We begin today's ten by picking up right where we left off with our favorite

mildly homicidal missionary priest Thangbrand. Thangbrand had traveled to Iceland at the behest of the missionary king of Norway,

Olaf Trigvesant, with the goal of converting the Icelanders to Christianity.

While Thangbrand's presence in Iceland had initially been tolerated, he even managed to

convert a few chieftains to the faith. Eventually, the priest was outlawed after he

killed at least two and possibly more Icelanders who had written libelous poems about him. As an outlaw, Thangbrand had to leave the island

or risk being killed by any who came across him. Although it took a few months and a rather nasty

winter storm, Thangbrand did eventually leave Iceland, sailing to Trondheim in Norway to report to King Olaf on the progress, or lack thereof he had made among the Icelanders.

Apparently, Thangbrand's news he had made among the Icelanders.

Apparently, Thangbrand's news infuriated the king.

A typical account is remembered by Ari the Learnin in his East lending a book quote and when he that is than brand

arrived in the east he told King Olaf everything that had happened to him there and said that it was

beyond all expectation that Christianity might be accepted here and Olaf became

very angry at this and determined to have those of our countrymen who were in the East, maimed or killed for it.

End quote.

According to Krisney Saga, which, as always, should be taken with a healthy pinch of salt,

there were actually quite a few Icelanders who were in Trondheim at this time. Remember that the Icelanders

maintain strong trade, social, and cultural connections with Norway ever since the island had been first settled over a century earlier

and many wealthy Icelanders still traveled frequently to their ancestors homeland.

Included among these expats were the sons of a number of prominent Godar who were busy making their fortunes and reputations as raiders and traders before they were

abruptly seized by King Olaf and his men. At around this same time, two Icelandic chieftains,

Pialty Skagason and Gieser the White,

...