Olav Tryggvason was determined to introduce his newfound Christian faith in his lands. Following the murder of Håkon by his slave Kark, Olav was ‘voted’ to be king. He quickly decided to set sail, heading straight for the middle of Norway to take part in the uprising of the man in charge of the region: Earl Håkon. The Olav Tryggvason statue in Trondheim's market square While lounging somewhere in what is today the United Kingdom, he grew restless and wished to use this army to lay claim on land in Norway. When a few years later he returned to England with the Danish king, Svend TveskægIt is told that Olav converted to the Christian faith and was baptized.īy participating in these Viking raids in England, Olav amassed both great wealth and an impressive army. The first reliable information about him as a leader comes from England in the year 991, where mentions of Olav are recorded collecting tribute from King Ethelred II.
Not much is known as to the origins of Olav Tryggvason. Two names are credited above the rest for bringing Christianity to Norway: Olav Tryggvason and Olav Haraldsson. Historians and researchers have debated their personal influence on the matter, but in Norwegian folklore, they are two of the biggest players in the game of Gods. Those who propagated the pagan Norse gods were harassed or even killed. Often times Norsemen took on the religion as a farce, meant only to appease the Englishmen so they would allow them to settle and farm in their lands.Įventually, the religion started to take root in Norway and several warlords, jarls, and kings worked to make it the only religion in Scandinavia. Christianity comes to NorwayĬhristianity began its rise in Norway after Viking settlers brought back the religion from their lands in England and other colonies throughout Europe. While the basis of many Viking raids was to plunder, they often had the motivation to set up colonies and kingdoms in which they could farm. It is believed now that this area was a sacred place to the Vikings and also was a centre of trade in Norway and throughout Europe.īecause of the lack of farming space on the western coast of Norway, the Vikings were obliged to set sail for new lands to find better soil. The largest centre of population at the time was at Skiringssal, located in what is now Huseby, which was home to around 500 Norsemen. Much of the population lived in coastal areas to farm and fish. Because of this, there were very few cities or large towns until much later in the Viking Age. This division continued for nearly another century until Olav Tryggvason, followed by Olav Haraldsson, entered into the picture and fought again to unify Norway under one King and one God. In that process, he became the King.Īt the end of his reign, Norway was divided amongst the sons and kinsmen of Harald Fairhair, which eventually fragmented the unified state he had fought to create. Read more: What does the word ‘Viking' really mean?Īt the end of the century, the largest chieftains began a long period of civil war, with each looking to increase the size of their holds, until Harald Fairhair came along and was able to unite the country (by battling or bribing anyone who opposed him), creating the first Norwegian state. The records of this time are unclear, so there are no names to identify the rulers or their kingdoms. It is estimated that there were around nine minor kingdoms that occupied much of the Viking territory. The Viking Kingdoms in Norwayįor much of the 9 th century, Norway was made up of small kingdoms, holds, and individual properties. The devastating raid on Lindisfarne alerted much of Europe to what was to come. It can be assumed that Viking culture was around for some time before this, as the first documented Viking raid on England marks the starting date we use now.
The general estimate for the dates that Vikings ruled in Norway is from around 800 to 1066.
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