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====King Olav Tryggvason’s Saga====
After the Kingdom of Denmark converted to Christianity, missionaries made attempts in Norway that were not always so fruitful. The situation changed when Olav Tryggvason (ruled 995-1000 BC) became king. Still, but according to the sagas, long before he ruled Norway , he embarked on a journey where he gradually converted to Christianity. Norway itself was more resistant to Christianity, with the sagas noting that it was home to many “backsliders.”
“But in Norway, those who had taken up Christianity fell back to the blood offering just as they had also done before in the north of the land.” <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LIII</ref>
From the age of nine to eighteen, Olav lived with his stepfather, Vladimir I (reigned 980-1015), the Grand Prince of KievKyiv. Vladimir was a pagan , and a member of the Viking descended Rus’ culture, but he was quite tolerant toward other religious faiths, including Christianity. When Olav became an adult, he left Russia with the blessing of Harald and raided in Poland and fought alongside Harald Bluetooth, before embarking on a series of raids in the British Isles. Olav was officially baptized as a Christian while in England. Still, but he remained a true Viking in most ways: he never preached morality to his people , and he remained continued a quintessential warlord. <ref> Abram, p. 124</ref> Although Olav may never have moralized to unbelievers, he was very serious earnest about his new religion and was more than willing to use his power and influence to convert his people.
The sagas depict how Harald returned to Norway and eventually won his birthright as king. The more important subtext, though, is how he forced Christianity on the Vikings. Olav would travel throughout the country calling <i>things</i>, assemblies of the <i>bonders</i> or freemen, and give them a simple ultimatum – convert to Christianity or die.
“And since the king had there a very great strength of men, they were afraid of this; , and at last the king gave them two choices, either that they should take up Christianity and let themselves by baptisedbe baptized, or otherwise they should hold battle with him.” <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LVIII</ref>
Olav directed his conversion energies not just at his subjects, but also at the monuments and temples dedicated to the old gods. Although pagan Scandinavian “temples” were often little more than gathering places in forests, Olav did his best to erase their memory from the minds of his fellow Vikings.
“King Olav went with his army to North Möre and baptised baptized that folk. After this , he sailed into Lade and had the temple broken down and took all the goods and ornaments form the temple and from god. And from the temple door he took a great gold ring which Hacon the Jarl had caused to be made: then King Olav had the temple burned down.” Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, LVIII</ref>
It should be noted that although the sagas are considered primary sources, Sturlason compiled them in the thirteenth century, more than 200 years after the events. Elements of the sagas epics may say just as much about the political situation in the thirteenth century Iceland, Sturlason’s home country, as they do about Norway’s conversion to Christianity. With that said, All historians accept the outline and basic facts of Olav’s campaign to promote Christianity in Norway are accepted by all historians. It was during the reign of his successor, Olaf Haraldsson (1015-1028), though, when the Christianization of Norway was complete. Olaf was baptized in the cathedral in Rouen, Normandy , while he was away from Norway. Still, but when he returned to reclaim his throne , he did so with a particular animosity hatred toward the pagans. He destroyed the pagan sanctuaries and made Christianity compulsory at the Moster thing in 1024. For his efforts, Olaf was later venerated as Saint Olaf by the Catholic Church. <ref> RosedahlRosendahl, pgs. 165-6</ref>
===Christianity in Iceland, Greenland, and Sweden===
