How Christianity was Forced on the Germanic Peoples

Sources Below
The Germanic peoples underwent gradual Christianization in the course of late antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. By AD 700, England and Francia were officially Christian, and by 1100 Germanic paganism had also ceased to have political influence in Scandinavia. Christianization began in the Roman Empire, continued through the Middle Ages in Europe, and in the twenty-first century has spread around the globe.

Online shop

TOP suggested books to learn more!

Insta

Patreon

United Homesteads

Sources
History of the Franks

Heimskringla

Adam of Bremmen, Gesta Hammaburgensis

Vita Sancti Wilfrithi
Carmen de conversione Saxonum
Lex Frisionum,
Lex Saxonum.
Capitulatio de partibus Saxoniae

Intro- 00:00
Frankia- 01:30
England 03:20
Saxony- 07:20
Frisia- 10:20
Denmark- 11:50
Norway- 13:30
Sweden- 15:20
Conclusion- 17:00

A shift in Christianization took place in 612 when the Visigothic King Sisebut declared the obligatory conversion of all Jews in Spain, contradicting Pope Gregory who had reiterated the traditional ban against forced conversion of the Jews in 591. The Franks first appear in the historical record in the 3rd century as a confederation of Germanic tribes living on the east bank of the lower Rhine River. Clovis I was the first king of the Franks to unite all of the Frankish tribes under one ruler.

[ManDuderGuy]

Big respect to people who stand up for their religion without having to force it on everyone else.

[stoiccowl]

I can say as an Estonian that when Estonian pagans were converted into christianity, then most of us went to the sacred rivers and washed it off, but pretended to be christians still

[RotteTroll]

Forcing your religion upon other people has always been a focal point for me. I've been speaking with people from all kinds of religions and all say that my believe is fake and I will end up in hell of some sort. Always judging my believe. I've been raised by Christian parents, but they've let me walk my own path and never forced it upon me. The rest around me did.

Now I have a wife and she's also pagan. Nice to live in the Netherlands and have someone with the same believe.

[suupkalvers]

I am a Frisian heathen, now living in Bremen. One thing I missed is that Bonefatius was killed near Dokkum, Fryslân, by the Frisians. Suppose that can be seen as karma 😀

[VikingWohlfByBlood]

Always enjoy and appreciate your videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them and for providing the information you do. Skål !!

[alexlarsen]

Dannevirke fortifications were built largely to defend Denmark from the Franks. We definitely were supposed to be next after the Saxons and Frisians but had held out for another couple of centuries.
Some hypothesize the viking raids against western Europe, were partially a response to attempts at forced christianization, at least in the beginning.
Likewise they could've started as a shot across the bow, responding to the appearance of christian monks in danish lands.
Kind of makes sense as the danes were definitely aware of what had just happened to the south of Denmark, they knew that the monks were a bad omen, followed by frankish swords and the message could've been: don't you dare come here or else this is what awaits you. We're not going to go down easy.
Harald Bluetooth accepted christianity for practical reasons, but it was kind of pathetic let's be honest.
Today Harald I is basically celebrated more than his father, being buried in Roskilde Cathedral and all...

[Ravynwulf]

I certainly have experienced stupidity, hate and threats of violence from Christian keyboard cowards against me many times on line in the last few years and it’s getting worse. I was watching 3 livestreams this week and all the chats were FULL of Christian supremacist bullies. They certainly aren’t making me want to be like them…They’re only making me really hate them! 😡

[blanquitochulito]

THIS reason and the destruction of the Library at Alexandria is why I'm still holding a grudge against those people not the religion itself.

[crazybeardedbeerreviews]

Please keep doing what you do. I consider myself pagan I do not share this with the people around me because of the backlash I simply go on about my business and let them go about theirs.

[chadlin]

The irony in all of that is Charlemagne practiced a very Germanized, warlike version of medieval Christianity--one that was far-removed from the religion preached by the Nazarene known as Jesus Christ. It was highly influenced by paganism. Saint Boniface chose to cut down an oak tree said to have been dedicated to Thor precisely because violence and power were the common language known to these Germanic "barbarians". The Frisians would've laughed their Germanic asses off at a "God" that got captured, flogged, and executed by being nailed to a wooden cross. Please note that I'm not passing judgement on any of these people or historical events. Read the The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity by James C. Russell.

[plciferpffer]

The so called Viking age was triggered by the massacre in Verden.
The slaughter of fellow pagans had to get a response.

[FXGreggan.]

Here in Sweden churches was built on raised pagan sites and many many churches have smashed up runestones in the foundation (facing outwards) as to show christian dominance.

[Nom_AnorVSJedi]

Always amazed me how Europe succumbed to Christianity while India retained Hinduism despite a thousand years of Islam.

[mariocastro]

Well done! Well said! Time well spent! The US is going through a period of book banning on subjects that do not fit their bubbles!

[kev]

Thank you for all your work in compiling and making these videos :D
I often think about all things our ancestors suffered trying to keep our pagan beliefs alive.

[proud_heathen]

Could you possibly do more videos on germanic pagan religious beliefs and practices?

[zekun]

I heard that one of the reasons why the Vikings targeted France so much was because of Charlemagne's war on the Saxons. Another often forgotten part of history is that Charlemagne conquered the Avars, although he did so with an alliance with the pagan Bulgarian Krum, who is notorious for turning the head of the Byzantine Emperor into a drinking cup. The Hungarians later were allegedly seen by the Avars as their liberators, they told the Hungarians the way in which Charlemagne conquered them and when the Franks attempted to invade Hungary they knew exactly how to defeat them which became known as the Battle of Pressburg, the battle of Pressburg was actually the climax of 5 consecutive battles, all of which the Hungarians won. The Hungarians relentlessly raided Western Europe, specifically targeting the regions where Charlemagne distributed the war loot taken from the Avars, possibly the motivation was retribution for his war on the Avars. The Viking and Hungarian raids were so relentless that the Karlings were constantly defeated and humiliated, to the point that they lost power and new nobility took their place. So it's good to see that the Karlings in the end paid the price for Charlemagne's deeds and there was retribution.

[Surtur]

Great video. There is also plenty of history regarding christian violence against pagans in southern Europe too. Especially rome and countries with hellenic religion. Torture, executions, vandalization, ect ect.

[steveanderson]

I had a talk, over a pint or two, at my local the other night. This guy us a Christian and quite active within his church, mainly the music program. Our conversation turn a bit on religion with a young couple sitting next to us. She is a Christian, he isn't. The fella I was Shar conversation with interjected, "That's okay, it's not a competition". Which I think is the right attitude more Christians (or any other Abrahamic faith based religion), and to be honest, several pagans could use.

[jorgnocke]

Great Video thank you so much please keep up your mazing work stay safe and have a wonderful and blessed day