Olaus Magnus (1490–1557) was a Swedish clergyman, brother of Johannes Magnus. He is best remembered as the author of the famous Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus (History of the Northern Peoples), printed in Rome 1555, a patriotic work of folklore and history which long remained the best source about the life and history of the whole Nordics. With its 500 pictures, it is a monumental work. For the cartography of the Nordics, he had more impact than anyone else.