The conversion of Norway Flashcards
Written sources for the conversion of Norway
- Agrip
- Heimskringla
- ASC
- Oddar Snorrason
- Theodoricus Monarchus
- Adam of Bremen
Archaeological sources/locations for the conversion of Norway
- Nitharos
- Veøy
- The Kuli Stone
- The Dynna stone
- Mære
- Nomeland
- Oseberg
The 7 scholars to cite on the conversion of Norway
- Wood
- Hagland
- Lund
- Berend
- Nordleide
- Birkeli
- Solli
Topics for the conversion of Norway
- Sources (written and archaeological)
- Scholars
- English influence
- The role of Olaf Tryggvason and Olaf Haraldsson
- Tactics of conversion in Norway
- H.B.’s small/ non-existent role- and why?
- How the weakness of the Norwegian monarchy affected the conversion + role of farmers
Olaf tryggvason reign
994/5- 1000
olaf haraldsson reign
1015-30
The three missionary kings of Norway
- Hakon the good
- Olaf Tryggvason
- Olaf Haraldsson
What does the ASC say about Olaf Tryggavson’s conversion?
- It says that Æthelred stood sponsor as godfather to Tryggavson’s baptism
- He also accepted gifts and took missionaries and minters back with him to Norway
What does Wood point out?
- Wood points out that there is a pattern seen in written evidence of the lower classes being the part of Scandinvian society which is generally opposed to conversion, as opposed to the aristocracy.
What seems to be key factor’s in Olaf Tryggvason’s conversion tactics?
- Force and travel; these can be said to be the defining characteristics of his conversion efforts.
Always depicted as being accompanied by a large company of men
An issue with the written sources on Olaf Tryggvason
All contemporary sources in some way reflect the fact that Olaf Haraldsson was made a saint and a lot of depictions of him are reflective of that; typology
Why do Icelandic sources often present Tryggvason positively?
- Because they adopted him as their patron saint
Why did the Icelander’s sancitfy Tryggvason?
- The Icelander’s were attracted to the idea of having their own saint but promoting the cult of Haraldsson sent the wrong political message
- Instead of Olaf Haraldsson, the Icelander’s turned to Tryggvason ‘the missionary king’ who had sent missionaries to Iceland
- A lot of typological references to him; like Oddar Snorrason’s comparison to John the Baptist with Tryggvason converting Haraldsson
What does Adam of Bremen say about Tryggvason?
- He for one does not explicitly say he was Christian, but quite likely didn’t have much to go on for Norway generally? As most of his informants were Danes/ enemies of Norwegians
- And neither of them were friends to H.B.
Year Tryggvason baptised by Æthelred?
994
Year of Oseberg burial
c. 834
Reign of Hakon the Good
934- 961
Reign of Earl Hakon of Lade
970- 995
When did Trggvason turn up in England?
991
What happens in 1031?
Olaf Haraldsson is declared a saint when they opened his grave to find that his body had no signs of decomposition
What can coin distribution in Norway tell us?
- The distubution tells us about the power of the king who minted them and the extent of their geographical control
A fundamental issue with the scandinavian histories of Norway as sources?
They have a limited theme.
They are all cocncerned with the top layers of society, written by men and often considered propaganda for specific people or opinions
What does Snorri say about the Æsir in Ynglinga Saga and what does this suggest about Norwegian kingship?
- He says that Harald Fairhair’s genealogy began with the Æsir and the Vanir- but Snorri says these were groups of humans, not gods.
- The grafting of the mythological material suggests that in Norwegian culture, the claim of being descended from the gods was a way to claim legitimacy?
How does Heimskringla say that Olaf Tryggvason was converted?
- Heimskringla says he met a hermit in the Scilly Isles who convinced Olaf he had the true faith through making correct predictions. Olaf converts and is baptised, and stays there a while to learn about his new faith and took learned men with him when he left
- The hermit is a useful literary device, as the King is automatically above them in status. This is one instance of a well-known theme, which probably goes back to the dialogues of St Gregory.
What the opposing sources say on Tryggvason’s conversion:
- ASC- Baptised by Æthelred
- Heimsrkingla- Converted by a hermit in the Scilly Isles
What does Theodoricus monarchus say about wider foreign influence?
- Says that Tryggvason had a priest with him from Flanders
- - this highlights that Denmark and England were not the only foriegn powers with influence
What does Theodoricus Monarchus not mention at all?
- Does not mention Hakon’s attempt to Christianise norway- prefering instead to place a greater emphasis on the actions of Tryggvason and Haraldsson. But this preferene could come from a typological perspective.
Who founded Nitharos?
Tryggvason
Trggvason’s conversion of the Orkney’s?
Heimsrkingla says that Olaf forces the earl and the people of Orkney to accept baptism ‘or else suffer death at once’
What does Birkeli argue about the chronology of the Norwegian conversion?
- That we can claim most of the 10th century as a missionary period, with a more or less national church being organised in the eleventh century
Interesting thing that William of Malmsbury says and how this corresponds to other evidence?
William of Malmesbury’s De Antiquitate Glastoniensis Ecclesiae contains a necrology of a number of monks who became bishops, one of whom is named “Sigefridus nowegensis’.
Birkelli believesthis Sigfrid is the Bishop who came to Norway during the reign of King Haakon Adelsteinsfostre, which would correspond with what the saga says, and also Adam of Bremen, who admitted that even before King Olav Tryggvason there were Bishops and missionaries from England in Norway.”
What does Adam of bremen admit about English influence before trygg.?
Adam of Bremen, who admitted that even before King Olav Tryggvason there were Bishops and missionaries from England in Norway.”
What does Lunden highlight as another major change experienced by Norway at this time?
Population of Norway probably trebled between 900-1300; another massive societal change; the land to labour ratio reduced.