Þangbrandr

Þangbrandr [Þangbrandr is the usual form of his name, but he is called "Theobrandus" in Theodoricus monachus' "Historia de Antiquitate Regum Norwagiensium" and "Þorbrandr" in the late "Þórðarbók" version of "Landnámabók". He is referred to as Þangbrandr in all the other sources, Norwegian as well as Icelandic.] was a missionary sent to Iceland by king of Norway Óláfr Tryggvason to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. Snorri Sturluson described him as follows:

Origins

Þangbrandr's origins are uncertain. According to some sources, he was the son of an otherwise unknown Vilbaldus, count of Saxony ["Brennu-Njáls saga"] or of Bremen"Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta".] . But he is also said to be Flemish [Theodoricus monachus' "Historia de Antiquitate Regum Norwagiensium" (8).] . He may have been a clerk to the bishop of Bremen ["Kristni saga", "Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta".] . However that may be, his name seems to be of German origin, and may come from Old High German "*Dankbrant" [McDougall, 1998:66] .

Encounter with Óláfr

The bishop of Bremen was invited in England by the bishop of Canterbury. Þangbrandr came with him. In England, he was offered a shield with a crucified Christ drawn on it. When they came back in Saxony, Óláfr was there. He saw Þangbrandr's shield, which pleased him much. The clerk gave it to him and the king promised to help and protect him in case he would need it.

Mission in Norway

After fighting over a woman with one of the Emperor's men and killing him, Þangbrandr was forced to flee from the land. He joined Óláfr in England, who took him into his service. When Óláfr came back in Norway, Þangbrandr was put in charge of baptizing the people in Hordaland. But he soon fell short of money and began to rob those who were still pagans.

Mission in Iceland

As a penance, Óláfr sent him to Iceland, where Þorvaldr Kodránsson and Stefnir Þórgilsson's missions had failed.

Þangbrandr's mission began in 997. He first succeeded in converting Sídu-Hallr Þorsteinsson. He travelled around the country and several other prominent Icelanders agreed to be baptized or at least to receive "prima signatio". But he had more opponents than followers. The difficulties he came up against are especially described in "Brennu-Njáls saga" in a "lively, although probably exaggerated" [Byock, 2001:299.] manner. He was challenged to a duel by Þorkell whom he defeated, although he carried a crucifix rather than a shield. Some of his enemies paid a sorcerer to get rid of him. The sorcerer made a sacrifice and the ground opened up under Þangbrandr [Sigurður Nordal suggested a natural explanation for this, linking it with volcanic activity which could have caused a "jökulhlaup" ("Þangbrandur á Mýrdalssandi". "Festskrift til Finnur Jónsson 29. maj 1928". Copenhagen, 1928).] . His horse was swallowed up but he escaped. The priest killed the skald Vetrliði Sumarliðason who had composed defamatory verses ("níð") about him. He also killed another skald, Þorvaldr veili, who had gathered a troop to slay him. Steinunn, Hofgarða-Refr's mother, preached the old faith to him, trying to demonstrate the superiority of Thor over Christ ("Hast thou heard," she said, "how Thor challenged Christ to single combat, and how he did not dare to fight with Thor?" [Dasent, George Webbe (trans.). [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/ice/njal/njal098.htm "The Story of Burnt Njal"] , Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1861.] ). Þangbrandr then caused the death of a berserker. He was eventually outlawed because of the men he had killed.

After two years in Iceland, he went back to Norway and explained he had failed:

When Óláfr learned that, he got angry and threatened to hurt or kill all the pagan Icelanders who were in town at that time. But Gizurr the White Teitsson and Hjalti Skeggjason, who had been converted by Þangbrandr, talked to him out of it. They explained that Þangbrandr had failed because he had proceeded with violence and murders [According to Snorri's "Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar" and to the "Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta". But in the "Kristni saga", they lay the emphasis on the fact that Þangbrandr was a foreigner.] and they committed themselves to preaching Christian faith in Iceland. The conversion of Iceland was eventually decided at the next "Alþing" (in 999 or 1000 -- see Christianization of Iceland).

Notes

ources

Primary sources

* "Brennu-Njáls saga"
* Ari Þorgilsson's "Íslendingabók"
* "Kristni saga"
* "Landnámabók"
* "Laxdœla saga"
* "Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta"
* Laing, Samuel (trans.). Anderson, Rasmus B. (revision and notes). "Snorre Sturlason: The Heimskringla: a history of the Norse kings." London: Norrœna society, 1907.
* McDougall, David and Ian (trans. and notes). Foote, Peter (intro.). 1998. "Theodoricus monachus: Historia de antiquitate regum Norwagiensium. An Account of the Ancient History of the Norwegian Kings". London: Viking Society for Northern Research. ISBN 0903521407.

econdary sources

* Byock, Jesse L. "Viking Age Iceland". London: Penguin books, 2001. ISBN 0140291156.