Astrid was born to King
Olof Skötkonung of Sweden and his
Obotritian mistress
Edla. She was the half sister of King
Anund Jacob of Sweden and sister of King
Emund the Old of Sweden. It is said that she and her brother Emund were not treated well by their stepmother, Queen
Estrid, and that they were sent away to foster parents. Astrid was sent to a man named Egil in
Västergötland. In 1016, it had been decided that Norway and Sweden should come to more peaceful relations by a royal marriage alliance. Noblemen of both countries tried to arrange a marriage between King Olaf of Norway and Astrid's legitimate half-sister, Princess
Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden, but Ingegerd was instead married to
Yaroslav I the Wise, Grand Prince of
Novgorod and
Kiev. Instead Astrid was married to King Olaf in
Sarpsborg in 1019. Some sources say that Astrid replaced Ingegerd by the wish of her father, while others say that the marriage took place against the will of her father, through the cooperation of King Olaf and the Swedish
jarl Ragnvald Ulfsson. Astrid was described as beautiful, articulate and generous, and well liked by others. She was the mother of
Wulfhild of Norway (1020–1070), who married
Ordulf, Duke of Saxony, and the stepmother of King
Magnus the Good, with whom she had a good relationship. In 1030, she was widowed when her husband was killed. She left Norway and returned to the Swedish court, where she had a high position. When her stepson Magnus visited
Sigtuna on his way to claim the Norwegian throne, she gave him her official support and encouraged Sweden to do so as well. ==References==