The Heimskringla on Thangbrand

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 80. Thangbrand The Priest Goes To Iceland.

• attestation: Thangbrand was a Saxon priest in Olaf's house described as passionate, ungovernable, and a great man-slayer, but also a good scholar.

  "there was a Saxon priest in his house who was called Thangbrand, a passionate, ungovernable man, and a great man-slayer; but he was a good scholar, and a clever man"

• attestation: Thangbrand landed first at Austfjord in the southern Alptfjord and wintered with Hal of Sida.

  "he landed first in Iceland at Austfjord in the southern Alptfjord, and passed the winter in the house of Hal of Sida"

• attestation: Hal of Sida and his household were baptized through Thangbrand's persuasion, along with other chiefs.

  "Thangbrand proclaimed Christianity in Iceland, and on his persuasion Hal and all his house people, and many other chiefs, allowed themselves to be baptized"

• attestation: Thangbrand spent two years in Iceland and killed three men before leaving.

  "Thangbrand was two years in Iceland, and was the death of three men before he left it"

Heimskringla > The Chronicle Of The Kings Of Norway > 91. Thangbrand Returns From Iceland.

• attestation: Thangbrand returned from Iceland in autumn 999 reporting his mission had failed; Icelanders had made lampoons about him and some tried to kill him.

  "The same harvest (A.D. 999) Thangbrand the priest came back from Iceland to King Olaf, and told the ill success of his journey; namely, that the Icelanders had made lampoons about him; and that some even sought to kill him, and there was little hope of that country ever being made Christian"

• attestation: They blamed Thangbrand's violent methods in Iceland, comparing them to his conduct at the Norwegian court.

  "the priest Thangbrand proceeded there as he did here in the court, with violence and manslaughter, and such conduct the people there would not submit to"