By: Aisling Bronach of House Shadow Drake

The religion of the Vikings was one of the last pagan religions left in Europe. They were often portrayed as Heathen savages that had "no respect for the sanctity of religious houses and the pacifism of their inmates." We must take into consideration the position of the Christian religion within Viking society, as well as the reasons for conversion. It might also be taken into consideration that the churches were also repositories of valuables that were left relatively unguarded.

In the case of the Danes, animosity against the Christian church is suggested by this late 19th century quote by J. C. Robertson:

Many Vikings died for their religious beliefs. In 998 AD, King Olaf Tryggvason made Norway a Christian country. During this time, many of the followers of the Viking religion were tortured and killed because they refused to convert to Christianity; among these was the seer, Thorleif the Wise, who was ordered to be blinded. He was taken by Olaf's men and it is said that he withstood the torture so bravely that his torturers fled after having torn out only one of his eyes. Other men stand out for their dedication to their religious under such heinous torture: Eyvind Kelde who was drowned alongside with his comrades, Iron Skegge who was killed while defending the temples at Maeri, Eyvind Kinnrifi who was tortured to death with hot coals, and Raud the Strong who was tortured with a poisonous snake and a hot iron. Even today, Ragnar Lodbrok is celebrated as a martyr by a contemporary group called the Asatru; he died at the hands of the Christians while in Northumbria. (Jones and Pennick, 1995: 135)

In some cases, Christianity was very strongly opposed in the Viking homeland. One example can be made of King Hakon the Good who attempted to Christianize Norway. His earls, however, strongly opposed him. In the end, they convinced him to, 'make an end of the Christian faith in Norway... and compel the king to a blood-offering.' This was done, and when the king dies around 960 AD, he was given a funeral in a howe at Sein in North Hordaland in accordance with the Viking way. His personal skald, Eyvind Scaldaspiller, composed an eulogy called the Hakonarmal which described how King Hakon, 'upheld the temples, and was received with gladness in Valhalla by the high gods.' (Jones and Pennick, 1995: 134-135)

Hakon the Good was first a Christian, and tried to establish that religion in Norway. It is only after he finds that the people are unwilling to accept Christianity that he reverts to the Heathen Viking religion. This appears to be a political move. Hakon was the son of Harald Fairhair, but he was also the foster-son of King Athelstan of England. England at this time was emerged in the Christian religion, and so Hakon's upbringing had been within the Christian religion. (Jones, 1984: 199)

In Denmark, the case was slightly different. Harald Bluetooth challenged a missionary named Poppo to a trial by ordeal after he said that there was only one God - the Father, his son Jesus, and the Holy Ghost, and that the Aesir was actually just demons. At this time, the Danes acknowledged the Christian god, but believed that the Aesir were more powerful. An account is given by Widukind the Saxon, and it records that around 960 AD, the priest Poppo performed a miracle by which he held a piece of hot iron in his hands without being burned. This convinced Harald Bluetooth that the Christian god was greater than those he worshiped, and thus ordered the people to follow the Christian faith. (Jones, 1984: 126)

Adam of Bremen, however, records a different story and says that the reason for Harald Bluetooth's conversion to Christianity was due to, 'an unsuccessful war with the emperor.' This referred to war refers to the conflicts with Otto I and Germany. It is strongly suspected that Poppo was in league with Otto, and that when Harald Bluetooth converted to Christianity, it was a sign of his acknowledgement of Otto's power. Harald was more concerned with extending his kingdom, and the conversion was a ready way of dealing with Otto so that he would have fewer excuses for attacking. (Jones, 1984: 126)

By 998 AD, Olaf Tryggvason began burning the pagan temples and forcing each community to convert to Christianity or die. According to the Saga of Olaf Tryggvason, he was not beyond taking hostages to enforce the observance of Christian rituals. Why did Olaf convert to Christianity in the first place? There is not much in the way of documentation for the reasons behind his conversion to Christianity. On legend says that he accepted the Christian religion from a hermit in the Scillies. (Jones, 1984: 132) In the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, it is recorded that Olaf was baptized in 994 AD and given 16,000 pounds of silver after an unsuccessful attack on the city of London in England. (Jones, 1984: 132)

Iceland was Christianized around the beginning of the 11th century. The leaders of Iceland came together at an Althing and came to this decision, but the exact reasons for the conversion remain unclear. One account tells us that this occurred when the law-speaker, Thorgeirr, was bribed to support the Christian faith against the Viking pagan religion. Another account by Ari Thorgilsson suggests that the conversion was due to the influence of Olaf Tryggvason who pressured Icelanders who went to visit Norway. (Sawyer, 1982: 141)

Little is said regarding Sweden, and it is thought that Christianity was a very gradual and peaceful process. It was not until sometime between 1000 AD and 1024 AD that Olav Scotkonung finally imposed Christianity as the official religion of Sweden. (Jones and Pennick, 1995: 136) In 1080 AD, however, King Inge the Elder was exiled from Uppsala for refusing to sacrifice at the temple there. It was not until around 1120 AD when King Sigurd the Jerusalem-Traveler declared a crusade against the pagan practices in Smalalnd that we see a complete rejection and persecution of the followers of the Heathen Viking religion in Sweden. (Jones and Pennick, 1995: 137)

The Viking conversion to Christianity was often for reasons of trade and politics. If the Vikings were able to conduct peaceful relations with other countries, they would have a better chance at building bases by which they could trade their goods.

So why attack the Christian churches? The Viking movement was dependant on raiding, trading, colonization, and war. (Jones, 1984: 196) When times were favorable the Vikings would trade, but when the opportunity presented itself the Vikings would also resort to raiding and piracy. (Jones, 1984: 199) The churches were full of the loot that the Vikings desired, and being as it was left relatively unguarded, the Viking had no problem with plundering it. (Jones, 1984: 200)

Resources

Jones, Gwyn. "A History of the Vikings." second ed. (NY: Oxford University Press, 1984.)

Jones, Prudence and Pennick, Nigel. "A History of Pagan Europe." (London and New York: Routledge, 1995)

Sawyer, P. H. "Kings and Vikings." (NY: Routledge, 1987.)

Roesdahl, Else. "The Vikings." (NY: Penguin Books, 1987.)