The Role of Rulers in the Winding Up of the Old Norse Religion

Abstract It is a common opinion in research that the Scandinavians changed religion during the second half of the Viking Age, that is, ca. 950–1050/1100 CE . During this period, Christianity replaced the Old Norse religion. When describing this transition in recent studies, the concept “Christianiza...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Numen
Main Author: Sundqvist, Olof 1959- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Brill 2021
In: Numen
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Scandinavia / Germanic peoples / Mythology / Religion / Decline / Christianization / Religious change
RelBib Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AG Religious life; material religion
BD Ancient European religions
CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations
KBE Northern Europe; Scandinavia
Further subjects:B Viking Age
B Old Norse religion
B strategies and tactics
B demise
B Rulers
B active dismantling
B Religious Change
B Pragmatics
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:Abstract It is a common opinion in research that the Scandinavians changed religion during the second half of the Viking Age, that is, ca. 950–1050/1100 CE . During this period, Christianity replaced the Old Norse religion. When describing this transition in recent studies, the concept “Christianization” is often applied. To a large extent this historiography focuses on the outcome of the encounter, namely the description of early Medieval Christianity and the new Christian society. The purpose and aims of the present study are to concentrate more exclusively on the Old Norse religion during this period of change and to analyze the questions of how and why it disappeared. A special focus is placed on the native kings. These kings played a most active role in winding up the indigenous tradition that previously formed their lives. It seems as if they used some deliberate methods during this process. When designing their strategies they focused on the religious leadership as well as the ritual system. These seem to have been the aspects of the indigenous religion of which they had direct control, and at the same time, were central for the modus operandi of the old religion. Most of all, it seems as if these Christian kings were pragmatists. Since they could not affect the traditional worldview and prevent people from telling the mythical narratives about the old gods, they turned to such aims that they were able to achieve.
ISSN:1568-5276
Contains:Enthalten in: Numen
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685276-12341623