olaf managed to regain his lands in Northumbria in
949, only to be expelled again in
952, this time by
Erik Bloodaxe.
In
980, Olaf suffered a massive defeat at the
Battle of Tara, which destroyed the power of the
Norse in Ireland. He went to
Iona and probably died there in
981. He was succeeded by his son
Glun Iarainn ("Iron Knee"), son of his wife Donnflaith.
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