Grave of Magnus Barefoot, Viking King of Norway. Magnus Barefoot (Old Norse: Magnús berfœttr, or Magnus III Olafsson (1073 – 24 August 1103) was King of Norway from 1093 until 1103 and King of Mann and the Isles from 1099 until 1103. Magnus was the son of King Olaf Kyrre , grandson of King Harald Hardrada and great-nephew of King Olaf the Saint. The epithet berfœtt means barefoot or bareleg and, according to the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson, it came from his habit of wearing Gaelic-style clothing, leaving the lower legs bare. According to the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus, he got the nickname because he was forced to flee from an attack in his bare feet. Norway had experienced a period of peace during the reign of Magnus' father Olaf Kyrri. In the autumn of 1093 King Olaf died and Magnus was hailed as king in Viken in the month of September. Initially he had a rival in his cousin, Hakon Magnusson who was the son of Olaf's short-lived brother King Magnus II of Norway. A peaceful settlement was put in place but the relationship between the two was tense. As Håkon was only recognized at Oppland and in Trøndelag, his rule was in practice of limited importance. There was no armed confrontation between the two before Håkon died suddenly in February 1095. The Downpatrick runestone monument marking the site was erected in March 2003 to mark the 900th anniversary of his death. - @journi.ni