Together with his mother, as a child Olav Trygvason had fled from his rivals for the Norwegian crown. After growing up in Kiev he spent several years in Wendland in present day Poland. After that he travelled to Ireland where the king of Dublin, Olav Sigtryggsson had called a council. At the meeting, Olav Trygvason was selected by the king’s daughter Gyda to marry her in spite of the fact that, among many handsome suitors, he was the only one dressed in a simple raincoat.