King Olav IV of Norway was a monarch who ruled from 1380 until his death in 1387. He was born in 1370 and was the son of King Haakon VI of Norway and Margaret I of Denmark. His reign was marked by the union of the crowns of Norway and Denmark, which was part of a larger political strategy to strengthen the two kingdoms. Olav IV's rule was relatively short, as he died at the age of 17. After his death, the throne passed to his mother, Margaret I, who continued to consolidate power in the region. His reign is often seen as a transitional period in Scandinavian history.