When Harald Gormson, king of Denmark, had adopted Christianity, he sent
a message over all his kingdom that all people should be baptized, and
converted to the true faith. He himself followed his message, and used
power and violence where nothing else would do. He sent two earls,
Urguthrjot and Brimilskjar, with many people to Norway, to proclaim
Christianity there. In Viken, which stood directly under the king's
power, this succeeded, and many were baptized of the country folk. But
when Svein Forked-beard, immediately after his father King Harald's
death, went out on war expeditions in Saxland, Frisland, and at last
in England, the Northmen who had taken up Christianity returned back to
heathen sacrifices, just as before; and the people in the north of the
country did the same. But now that Olaf Trygvason was king of Norway, he
remained long during the summer (A.D. 996) in Viken, where many of his
relatives and some of his brothers-in-law were settled, and also many
who had been great friends of his father; so that he was received with
the greatest affection. Olaf called together his mother's brothers, his
stepfather Lodin, and his brothers-in-law Thorgeir and Hyrning, to speak
with them, and to disclose with the greatest care the business which he
desired they themselves should approve of, and support with all their
power; namely, the proclaiming Christianity over all his kingdom. He
would, he declared, either bring it to this, that all Norway should be
Christian, or die. "I shall make you all," said he, "great and mighty
men in promoting this work; for I trust to you most, as blood relations
or brothers-in-law." All agreed to do what he asked, and to follow him
in what he desired. King Olaf immediately made it known to the public
that he recommended Christianity to all the people in his kingdom, which
message was well received and approved of by those who had before given
him their promise; and these being the most powerful among the people
assembled, the others followed their example, and all the inhabitants of
the east part of Viken allowed themselves to be baptized. The king
then went to the north part of Viken and invited every man to accept
Christianity; and those who opposed him he punished severely, killing
some, mutilating others, and driving some into banishment. At length he
brought it so far, that all the kingdom which his father King Trvgve had
ruled over, and also that of his relation Harald Grenske, accepted of
Christianity; and during that summer (A.D. 996) and the following winter
(A.D. 997) all Viken was made Christian.