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[[File: Olav_Tryggvason_Trondheim.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|left|State of Olav Tryggvason in Trondheim, Norway]]__NOTOC__The Vikings are known today for being piratical raiders of Europe, capturing whatever goods they could, including people, in lighting raids and then returning to their homes in Scandinavia. Churches and monasteries were among their favorite targets because the structures were usually not very well protected yet they often held great amounts of gold and other treasures. To the early Vikings, these churches represented nothing more than potentially lucrative targets – the religious connotation meant little to them one way or another. The Vikings followed an Indo-European religion that many of the people of Europe practiced before they became Christians. The Vikings believed that gods and goddesses such as Odin, Thor, Freya, and Tyr watched over them as they went into battle and traversed the seas in their long ships. But by the late eleventh century the old gods were becoming a thing of the past and the Vikings were embracing Jesus.

To the early Vikings, these churches represented nothing more than potentially lucrative targets – the religious connotation meant little to them one way or another. The Vikings were among some followed an Indo-European religion that many of the last Europeans to embrace Christianity people of Europe practiced before they became Christians. The Vikings believed that gods and goddesses such as Odin, Thor, Freya, and the manner in which Tyr watched over them as they did so, went into battle and traversed the reasons for seas in their conversion, were complexlongships. Europeans began sending missionaries to the north in But by the ninth late eleventh century and gradually , the various Viking kingdoms began to convert. Most old gods were becoming a thing of the early Viking rulers converted due to political past and economic ties with Christian Europe and then forced their subjects to follow suite. The conversion process was uneven across Scandinavia and there the Vikings were heathen/pagan reactions to Christianity, but by early twelfth century the process was complete and Scandinavia was integrated into greater Western Civilizationembracing Jesus.

===Denmark and =Why were the Vikings one the First Christian Missionslast peoples to convert to Christianity?====[[File: Europe_map_1092.png|300px|thumbnail|left|A Map Showing the Scandinavian Kingdoms in Relation to the Rest The Vikings were among some of Europe in the Late Eleventh Century]]Due last Europeans to its close proximity to the Holy Roman Empire embrace Christianity and the rest of Europemanner in which they did so, Denmark was the first of and the Viking lands to accept Christianityreasons for their conversion were complex. The Christianization of Denmark Europeans began when sending missionaries, such as Ansgar, began visiting to the land north in the early ninth centuryand gradually the various Viking kingdoms began to convert. Ansgar was a German monk who would later become Most of the archbishop of Bremenearly Viking rulers converted due to political and economic ties with Christian Europe and then forced their subjects to follow suit. <ref> Rosedahl, Else. <i> The Vikings.<conversion process was uneven across Scandinavia and there were heathen/i> Translated pagan reactions to Christianity, but by Susan M. Margeson and Kirsten Williams. (London: Penguin, 1998), p. 159 </ref> An eleventh the early twelfth century monk named Adam of Bremen wrote in his <i>History of Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen</i> that the pope gave the archbishopric of Hamburg-Bremen ecclesiastical authority in process was complete and Scandinavia in the mid-ninth century. <ref> Sawyer, Birgit. “Scandinavian Conversion Histories.” <i>Harvard Ukrainian Studies</i> 12/13 (1989) p. 47</ref> The missionary efforts moved slowly until they achieved official status from a Viking king in 965was integrated into greater Western Civilization.

According ====Denmark and the First Christian Missions====[[File: Europe_map_1092.png|250px|thumbnail|left| A Map Showing the Scandinavian Kingdoms in relation to the Old Norse language history Rest of Europe in the Late Eleventh Century]]Due to its proximity to the Viking Age known as Holy Roman Empire and the <i>Heimskringla</i>rest of Europe, Harald Bluetooth (ruled c. 958-986) Denmark was the first Christian king of the Viking lands to accept Christianity. The Christianization of Denmark. Harald had become embroiled in a conflict with Otto IIbegan when missionaries, such as Ansgar, emperor of began visiting the Holy Roman Empire (reigned 973-983), which was at least partially due to land in the fact that Harald early ninth century. Ansgar was a pagan. Otto threatened to invade Denmark with an army German monk who would later become the archbishop of Germans, Franks, and Poles, forcing the Danish king to consider his optionsBremen. <ref> SturlasonRosendahl, Snorre Else. <i> Heimskringla: Or the Lives of the Norse KingsThe Vikings.</i> Translated by Susan M. Margeson and Kirsten Williams. (Mineola, New YorkLondon: DoverPenguin, 19901998), The History of Olav Trygvason, XXVIII p. 159 </ref> According to the saga, Harald was converted to Christianity after witnessing one of Otto’s priests perform an apparent miracle.

“The Emperor Otta and the Danish king met An eleventh-century monk named Adam of Bremen wrote in Morsö. Then a holy bishop, Poppa, made known his <i>History of Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen</i> that the true faith to King Harald; pope gave the bishop bore glowing iron archbishopric of Hamburg-Bremen ecclesiastical authority in his hand and showed King Harald his and unburnedScandinavia in the mid-ninth century. After that<ref> Sawyer, King Harald let himself and all the Danish army be baptizedBirgit. “Scandinavian Conversion Histories.” <refi>Harvard Ukrainian Studies</i> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, XXVIII12/13 (1989) p. 47</ref> The missionary efforts slowly moved until they achieved official status from a Viking king in 965.

Harald then made it his mission According to convert the rest Old Norse language history of his kingdom the Viking Age known as well as all the <i>Heimskringla</i>, Harald Bluetooth (ruled c. 958-986) was the first Christian King of Denmark. Harald had become embroiled in a conflict with Otto II, emperor of his the Holy Roman Empire (reigned 973-983), which was at least partially because Harald was a pagan cousins . Otto threatened to the north. He is credited invade Denmark with converting Hakon the Jarl an army of NorwayGermans, Franks, and Poles, but when Hakon went back forcing the Danish King to consider his pagan ways the two rulers went to waroptions. <ref> Sturlason, Snorre <i> Heimskringla: Or the Lives of the Norse Kings.</i> (Mineola, New York: Dover, 1990), The History of Olav Trygvason, XXXIIIXXVIII </ref> According to the saga, Harald was converted to Christianity after witnessing one of Otto’s priests perform an apparent miracle.

The sagas depict “Emperor Otta and the conversion of Scandinavia taking place from Danish King met in Morsö. Then a “top down” perspectiveholy bishop, where Poppa, made known the kings true faith to King Harald; the bishop bore glowing iron in his hand and jarls converted first, often for political reasons as showed King Harald did, his and then obliging their subordinates to follow suiteunburned. A closer examination of the accounts reveals After that the conversions usually followed a three step pattern: first the convert would renounce the old ways, then the convert would publicly identify as a Christian, and finally the convert would follow the rituals King Harald let himself and inwardly adopt all the new faithDanish army be baptized. ” <ref> AbramSturlason, Christopher. “Modeling Religious Experience in Old Norse Conversion Narratives: The Case History of Óláfr Tryggvason and Hallfreðr vandræðskáld.” <i>Speculum</i> 90 (2015) p. 119Olav Trygvason, XXVIII</ref> The first two steps were often superficial and done in name only – new converts to Christianity often did so under the threat of death or to gain a new ally.

===King Olav Tryggvason’s Saga===After Harald then made it his mission to convert the Kingdom rest of his kingdom as well as all of Denmark converted his pagan cousins to Christianity, missionaries made attempts in the north. He is credited with converting Hakon the Jarl of Norway that were not always so fruitful. The situation changed when Olav Tryggvason (ruled 995-1000 BC) became king, but according when Hakon went back to his pagan ways, the sagas, long before he ruled Norway he embarked on a journey where he gradually converted two rulers went to Christianitywar. Norway itself was more resistant to Christianity<ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, with the sagas noting that it was home to many “backsliders.”XXXIII</ref>

“But in Norway those who had taken up Christianity fell back The sagas depict the conversion of Scandinavia taking place from a “top-down” perspective, where the kings and jarls converted first, often for political reasons as Harald did, and then obliging their subordinates to follow suit. Conversions usually followed a three-step pattern. First, the convert would renounce the blood offering just old ways. Second, the convert would then publicly identify as they had also done before in a Christian. Finally, the convert would follow the north of rituals and inwardly adopt the landnew faith.” <ref> SturlasonAbram, Christopher. “Modeling Religious Experience in Old Norse Conversion Narratives: The History Case of Olav Trygvason, LIIIÓláfr Tryggvason and Hallfreðr vandræðskáld.” <i>Speculum</i> 90 (2015) p. 119</ref> The first two steps were often superficial and done in name only – new converts to Christianity often did so under the threat of death or to gain a new ally.

====King Olav Tryggvason’s Saga====After the Kingdom of Denmark converted to Christianity, missionaries made attempts in Norway that were not always so fruitful. The situation changed when Olav Tryggvason (ruled 995-1000 BC) became king. Still, according to the sagas, long before he ruled Norway, he embarked on a journey where he gradually converted to Christianity. Norway itself was more resistant to Christianity, with the sagas noting that it was home to many “backsliders.” “But in Norway, those who had taken up Christianity fell back to the blood offering just as they had also done before in the north of the land.” <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LIII</ref>  From the age of nine to eighteen, Olav lived with his stepfather, Vladimir I (reigned 980-1015), the Grand Prince of KievKyiv. Vladimir was a pagan , and a member of the Viking descended Rus’ culture, but he was quite tolerant toward other religious faiths, including Christianity. When Olav became an adult, he left Russia with the blessing of Harald and raided in Poland and fought alongside Harald Bluetooth, before embarking on a series of raids in the British Isles. Olav was officially baptized as a Christian while in England. Still, but he remained a true Viking in most ways: he never preached morality to his people , and he remained continued a quintessential warlord. <ref> Abram, p. 124</ref> Although Olav may never have moralized to unbelievers, he was very serious earnest about his new religion and was more than willing to use his power and influence to convert his people.

“And since the king had there a very great strength of men, they were afraid of this; , and at last the king gave them two choices, either that they should take up Christianity and let themselves by baptisedbe baptized, or otherwise they should hold battle with him.” <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LVIII</ref>

“King Olav went with his army to North Möre and baptised baptized that folk. After this , he sailed into Lade and had the temple broken down and took all the goods and ornaments form the temple and from god. And from the temple door he took a great gold ring which Hacon the Jarl had caused to be made: then King Olav had the temple burned down.” Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LVIII</ref> It should be noted that although the sagas are considered primary sources, Sturlason compiled them in the thirteenth century, more than 200 years after the events. Elements of the epics may say just as much about the political situation in the thirteenth century Iceland, Sturlason’s home country, as they do about Norway’s conversion to Christianity.

It should be noted that although the sagas are considered primary sources, Sturlason compiled them in the thirteenth century, more than 200 years after the events. Elements of the sagas may say just as much about the political situation in thirteenth century Iceland, Sturlason’s home country, as they do about Norway’s conversion to Christianity. With that said, All historians accept the outline and basic facts of Olav’s campaign to promote Christianity in Norway are accepted by all historians. It was during the reign of his successor, Olaf Haraldsson (1015-1028), though, when the Christianization of Norway was complete. Olaf was baptized in the cathedral in Rouen, Normandy , while he was away from Norway. Still, but when he returned to reclaim his throne , he did so with a particular animosity hatred toward the pagans. He destroyed the pagan sanctuaries and made Christianity compulsory at the Moster thing in 1024. For his efforts, Olaf was later venerated as Saint Olaf by the Catholic Church. <ref> RosedahlRosendahl, pgs. 165-6</ref>

[[File: Viking_cross_Lund,.jpg|300px250px|thumbnail|left|A Viking Age Crucifix from Lund, Sweden]]Iceland was settled by explorers from Norway in the ninth century and although it was from that point forward part of Scandinavia, it was always unique in the northern lands. Iceland never had a king and its geographic distance meant that it was not introduced to Christianity until later. Once Iceland was introduced to the new religion, though, the people of the island quickly converted. The people of Iceland converted to Christianity in 1000, which was largely through the efforts of Olav Tryggvason. <ref> RosedahlRosendahl, p. 165</ref> The sagas offer an interesting anecdote that describes how Olav convinced one prominent Icelander to convert only after he promised him the material reward of his “friendship.”

“Kjartan was the biggest and finest of men and able of speech. And when the king and he had spoken a few words together, the king bade Kjartan take up Christianity. Kjartan said he would not say ‘nay’ to that if he should have the king’s friendship. The king promised him his full friendship and the matter was now agree agreed upon between them.” <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LXXXII</ref>

After the people of Iceland had been introduced to Christianity, the Church sent members of the hierarchy to make it official. The Icelandic Bishop Isleifir was consecrated by Archbiship Archbishop Adalbert in 1056, which gave Iceland’s Christians formal leadership and a connection to the Church. <ref> Sawyer, p. 47</ref>

Among the mainland Viking lands, Sweden was the last to accept Christianity. The first Christian king of Sweden is generally believed to be Olof Skötkonung (ruled 995-1022), although he was far less forceful in his promotion of the new religion than his Norwegian counterparts. <ref> RosedahlRosendahl, p. 166</ref> The legends also state that Olof was the first king of a unified Sweden and that under his rule the influence of the Church grew rapidly across the land. <ref> Sawyer, p. 55</ref>

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