There was a Saxon priest in [Olaf's] house who was called Thangbrand, a passionate, ungovernable man, and a great manslayer; but he was a good scholar, and a clever man.
—King Olaf Trygvason's Saga (80), Laing's translation
Þangbrandr's origins are uncertain. According to some sources, he was the son of an otherwise unknown Vilbaldus, count of Saxony[2] or of Bremen.[3] But he is also said to be Flemish.[4] He may have been a clerk to the bishop of Bremen.[5] However that may be, his name seems to be of German origin, and may come from Old High German*Dankbrant.[6]
Encounter with Óláfredit
The Bishop of Bremen was invited to England by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Þangbrandr went with him. In England, Þangbrandr was offered a shield with a crucified Christ drawn on it. When they returned to Saxony they met Óláfr, who saw Þangbrandr's shield and was pleased with it. The Þangbrandr gave Óláfr the shield and, in return, the king promised to help and protect him in case he would need it.[3]
Mission in Norwayedit
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.[3]
Mission in Icelandedit
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"[7] 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.[8] His horse was swallowed up but he escaped. The priest killed the skaldVetrliði 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?"[9]). 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:
Thangbrand the priest came back from Iceland to King Olaf, and told the ill success of his journey; namely, that the Icelanders had made lampoons about him; and that some even sought to kill him, and there was little hope of that country ever being made Christian.
—King Olaf Trygvason's Saga (91), Laing's translation
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 him out of it. They explained that Þangbrandr had failed because he had proceeded with violence and murders[10] 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 Christianisation of Iceland).
^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).
^Dasent, George Webbe (trans.). The Story of Burnt Njal, Edinburgh: Edmonston and Douglas, 1861.
^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.
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. ISBN0-903521-40-7.
Secondary sourcesedit
Byock, Jesse L. Viking Age Iceland. London: Penguin books, 2001. ISBN0-14-029115-6.
May 01, 2024
Þangbrandr, missionary, sent, iceland, king, norway, Óláfr, tryggvason, convert, inhabitants, christianity, snorri, sturluson, described, follows, there, saxon, priest, olaf, house, called, thangbrand, passionate, ungovernable, great, manslayer, good, scholar,. THangbrandr 1 was a missionary sent to Iceland by king of Norway olafr Tryggvason to convert the inhabitants to Christianity Snorri Sturluson described him as follows There was a Saxon priest in Olaf s house who was called Thangbrand a passionate ungovernable man and a great manslayer but he was a good scholar and a clever man King Olaf Trygvason s Saga 80 Laing s translation dd Contents 1 Origins 2 Encounter with olafr 3 Mission in Norway 4 Mission in Iceland 5 Notes 6 Sources 6 1 Primary sources 6 2 Secondary sourcesOrigins editTHangbrandr s origins are uncertain According to some sources he was the son of an otherwise unknown Vilbaldus count of Saxony 2 or of Bremen 3 But he is also said to be Flemish 4 He may have been a clerk to the bishop of Bremen 5 However that may be his name seems to be of German origin and may come from Old High German Dankbrant 6 Encounter with olafr editThe Bishop of Bremen was invited to England by the Archbishop of Canterbury and THangbrandr went with him In England THangbrandr was offered a shield with a crucified Christ drawn on it When they returned to Saxony they met olafr who saw THangbrandr s shield and was pleased with it The THangbrandr gave olafr the shield and in return the king promised to help and protect him in case he would need it 3 Mission in Norway editAfter fighting over a woman with one of the Emperor s men and killing him THangbrandr was forced to flee from the land He joined olafr in England who took him into his service When olafr came back in Norway THangbrandr 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 3 Mission in Iceland editAs a penance olafr sent him to Iceland where THorvaldr Kodransson and Stefnir THorgilsson s missions had failed THangbrandr s mission began in 997 He first succeeded in converting Sidu Hallr THorsteinsson 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 Njals saga in a lively although probably exaggerated 7 manner He was challenged to a duel by THorkell 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 THangbrandr 8 His horse was swallowed up but he escaped The priest killed the skald Vetrlidi Sumarlidason who had composed defamatory verses nid about him He also killed another skald THorvaldr veili who had gathered a troop to slay him Steinunn Hofgarda 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 9 THangbrandr 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 Thangbrand the priest came back from Iceland to King Olaf and told the ill success of his journey namely that the Icelanders had made lampoons about him and that some even sought to kill him and there was little hope of that country ever being made Christian King Olaf Trygvason s Saga 91 Laing s translation dd When olafr 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 THangbrandr talked him out of it They explained that THangbrandr had failed because he had proceeded with violence and murders 10 and they committed themselves to preaching Christian faith in Iceland The conversion of Iceland was eventually decided at the next Althing in 999 or 1000 see Christianisation of Iceland Notes edit THangbrandr is the usual form of his name but he is called Theobrandus in Theodoricus monachus Historia de Antiquitate Regum Norwagiensium and THorbrandr in the late THordarbok version of Landnamabok He is referred to as THangbrandr in all the other sources Norwegian as well as Icelandic Brennu Njals saga a b c olafs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta Theodoricus monachus Historia de Antiquitate Regum Norwagiensium 8 Kristni saga olafs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta McDougall 1998 66 Byock 2001 299 Sigurdur Nordal suggested a natural explanation for this linking it with volcanic activity which could have caused a jokulhlaup THangbrandur a Myrdalssandi Festskrift til Finnur Jonsson 29 maj 1928 Copenhagen 1928 Dasent George Webbe trans The Story of Burnt Njal Edinburgh Edmonston and Douglas 1861 According to Snorri s olafs saga Tryggvasonar and to the olafs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta But in the Kristni saga they lay the emphasis on the fact that THangbrandr was a foreigner Sources editPrimary sources edit Brennu Njals saga Ari THorgilsson s Islendingabok Kristni saga Landnamabok Laxdœla saga olafs 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 1906 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 0 903521 40 7 Secondary sources edit Byock Jesse L Viking Age Iceland London Penguin books 2001 ISBN 0 14 029115 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title THangbrandr amp oldid 1195451146, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
