The Vikings chose Christianity during the s, partly because of the extensive trade networks with Christian areas of Europe, but also particularly as a result of increasing political and religious pressure from the German empire to the south.
By the end of the Viking period, around , most Vikings were Christians. They were baptised, went to church and were buried in a Christian manner.
The stone displays an inscription which declares that Harald made the Danes Christian. But in reality the change in belief did not take place from one day to the next. The first Christian mission, that we have reports of, took place around , when the English archbishop Willibrord c.
Here Willibrord came into contact with the king of the Danes, Ongendus Agantyr. Willibrord seems to have been treated harshly, as he described the king as more cruel than any animal and harder than stone.
This was probably the reason why Willibrord soon travelled home again. He came back with 30 boys, who were to be trained in the teachings of Christianity. By the s part of the population was already Christian. When King Harald announced the introduction of Christianity in the second half of the s, the old Nordic religion and Christianity had long existed side by side. Various objects from the Viking Age testify to this, such as the mould of soapstone found at Trend in Himmerland.
Thus the craftsman was able to provide pendants for customers adhering to both religions. The Vikings learnt about Christianity on their journeys around the world or from monks who travelled to Scandinavia as missionaries. Whilst abroad, they became aware of the power of the Christian countries. They also saw impressive stone cathedrals and monasteries, with their associated riches, which they looted from time to time. Many Viking traders were marked with the sign of the cross or baptised abroad.
In order to be given the necessary privileges at trading centres in Christian towns, it was often a condition to be either Christian, or at least blessed.
Written sources mention a gift that came with baptism — a set of fine white clothes. This tempted many Vikings to be baptised. A monk called Notker attended a baptism ceremony at the Frankish court in the s, and described how a Viking was also present. Therefore he was presented with a set of coarser and simpler clothes. When this happened he apparently said: Twenty times I have been bathed and given the best and whitest clothes, but such sackcloth is not fit for a warrior, it suits a swineherd better.
And if it was not because I was ashamed of my nakedness, I would give you back both the clothes and your Christ …. It seems likely that Vikings did not become Christians overnight, just because they were baptised abroad. They believed that it was best to be baptised, when they were old and were at the end of life. Written sources indicate that baptism of the Vikings was the priority of the missionaries.
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By means of anonymized data of website users we can optimize the user flow. This enables us to improve ads and website content. How did Christianity reach Denmark? Under which conditions and circumstances was Christianity able to spread? Who in Danish society wanted Christianity to be the new religion and why? Who was responsible for building churches? Why did the Danish kings wish to forge stronger links between the Danish and English churches? Through these violent methods, every part of Norway became Christian, at least in name.
During the later Viking Age, Christianity began making inroads in Sweden, with Episcopal sees being established during the 11th century. By the 12th century, however, Sweden was predominantly Christian. This article is part of our larger selection of posts about Vikings history. To learn more, click here for our comprehensive guide to Vikings history.
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