Old Norse Song: Olaf Tryggvason | The Skaldic Bard

[@SkaldBard]

Here’s another original Old Norse piece I’ve written, composed and performed, as the next instalment of my “Sagas in Song” series. This time, it’s about Olaf Tryggvason, based on Snorri Sturluson’s Saga of Olaf Tryggvason from Heimskringla. Olaf Tryggvason is generally considered to be the first true Christian King of Norway. This song is a more traditional ballad, led by a simple lyre with some talharpa backing and a wooden flute. I’ve tried my best to maintain an AA-BB rhyming pattern throughout. Olaf Tryggvason has always been something of a controversial figure as his methods used to convert Norway were more, well, brutal than many of the other kings. He was, however, quick to reward loyalty, and was well-liked by the people who chose to convert. Naturally, however, his methods made him a lot of enemies, and the spurned son of the heathen Jarl Haakon whose death Olaf called for, gathered Olaf’s enemies against him and surprised him at the island of Svolder. Olaf Tryggvason was aboard his great ship, Ormrinn Langi (The Great/Long Serpent, so called for its mighty size), where he gave a final valiant defence, but was ultimately overcome. I hope you enjoy! Please leave a comment (I love reading them!) and subscribe if you’d like to see more. You can also support my work at www.buymeacoffee.com/theskaldicbard. Many thanks indeed! Lyrics: Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. Þræll var hann á barnaldri, fjarri var hann ættleifð kærri. Sigurðr frændi hitti hann þar, hafði með sér þaðan til Hólmgarðs. Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. Þar verðr Óláfr vaxinn ok stórr Valdimari trúnaðareið sór. Því hann at orostu gǫng kunni, Þá sigldi vestr með hugrekki. Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. Í hernaði í Syllingum kom hann spámanns nǫkkurs á fund, “Ágætr konungr verða munt þú ok mǫrgum mǫnnum gefa rétta trú.” Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. Hákon jarl, heiðingi mikli, réð yfir ríkjum í Noregi. Bændr Hákons þeir ráku þann jarl, Óláfr á gálga hǫfuð hans bar. Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. Svá sem Haraldr inn hárfagri var Óláfr til konungs tekinn. Hálogaland, Raumsdal, Víkina leiddi Óláfr í trúina. Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. En Eiríkr sonr Hákons jarls vilði hefna fǫður síns falls. Danakonungr, Óláfr sœnski, þeir binda saman lag sitt allir. Þeir bíða við ey þá, Svǫlð. Skip mǫrg eru ok mannafjǫlð, “Ráði Guð fyrir mínu lífi, en mun ek á flótta leggja aldri!” Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. “Engi er hugr í Dǫnum, ok betra væri heima Svíum, en af Eíriki ok Norðmǫnnum er oss ván snarprar orrostu.” Á skipi því mikla, Orminum, stendr Óláfr í hjálmi gylltum. Oftast um daginn skaut bogaskoti, hraustmannligr var allr hans floti. Á Orminum var in mesta vǫrn, ok varð þá orrosta mjǫk hǫrð. Þótt þeir væru allfræknir menn, með konungi í sjó gengu senn. Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa. Hann var Óláfr Tryggvason! Eggju boðaði hann kristindóm. Í nafni Guðs fór á fleyvanga, en hann fell á Orminum langa.

[@marcus4046]

*me checking my List of Norse Kings* Oh boy this might be rough we getting pretty slim on the norwegian department, What will be next when you finish the kings of norway off?

[@SkaldBard]

There's plenty in the tank, you'll see!

[@PanzertruppenLeopard_1]

skald has a vault containing sacred texts with the biographies of people we've never heard of and its great, i love it

[@Isidore-hj4cm]

NOS ELITE SS AUX POUVOIRS ET NOS BON MILLARDAIRE EXTREME DROITE AUX PV DANS TOUTE.NOS CAPITALES CHRISTIANISME DE NOTRE CONTINENT D'OCCIDENT MÉDIÉVAL OUEST ❤❤❤❤XXX EST DEPUIS LAGE DES TEMPS NORDIQUE GODS ALIENS LATIN OLYMPES SUMERIEN ANNUKIS PHARAON REPTILIEN ARYEN MONDO OCCIDENTALES NOS RACES BLANCHES HUMANOÏDES BEAUTÉ FORCE

[@Isidore-hj4cm]

😊😊😊😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊😊😊❤😊❤😊❤NOS PRIVILÈGE NOS PROPHETE JEAN RASPAIL NOSTRADAMUS MOISE

[@gabriel_brasil33]

Olaf's epic life is easily summed up by another Norwegian king's quote: "Kings are made for honor, not for long life."

[@Haimariks]

That man had no honor, and he was a disgrace to Christianity. He went against all of Jesus' teachings.

[@cjmurphy7967]

Olaf was a mass murderer to an extent that he made vikings blush, I hardly call that honorable.

[@SkaldBard]

Early Germanic societies only respected the sword to solve disputes. Sad, but we can't reflect with modern eyes. The pagans certainly did their fair share of killings on defenceless populations - such was the mediaeval world

[@cjmurphy7967]

@SkaldBard I acknowledge that the reaving, rape, and murder of innocence was a common practice across all cultures and armeis in medieval period. However, that is not what I am referring to. Olaf was known as someone who violently converted Norway to christianity through genocide and torture. Something that Norwegian kings, both before and after, would not replicate and generally at the least tolerated the existence of both. Let's not forget he was also a king that was removed violently by an onslaught of Sweds, Danes, and Norse for those aforementioned crimes. It's important to also reconize that even by medieval standards; what he did was considered bloody and tyrannical. Im sorry if that was unclear in my original comment but this is what I really meant.

[@moonex7886]

In what way was Olaf honorable?

[@uberfeel]

"Babe, wake up, SkaldBard dropped another certified norse banger"

[@SkaldBard]

I guffawed when my wife read this comment aloud to me

[@МартинХристофор]

Uberfeel. Ваша неоязыческая сектантская клевета из нью-эйдж. И у меня вызвал смех. Что вы несете? :-)))) 😊☺😊☺😀

[@uberfeel]

@@SkaldBard lmao, nice to know that I made you laugh with my comment

[@danhubert-hx4ss]

Actually it`s all abt. christian vikings.@@МартинХристофор

[@ricam.1507]

This is gold to my ears and soul. Please keep these piece of art coming. ❤

[@jandaly-ou3wf]

A wonderful melody and another great re-telling of an epic saga. Love it ……. as always

[@xerxes6687]

this is what real music is all about 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@ThatRandomGiy]

True

[@TheRiderOfTruth]

This is some of your best work yet. I am consistently astounded by the talent you possess.

[@SkaldBard]

Thanks a lot for this, very kind of you.

[@alebaneseman7330]

This Song was very very good, just amazing! God bless you!

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you!

[@samueldamuel1689]

Been watching a lot of Viking stuff and then i see this and oh my god this is so good

[@NamelessMF1658]

Riktít pent å vakkert ♥️ Keep it up man

[@pmw5967]

I'm glad to listen a one about Olaf Tryggvason, the true hero of early Christianity in Norway. He was good king and true warrior of God. Thank You for this great music at the end of the day, my Birthday 🙂 Greetings

[@SkaldBard]

Happy Birthday, my friend!

[@pmw5967]

@@SkaldBard Thank You very much 😉

[@ArchMithrillas6976]

Thank you for this melody; i was going through a hard time but you rekindled the fire of monotheism in me once more. My Morale raises hearing of this solder of God's tales.

[@SkaldBard]

God bless you, friend. Keep the faith

[@Areus177]

This is my favourite of song of yours. It could be I just love the AA-BB rhyming pattern. Good work.

[@SkaldBard]

Awesome to hear mate, thanks

[@Carson675]

Millions must listen to this masterpiece.

[@JustinBarkewich]

Heavy Metal this Song!!

[@miguelangelochoamontoya8413]

Wonderful song, You have a Lot of talent bro congrats

[@salva_0017]

Saint Olaf, pray for us!

[@robinrehlinghaus1944]

Most wonderful!

[@Northy777.]

Love it!!!! I cant wait to hear more. Wish to hear a story about Fair Hair if you may great musician!

[@agentbimlo4555]

Yipee a new norse song that we all need and waited for! 😁

[@ormurinlangi-tl2hl]

Another great song about another great viking!

[@vrana44]

bro you are a genius please let me master and finish up your tracks this is gorgeous! greetings!

[@jamesbatesibusquets7617]

I love this!

[@MilesDei95]

it is nice how with low understanding of danish and norwegian i can recognise some words. i love your stuff man. glorious. God bless

[@SkaldBard]

@@MilesDei95 thanks a lot, my friend. God bless you

[@aronmarkovits5396]

Dude, your music is so good. I literally play this if I wanna write, or do anything, in a setting wich involves medidval europe

[@SkaldBard]

That's awesome man, thanks

[@aronmarkovits5396]

@@SkaldBard you've only yourself to thank. You're the one making banger after banger, I'm just a guy who likes good music

[@kristiangg4263]

another masterpiece friend keep it up you have an amaizing talant

[@Trotsky.-.83_years_ago_-_and]

I stopped my college test to jam to this.

[@greatsarmatae]

Olaf Tryggvason, once a warrior of Kyivan king Volodymyr the Great in Gardarike, greetings from Ukraine-Rus, Slavic-Nordic brotherhood 💪 Amazing song!

[@rockaphett3727]

i love the similarities between this and the Faroese kvæði about this event. Another great song

[@BamberdittoPingpong]

Here I am sitting in my office all alone, mere meters away from the Trondheim town square with his statue in the center, listening to this song

[@Hacker12333]

Good as always.

[@facoulac]

loved this song!

[@sandro21hd26]

I have only recently discovered your channel, and I deeply regret that I haven't done it earlier. Your channel and your content is a hidden gem in a pile of rubbish that the modern music industry has turned into. The way you tell a story through a song and make it more informative than some of the articles i have read is just fascinating. Thank you for everything, skald, I hope that one day you will get really big, may god bless you!

[@SkaldBard]

This is a wonderful comment, many thanks indeed. I appreciate especially that you find them informative - the sagas are rather long so it can be easy to lose the thread of the story, especially when reading in the original Old Norse, so my intention has always been to bring the original to people in a pleasant but ultimately educational way so they can learn the chief themes and storylines of the sagas without having to trawl through hundreds of pages (which I still recommend people do, if so inclined!). Really glad you've been enjoying them anyway, God bless you

[@sandro21hd26]

@SkaldBard I have read the english translation of "Heimskringla," and I loved your saga song about Harald Hadrada, while of course, it is better to read the actual saga to learn more, you have conveyed very impressive amount of information for an approximately 6 minute song. For a person, who is very interested in the culture and history of northern Europe, but usually doesn't have time to read actual sagas or other historical accounts, (due to the amount of time it takes to study on a molecular biotechnologist), your channel has become one of my absolute favorites! Your works are very helpful to give a general idea and crucial information about people who lived and events that happened in times gone by, while also blessing ears of a listener at the same time, keep up the good work friend!

[@SkaldBard]

Yes, absolutely. I do sadly have to omit a lot of good stuff to keep the time down, so everyone should read the sagas for themselves! But thanks so much for the kind words, helps with the motivation to keep making them :-)

[@lucianocozer9772]

Maestral meu irmão! Saudações do Sul do Brasil! Viva Cristo Rei!

[@felipeschmoellerSCJ]

Glória a Deus, irmão. Precisamos de um Skáld brasileiro, nossas músicas precisam contar histórias de honra e glória como essa, seriamos um povo muito melhor com uma cultura que aprecia honra e fidelidade a Deus.

[@notme9816]

Jesus er Herre! ❤ to 🇧🇷 from 🇳🇴.

[@glishev]

Beautiful as usual! I see it's rhymed and not alliterating, rather a ballad than a skaldic composition.

[@MatthewVanston]

When are you gonna duo with Farya? You two would rock all.

[@toyfoxy-rq4ee]

This sounds like fire elbem

[@caldeandrade69]

This is just pure epicness. Being Catholic is awesome. You just earned a subscriber, good sir!

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you, and welcome! God bless

[@orguksilverbeard7658]

Dude, how do you only have 4.4k subscribers?!?! This music is beautiful!!!!!! I found your channel for the harald Godwinson song, and I love your music!!!!

[@SkaldBard]

Thank you, my friend!

[@bruhmcchaddeus413]

Because his channel is dedicated to a very specific genre Which is why we all love it :p

[@Bjorn_Algiz]

Very interesting 😮 happy Sól day 😊 hails!

[@Sozbir]

Charismatic. Greetings from Turkey

[@МартинХристофор]

Святой Олаф моли БОГА за нас и о нас!!. СЛАВА ХРИСТУ_!!! 👑➕➕➕

[@ThorsteinnMemeson]

This song isen't about Olaf the (second) holy This is about Olaf the first

[@МартинХристофор]

@@ThorsteinnMemeson Что у вас на нике морда сатанистов? Олаф первый тоже Святой- Христианин. 👑➕

[@iberius9937]

I believe this is the closest we can get to actual authentic Viking or Old Norse music, as opposed to Vardruna or Skáld, who are awesome bands, nonethless.

[@blakeprocter5818]

Indeed. Lyres, bone flutes, jawharps and drums are instruments we know the viking age Norse used. Bowed instruments and throat singing, not quite so much. I feel like throat singing has become the new horned helmet - a myth that has been taken by pop culture as accepted fact. Pretty much everything viking related these days features throat singing, and there is no historical basis at all for that. If you want another great example of authentic Norse music of this period, check out the band Krauka, especially their first album Vikinga Seidur. Pretty much the closest thing to replicating what viking age Norse music may have sounded like.

[@АлександрСмолин-ч2ъ]

прекрасная песня

[@LAC03098]

God bless

[@IohannSiderson]

With the Godspeed, I'll see reborning Europa.

[@christianfreedom-seeker934]

Deus Vult and Gott Mitt Uns!!!!

[@mariadeavila5301]

I'm brazilian and I love this! Sorry for my bad english. I need of the traduction for portuguese these music. It's amazing.

[@felipeschmoellerSCJ]

Um brasileiro com bom gosto, vejo. Quem dera nossas músicas contassem histórias de honra e glória, como essa.

[@notme9816]

Brutt, brutt er Kongens bue! Norge av din hånd Konge! I don’t remember, it must be almost 40 years ago. We read the story at school. Thank you for all you do Bard. My favourite Kings are Håkon den Gode and Magnus Berrfot.

[@notme9816]

I don’t know If it’s relevant, but some years ago ( 5 - 6 ? ) I read Predikerens Bok and Haavamaal in an older form of samnorsk; høynorsk. The wisdom of migthy Kings were very alike. I think King Salamo and Den Høye ( Odin ) would have had a great time together!

[@Vsevolod2002]

Olaf has also served Vladimir the great before he became the king. Love and respects from Russia

[@МартинХристофор]

СЛАВА ГОСПОДУ ИИСУСУ ХРИСТУ_!!! Все Святые воины молите БОГА за нас. СЛАВА ХРИСТУ_!!! ➕➕➕➕👑👍👍💪💪

[@antonmikaj5128]

❤❤❤

[@Wiggyam]

The first christian norwegian king was Håkon Haraldsønn Adelsteinfoster. He was raised in a christian court by King Æthelstan, the English King. to say that he was not a true christian is a wrong. Edit: I should also say, im very impressed with the songwriting and performance. I just wanted to correct an error.

[@grandmarshallsteve]

God bless the first Christian King of Norway, may he rest in peace

[@potetnamnbaknamn895]

He wasn't the first, and may he forever suffer in his watery grave.

[@ArchMithrillas6976]

I hear the skyrim tune in this.

[@samuelcarpentiertaillefer1085]

Same!

[@Bufkey]

What is your view on doing songs about known heathens of history? Seeing as how you have already composed a song about Harald Fairhair, are you planning on covering any other legends like Ragnarr Shaggy Breeches?

[@PanzertruppenLeopard_1]

great song, could you maybe make a song in Middle High German? It could be like Palastinalied or an entirely new composition

[@ShwakinMaster525]

I love your content. Do you ever do any historic norse christians songs? Like from Medieval times? I would like to know the history of the Norse Christian Music.

[@hesap3535]

Your fan from Turkey :D. Started learning distinct languages after listening your songs, could you tell me my mistakes in this? Willelm Raedth Eorldom of Normandig, He wile Engla Seld 50 Longscipu Mid he seglath Cyning Engla, Harold, Slieht Northmonnum on Stanford brycg, Harold farath suth. Fiend gefeothath us. Ac ure wares hatheort, Ac thaet waes wrang, Waes cyning dead, we sind geslagen.

[@Jaakko2258]

Merhaba, Tükçeyi öğrenmiş biri olarak söylüyorum, Anglo-Sakson öğrenmek Türkçe öğrenmekten daha kolaydı. Benim gördüğüm hatalar şunlar: Rǣdan fiilinin 3. şahıs genel zamanı için 3 tane çekimleme kullanılabilir: rǣt, rǣtt ve rǣdeþ. Ancak, rǣdan fiilinin yönetmek anlamı taşıdığı az rastlanır bir durumdur. İkinci olarak, Anglo-Sakson’da, “of” edatı sahiplik bildirmez. İyelik anlamı için, ismin iyelik durumunu kullanmak gerekir. Yani Normandig değil Normandige. Mid edatı, dative veya instrumental durum gerektirir. Burada kullanılan durumsa nominative. He yerine him olması gerekir. Slēan fiilinin 3. şahıs genel zaman çekimi “sliehþ”, geçmiş zaman çekimiyse “slōh” veya “slōg” olarak yazılmıştır. Norþmonnum ise Norþmann isminin çoğul dative çekimidir. Dört farklı anlama gelebilir. Fakat, burada çoğul belirtme durumu kullanılması mantıklı olurdu. Norþmonnum değil Norþmenn. Brycg isminin burada dative çekimine ihtiyacımız var. Brycg değil Brycge. Faran fiilinin 3. şahıs genel zaman çekimi “færeþ” veya “færþ” olmalıdır. “Faraþ” çoğul genel zaman çekimlemesidir. 3. Dörtlüğün ikinci satırında ne anlatılmak istediğini anlayamadım. Son satırda, “geslagen” yerine “geslægne” olmalıdır. Anglo-Sakson gerçekten özgün, ilginç ve zengin bir dil. Anadil olarak bitişik bir dil konuşanlar için Anglo-Sakson öğrenmek zor bir deneyim olabilir. Ancak, bu zor deneyimin ödülü de büyük olacaktır.

[@hesap3535]

@@Jaakko2258 Hey, thanks. I understood most of my mistakes, thank you! That part you did not understood means something like: "But we were angry (hot-hearted)"

[@thycarolusrex]

by any chance, can you make more old english songs, more set around the medieval period?

[@emilwittenhoffhvid6688]

SKYRIIIIIIIIIIIIM!!!!!!!

[@MaefigHistory]

Wesaþ ġē hāl! I'd love to use your music in my videos, do you perhaps keep instrumentals of your songs?

[@ΣτενοςΜααρας]

like "dragonborn comes"

[@TheWar-wolf]

Anyone else hear Dovahkiin from Skyrim?

[@Cody-5501]

Spotify when?

[@SkaldBard]

Uploaded today so should be up tomorrow :-)

[@Cody-5501]

@@SkaldBard thank you will haakon the good ever be put on spotify?

[@NorwegianSedevacantist]

Yo Skaldic Bard, it would be based if you possibly translated some of your songs such as Sigurd the crusader into modern Norwegian.

[@SkaldBard]

Veldig basert, jeg har tenkt på å oversette noen av dem til høgnorsk, hva synes du?

[@NorwegianSedevacantist]

@@SkaldBard Går bra med meg, alt du lager er som godteri for ørene.

[@templarsamurai7805]

Bannerlords real soundtrack

[@phanx0m924]

IN SKYRIM

[@Powersnufkin]

Glory to the northern heroes who felled the cursed christian king olaf tryggvason!

[@shadycombat]

Why it sounds like skyrim

[@fjalarhenriksson]

ALL norse last names has two ss:es its Trygvar's son but put together do not americanize our last names.

[@SkaldBard]

No, the name is Tryggvi, which is a technically weak masculine noun that declines as Tryggva in all oblique forms, thus the patronym is Tryggvason

[@notme9816]

@@SkaldBardYou’re correct. We very seldom use a double s.

[@Haimariks]

The worst Northman to ever live, Olaf Tryggvarsson. Good work on the video, however, controversial is right as reign. Considering he killed and tortured anyone who wouldn't convert, and ignored Jesus' teachings many, many times, he certainly is no role model for any Christian.

[@user-kg8ct6ng8g]

Olaf was a worse Norseman because he didn't sack England and Ireland after his corversion, right? pathetic. To say that he's the worst Norse, I'm sure you've never read the sagas. Jarl Hakon Sigurdsson was much worse, he would kidnap women and r@ p3 them. Olaf only responded to the pagans by force because the Norse only respected and understood the strength of the sword. King Hakon the Good tried to convert them peacefully and was forced to make pagan sacrifices for the people. Then the priests he had brought to Norway were killed by the pagans. Ironically, they tried to do this with King Olaf but he feared no one.

[@potetnamnbaknamn895]

​@@user-kg8ct6ng8g Don't act like he wouldn't sack the islands, Olav was as opportunistic as the rest of his fellow christian kings, and if the viking known in Anglo-Saxon chronicles as Anlaf is Olav, then he actually DID a lot of raiding of both of them before his conversion. He would still be a shit king even if he put every Brit and Irelander to the sword, and stole even the stuff that was nailed down. Him only using force because that was the only thing the Norse understood or respected is blatantly false, as there were Norwegian christians in Norway before he was born. There is good reason as to why he isn't remembered as the good, unlike Haakon.

[@user-kg8ct6ng8g]

@@potetnamnbaknamn895 "There is good reason as to why he isn't remembered as the good, unlike Haakon." Actually, King Olaf Tryggvason is seen as a hero by medieval Norwegians and Icelanders. Just look at the numerous stories in both countries' oral and written traditions about him. There are even traditional songs about Olaf (kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5rWqGOomaZ4qMU), created by the people of the Faroe Islands. In Saint Olaf's saga, Olaf Tryggvason appeared to the saint in a dream and convinced him to return to Norway. Olaf's life is extremely legendary; he was a slave, a warrior of Saint Vladimir, a Viking, a king of Norway, a missionary to Norway, Iceland, Greenland, the Orkney Islands, and the Faroe Islands. Finally, he ended his life in one of the most epic battles of the Viking era. You have to understand that, to modernity, Olaf was just a violent Viking, but to the Norwegians of the time, he was a hero, whose legends and songs were sung throughout history. There is a reason why men like him and Harald Hardrada are well remembered, but peaceful rulers like Olav Kyrre and Harald Hen are just footnotes in history.

[@user-kg8ct6ng8g]

@@potetnamnbaknamn895 I’m going to write a somewhat long text to clarify a few things: Yes, I did say that before converting to Christianity, Olaf conducted many raids throughout Europe. However, after he converted, he became an ally of the English. He even married a Nordic noblewoman from England, and the majority of Olaf's entourage of bishops and priests were English. Now tell me, why do you consider him the worst of the Nordics? Everything King Olaf did wrong was not much different from what 90% of Nordic nobles were doing in the 10th and 11th centuries. In Olaf's own saga written by Snorri, there are men shown to be worse than Olaf. One of them is Jarl Haakon Sigurdsson (some historians call him the last of the fervent pagan rulers of Norway). In the saga, it is said that he kldna-pp3d wo-m3n, conducted hu man sacri-flc3s, and persecuted Christians in Norway. In the end, he had a pathetic d3-ath, befitting his degenerate life. "Him only using force because that was the only thing the Norse understood or respected is blatantly false, as there were Norwegian christians in Norway before he was born." About this, I know that Christianity reached Scandinavia through German and English missionaries, as well as through the commercial interactions that southern Norwegian cities had with Germany. However, the pagan nobles kiI-l3d the priests and burn-3d the churches, limiting the few communities that existed in Nordic lands. When Nordic kings or chiefs converted to Christianity, they acted as protectors of the Church. That’s why you see several kings embarking on w@r expeditions against the pagans, such as Saint Olaf, Olaf Tryggvasson, Harald Bluetooth, etc. In the case of King Haakon the Good, he tried to convert and encourage the Church in a peaceful and discreet manner. However, the pagan chiefs didn’t like this and forced him to make s@-crifices to the gods. In the saga written by Snorri, he says that King Haakon was so angry with the people for kiI-I|ng the priests and f0rcing him to make s@c-rifices that he considered gathering the army and punishing them severely. However, he didn’t do this because Gunhild’s sons and the Danes were invading Norway. And yes, the Nordic peoples were wild, and many of them only respected someone when they were victorious and courageous on the battlefield. For example, in Saint Olaf’s saga, it is said that a Swedish princess fell in love with Saint Olaf (and agreed to marry him) because she heard stories of how Saint Olaf subdued several of Norway’s local chiefs through battles, proving his heroism and courage. It would take a long time for me to demonstrate how much Nordic society valued strength, but if you want to understand, read the Icelandic sagas or Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum.

[@kennetheisenbraun5217]

Good song, terrible man

[@brotnjanin]

*Great song, great man 😎

[@kennetheisenbraun5217]

@brotnjanin only great if you're militant christian.

[@lopakacooper1668]

@@kennetheisenbraun5217 What’s wrong with admiring/respecting historical figures that fought and bled for their beliefs and ideals?

[@kennetheisenbraun5217]

@lopakacooper1668 nothing.

[@lopakacooper1668]

@@kennetheisenbraun5217 “only great if you’re militant Christian” That’s what your hidden comment states. So, what does that imply then? That admiring Olaf Tryggvason is a terrible thing to do?

[@billgates485]

Just like Ukranian song...style the same...

[@neonpirych1566]

?