Random questions about the nordics

[Catta]

I had just watched Troll Hunter because I had come across it, and I LOVED THAT MOVIE so damn much. Then I see this thread, and the Christian comic, and it all just made me laugh. Bluetooth and his damn Christian conversion.

My Great Grandfather was Danish. I never learned Danish, and he spoke very little English, and I only spent time with him during the summers, but I loved him greatly. He was a great man, loathed Christians, and opossums.. one of the first things he learned to say was Possum, and he'd run them over passionately with his vehicle.

Anyway I digress, I just wanted to say as an American I am THRILLED over this thread, it has such great information. I'm really enjoying going through it all.

Also, a question to anyone who might know. Is Bluetooth the generally accepted historical "Viking King" to begin the Christian conversion? I believe Denmark and Norway had some kind of tribal run rule back then, so a lot of kings of their own people would dispute Christianity, and I know a lot of Viking Kings were Christian but wouldn't try to force conversions on their people. But is Bluetooth the historical "first one?" Or is that simply some American conception?

Thanks for any answers.

IIRC Bluetooth was the elected monarch of multiple tribes and it was he who made the danes christians or so it says on a rune stone... The "legend" goes that a monk came and tried to make them christians by "proving the power of God" by putting on a red hot gauntlet and come out unscathed...

Must have been a tough sell... Trying to convince bearded vikings that they can no longer pillage as they please, they dont go to valhalla during honorable combat, they cant have thralls nor drink etc etc etc... Must have been more to it... Maybe he knew that if they didnt convert the next crusade would be against the north instead of the middle east

[Slanderize]

IIRC Bluetooth was the elected monarch of multiple tribes and it was he who made the danes christians or so it says on a rune stone... The "legend" goes that a monk came and tried to make them christians by "proving the power of God" by putting on a red hot gauntlet and come out unscathed...

Must have been a tough sell... Trying to convince bearded vikings that they can no longer pillage as they please, they dont go to valhalla during honorable combat, they cant have thralls nor drink etc etc etc... Must have been more to it... Maybe he knew that if they didnt convert the next crusade would be against the north instead of the middle east

Okay yes, see as far as I've ever been able to discern it was pretty much political at the time.
A lot of their neighbors were converting, and it pretty much was a holy war prevention act.
Plus Vikings through that history had a pretty bad reputation for hacking up the Christians... Ingar? Ivar? The Boneless, and his father.. Sarkid? Something like that, it's been some time since I've read up on these things. So if they hadn't been all "Hey guys our bad, we wanna play nice now." They'd have blitzkrieged them out of fear alone.

But yes I was always confused if Bluetooth was an "elected" leader, or agreed upon conqueror of most of Denmark at the time, or how that all worked. Thank you for the clarification.

[Calzaeth]

I had just watched Troll Hunter because I had come across it, and I LOVED THAT MOVIE so damn much. Then I see this thread, and the Christian comic, and it all just made me laugh. Bluetooth and his damn Christian conversion.

My Great Grandfather was Danish. I never learned Danish, and he spoke very little English, and I only spent time with him during the summers, but I loved him greatly. He was a great man, loathed Christians, and opossums.. one of the first things he learned to say was Possum, and he'd run them over passionately with his vehicle.

Anyway I digress, I just wanted to say as an American I am THRILLED over this thread, it has such great information. I'm really enjoying going through it all.

Also, a question to anyone who might know. Is Bluetooth the generally accepted historical "Viking King" to begin the Christian conversion? I believe Denmark and Norway had some kind of tribal run rule back then, so a lot of kings of their own people would dispute Christianity, and I know a lot of Viking Kings were Christian but wouldn't try to force conversions on their people. But is Bluetooth the historical "first one?" Or is that simply some American conception?

Thanks for any answers.

I dunno about the other Scandinavian countries, but the king who unified Norway under Jesus was Holy Olaf. Like the article mentions, however, we already had quite a few christian areas by then, but Olaf was the guy who said "Alright! Enough of this tribal stuff. We are ONE nation with ONE God. Mkay?".

[Slanderize]

Well the first danish king to officially jump on the christian bandwagon was Harald Klak, but Gorm (and by extension, Bluetooth) paved the way for christianity and Bluetooth did go as far as to declare all the danes Christian. Of course the christians had been converting thanes here and there for quite some time but Bluetooth was the first to successfully push the christian agenda on any major scale. In Norway I believe it was Olof Tryggvasson who was the one working to Christianize the country in the late 900s. As for Sweden... Well, all I know is that the first Christian king of Sweden was Olof Skötkonung, but not very familiar with his story.

Missionaries had been sent to Scandinavia for a very long time as this happened, so it wasn't a very quick process. There were a bunch of minor thanes and leaders converting over a long period of time, but since there was no official rule there was no way to declare the entire region Christian until a unification (which was what these kings were doing.)

Okay, that explains it even more. It would make sense. I remember reading about missions being built but wouldn't last very long, because of the utter distaste Christianity brought to the Nordic mindset at the time. It also always saddens me when I read up on the fall of the Nordic beliefs. They were very vibrant, the poetry I manage to catch translated is always pleasing for me to read.

I also get depressed over the Greek conversion of the Egyptian's theology as well. I really appreciate that religious viewpoint in a lot of ways as well.

Don't get me wrong, Christianity and the Greek pantheon don't offend me, I just found Egyptian/Nordic beliefs to be so... fitting for the society. The other ones seem a little too "One size fits all." Loses flavor, for lack of a better term.

[Azutael]

Also, a question to anyone who might know. Is Bluetooth the generally accepted historical "Viking King" to begin the Christian conversion? I believe Denmark and Norway had some kind of tribal run rule back then, so a lot of kings of their own people would dispute Christianity, and I know a lot of Viking Kings were Christian but wouldn't try to force conversions on their people. But is Bluetooth the historical "first one?" Or is that simply some American conception?

Harald Blåtann (Bluetooth) was Denmarks first king I believe, I don't know a whole lot about him.

Norway was on 29th of July , 1030 made a Christian nation. With the battle stiklestad, chieftains from the last region that where still heathens fought against Olav den hellige (Olaf haraldsson).
Sadly, even with superior numbers the heathens lost, but Olaf Haraldsson was killed, and it was with he's death that the tide turned. And rumors of Olaf Haraldsson being a saint spread. When they dug up he's grave, he's corpse was still as fresh as it was when they buried him. And ofc, people took this as a sign that he was holy. And voila, people where converted.

That was a really simplistic version, probably with errors and all. But yeah :P
Proud to be from the region that where last converted in Norway! Wish we had won lol.

I'm sure Denmark and Sweden got their own stories as to how their countires where covnerted to Christianity.

[Slanderize]

I agree. I'm very fond of Asatrú but I suppose everything ends eventually.

Also, on the topic: Olav Tryggvason, later Olaf I of Norway, had some very interesting techniques. Long story short, he was very keen on having people convert. Think even wikipedia had a lil' paragraph on the topic!

Lmao, such an ancient Nordic approach to conversion. Screw all the house visits, and brochures. Find me some snakes, and lit charcoal.

[Deleted]

Do anyone of you remember this?
Used to be able to buy 1 small sweet for 10-öre when I was little(I'm 27 so probably older then you guys :P)

Wasn't born then, but now when I think about it we have all those old ören inherited by my grandpa. Useless now, but pretty cool. Maybe they will be worth something in the future? I dunno

[Catta]

Its sad... Asetro explains the world so much better than Christianity...

And lots of supernatural creatures being complete dicks... Also wouldnt it be awesome if our politicians were discussing potential military response to the Fenris wolf... xD

[Lora]

Why do the nordics have such badass names for their towns/villages? I live in Sandwich. Thats a shitty name for a town >.<

[Catta]

I had just watched Troll Hunter because I had come across it, and I LOVED THAT MOVIE so damn much. Then I see this thread, and the Christian comic, and it all just made me laugh. Bluetooth and his damn Christian conversion.

My Great Grandfather was Danish. I never learned Danish, and he spoke very little English, and I only spent time with him during the summers, but I loved him greatly. He was a great man, loathed Christians, and opossums.. one of the first things he learned to say was Possum, and he'd run them over passionately with his vehicle.

Its sad because danish is the most awesome of scandinavian languages...

[Calzaeth]

you, me, öresund at dawn. Bring your own battleaxe.

go swede!!

[Jackmoves]

10 öringen stopped being made in 1991, a year before I was born.
So... No.

Aww, so tiny!

1992 you are gonna be able to buy liquor from systembolaget this year then! Congrats!

[Catta]

You, me, Öresund at dawn. Bring your own battleaxe.

In a battle of wits... i dual wield...

[Catta]

In December, faaar to go. And I don't drink alcohol.

And you call yourself a swede...

[Slanderize]

Its sad because danish is the most awesome of scandinavian languages...

God, yes it is. When my children are grown, or I make more money than I do currently for lessons, I'm learning Danish.
Spanish first, for practicality, then Danish.


I'm in the process of taking Spanish classes, because I found some for FREE! Woo.

I have always loathed only speaking one language. It's the worst form of ignorance around. It will change. I have promised myself, beyond an act of the gods, that I will be trilingual. It WILL happen.

[capitano666]

You, me, Öresund at dawn. Bring your own battleaxe.

lol, you're lucky it isn't frozen anymore, or he could legally beat you with a stick

[Deleted]

If the Oresund freezes over next winter i am going to camp it with a stick

[Deleted]

Nordics, have you heard about a little place called New Zealand? How come you never visit us with your awesome accents and festive mentalities.

Because it's a feminist hell, otherwise I'd come to live there right now.

[Deleted]

If the Oresund freezes over next winter i am going to camp it with a stick

Thank God I speak Danish.

[capitano666]

And I'd illegally cleave him with a battleaxe.

You ask for so little...