 At the age of seven , over his mother 's objections , Olaf became the foster son and heir of a wealthy but childless goði named Thord , who was at the time engaged in complex litigation with the kinsmen of his ex @-@ wife Vigdis <unk> ( another descendent of Thorstein the Red ) . Olaf 's adoption complicated the issues in the suit and threatened to lead to a blood feud , but Hoskuld arranged a settlement and compensated Vigdis ' kinsmen with gifts . By fostering Olaf Thord gained the protection of the powerful Hoskuld , and Hoskuld secured an inheritance for his illegitimate son beyond the limited amount he was permitted to leave to Olaf under Icelandic law . Olaf accompanied Thord to the Althing when he was twelve years old , and his fancy clothing earned him the admiring nickname " the Peacock . " 
