Historij, Secular and Relifjious. — The early history of Norway is comprised in that of the other Scandina- vian countries, and is, like theirs, for the most part fab- ulous. It is only towards the middle of the 10th cen- tury, when Christianity was introduced, that the myth- ical obscurity in which the annals of the kingdom had been previously plunged begins to give place to the light of historical truth. The introduction of Christian- ity, which was the result of the intercourse the Nor- wegians had with the more civilized parts of Europe through their maritime expeditions, destroyed much of the old nationality of the people and the heathenism which they had hitherto cherished, although the san- guinary feuds which had raged among the rival chiefs of the land can scarcely be said to have lost their fe- rocity under the sway of the milder religion. The first introduction of Christianity into Norway is gener- ally ascribed to Hakon, a prince of the country, before
the middle of the 10th century. This person had re- ceived a Christian education at the court of Athelstan, king of England. On returning to his own land he found his countrymen zealously devoted to the worship of Odin ; and having himself embraced Christianity, he was under the necessity of worshipping in secret. At length, having gained over some of his most intimate friends to the side of Christianity, he resolved, as he had become master of the kingdom, to establish Chris- tianity as the religion of the country. Accordingh', he proposed, A.D. 950, before an assembly of the people, that the whole nation should renounce idolatry, and worship the only true God, and Jesus Christ his Son. He suggested also that the Sabbath should be devoted to religious exercises, and Friday observed as a fast- day. These royal propositions were indignantly re- jected both by nobles and people; and the king, to conciliate his enraged subjects, yielded so far as to take part in some of the ancient sacred rites and customs. In particular, at the celebration of the Yule festival, he consented to eat part of the liver of a horse, and to drain all the cups drunk to his honor. In consequence of this sinful participation in manifest idolatry, he was soon after seized with the most painful remorse, and he died dee)ily penitent for the scandal he had brought upon Christianity.
In a short time, however, the way was opened for the more effectual admission of the Christian religion by the elevation to the throne of Olaf I, a Norwe- gian king, who was favorable to Christianity. " This Olaf," to quote from Neander, "had travelled exten- sively in foreign lands : in Russia, Greece, England, and the neighboring parts of Northern Germany. By in- tercourse with Christian nations, in his predatory ex- cursions, he had obtained some knowledge of Christian- ity, and had been led, by various circumstances, to see a divine power in it. In some German port he had be- come acquainted, among others, with a certain ecclesi- astic from Bremen, Thangbrand by name, a soldier- priest, whose temper and mode of life were but little suited to the spiritual profession. . This person carried about with him a large shield, having on it a figure of Christ on the cross, embossed in gold. The shield at- tracted Olaf 's particular notice. He inquired about the meaning of the symbol, which gave the priest an oppor- tunity of telling the story of Christ and Christianity. Observing how greatlj' Olaf was taken with the shield, Thangbrand made him a present of it, for which the Norse chieftain richly repaid him in gold and silver. He moreover promised to stand by him if he should ever need protection. In various dangers by sea and on the land, which Olaf afterwards encountered, he be- lieved that he owed his life and safety to this shield; and his faith in the divine power of Jesus thus became stronger and stronger. At the Scilly Isles, on the south- west coast of England, he received baptism, and returned to Norway, fully resolved to destroy paganism. In England he had met again with the priest Thangbrand. Olaf took him back to Norway in capacitj^ of a court clergyman ; but no good resulted from his connection with this person of doubtfid character. Inclined of his own accord to employ violent measures for the destruc- tion of paganism and the spread of Christianity, he was only confirmed in this mistaken plan by Thangbrand's infiuence." On reaching Norway, and taking possession of the government, Olaf directed his chief efforts to- wards the introduction of Christianity as the religion of the country. He everywhere destroyed the heathen temples, and invited all classes of the people to submit to baptism. Where kindness failed, he had recourse to cruelty. His plans, however, f(;r the Christianization of his subjects were cut short in the year 1000. He died in a war against the iniited powers of Denmark and Sweden.
Norway now passed into the hands of foreign rulers, who, though favorable to Christianity, took no active measures for planting the Christian Church in their
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