As noted throughout the series, ties of kinship were a major feature of Norwegian social life, conferring various privileges and obligations, and Norwegians at all walks of life took care to keep track even of their more distant kin.
Family Tree of Olav Audunsson of HestvikenOlav Audunsson, the Master of Hestviken
Audun Ingolfsson, father of Olav
Cecilia Björnsdatter, Danish wife of Audun and mother of Olav
Queen Ingebjörg of Norway, friend of Cecilia
Ingolf Olavsson, Olav's grandfather
Ragna Hallkelsdatter, Ingolf's wife and Olav's grandmother
Elk, Olav's horse at Frettastein
Apalhvit, Olav's horse at Hestviken
Kinfetch, the costly ornamented axe that Olav inherited from his father. Olav Torgilsson, his great-great-grandfather was holding it when he died in battle. At that time it was called 'Wrathful Iron'.
Olav Ribbung or Olav Olavsson, great-grandfather of Olav
Olav Torgilsson, father of Olav Ribbung and great-great-grandfather of Olav Audunsson He was the first male of the line to live at * Hestviken.
Tora Ingolfsdatter, wife of Olav Torgilsson and mother of Olav Ribbung
Ingolf of Hestviken, father of Tora who died without a male heir
Torgils Fivil of Dyfrin, father of Olav Torgilsson
Astrid Helgesdatter of Mork, wife of Olav Ribbung
Helge Olavsson, son of Astrid and Olav Ribbung. He was the brother of Olav Audunsson's grandfather Ingolf and of Torgils Foulbeard. He fell at Nidaros with King Skule.
Cecilia Olavsdatter, daughter of Olav Audunsson and Ingunn Steinfinnsdatter
Ivar Staal, son-in-law of Olav Ribbung
Halldis, wife of Ivar Staal and daughter of Olav Ribbung and Astrid
Borgny the Nun, daughter of Olav Ribbung and Astrid
Ingolf Alavsson, priest and twin brother of Olav Ribbung
Nikulaus Arnesson, bishop who ordained Ingolf
Olav Ingolfsson "Half-Priest", son of Ingolf Alavsson
Bergljot of Tveit, Olav Half-Priest's mother
Kaare of Tveit, brother of Olav Half-Priest
Erlend of Aasheim, brother of Olav Half-priest
Torgils Foulbeard, son of Olav Ribbung and Astrid
Aasa, Torgils mistress who cares for the child Olav Audunsson
Herdis Karlsdatter, another mistress of Torgils
Jon of Stein, Herdis's husband
Earl Alf Erlingsson of Tornberg, patron of young Olav Audunsson
Lady Magnhild of Berg, aunt of Ingunn, and the oldest of Tore Toresson's legitimate children
Dagny and Margret, twin daughters of Lady Magnhild's foster-daughter
Aasa Magnusdatter, wife of Tore Toresson and mother of Magnhild and Ivar. She is Ingunn's grandmother and Arnvid's aunt. Aasa's mother was also named Ingunn.
Arnvid Finnsson, Steinfinn's first cousin and friend of Olav. Tore Toresson of Hov married Arnvid's father's sister Aasa Magnusdatter; Arnvid is a good singer.
Tordis, Arnvid Finnsson's wife. She was originally promised to Magnus, the oldest of the Finnsson's.
Magnus, Finn, and Steinar, three sons of Arnvid
Hillebjörg of Elfardal, Arnvid's mother
Guttorm, Arnvid's old henchman who "might be called his foster father"
Lord Torfinn, Bishop of Hamar, later canonized (a historical character)
Asbjörn All-Fat, priest who serves Lord Torfinn
Brother Helge, cleric at the Bishop's house
Sira Hallbjörn, parish priest at Hestviken after Sira Benedikt
Brother Stefan, priest who came to Hestviken as Ingunn lay dying
Grim, bailiff at Frettastein and later a servant at Berg
Dalla, sister of Grim and servant at Frettastein and later at Berg
Jon, blacksmith in the town of Hamar
Brother Vegard, priest of Hamar who visits Frettastein
Gudrid, elderly neighbor of Olav Audunsson at Hestviken.
Björn Egilsson, husband of Gudrid; he becomes Olav's steward and squire.
Gunnar, Björn's neighbor whom he kills in anger
Tore of Hvitastein, Björn's former employer
Torhild Björnsdatter, daughter of Björn and stepdaughter of Gudrid. She becomes a servant at Hestviken and is the mother of Olav Audunsson's son Björn.
Ketil, foreman at Torhild's farm, later Torhild's husband
Arnketil, or Anki, Olav's servant at Hestviken
Stein, Olav's neighbor at Hestviken
Leif, steward at Hestviken after Björn
Claus Wiephart, Olav Audunsson's German trading partner and skilled physician
Richard Platemaster, English armourer who married a Norwegian girl and settled in Oslo
Torodd and Galfrid Richardson, the two sons of Richard Platemaster
The followers of Sverre were called Birchlegs or Birkebeinere. They killed Olav Torgilsson at the Battle of Oslo and burned Hestviken. It had not yet been restored when Olav Audunsson took up residence there.
The Bagler party opposed Sverre and allied with the church and "old nobility" of Norway
The Ribbungs (named for their leader Sigurd Ribbung) were loyal to the Church party and opposed Sverre and the Birchlegs
King Skule of Norway (Skule Bårdsson) fought against the Ribbungs. There were Hestviken men on both sides of the battle. In the end, however, Olav Ribbung and his sons supported King Skule.
