Gripla - 20.12.2010, Page 210

GRIPLA210
On the Saturday before Easter, Hallr and all his household are baptised in
the river. This is a charming tale of a personal conversion. The episode is
strikingly mundane, contains no supernatural element and therefore cre-
ates a contrast with many of the other episodes in Kristni saga, in which the
superiority of the new faith is demonstrated as the means by which
Þangbrandr can overcome his pagan adversaries and win the approval of
potential converts. Hallr questions Þangbrandr first out of curiosity, but
quickly becomes impressed by the faith, in particular he is interested in
hierarchical structure whereby angels report to a higher authority.15 This
concept of the hierarchy of God’s angels was familiar across medieval
Europe, but here it is made particularly appropriate to the medieval
Icelandic mindset. Hallr’s comment that the one whom these angels serve
must be powerful is deliberately obtuse. It could refer to Michael as arch-
angel, but could also refer to God as Michael’s superior. It could even refer
to Hallr’s own desire to befriend Michael and therefore have the benefit of
the angels’ support. The comment shows that Hallr recognises the power
of the individual as being dependent on the level of support. This resem-
bles the social structure in Iceland, whereby each bóndi must declare them-
selves ‘in thing’ with a goði. Although the goðar were the most powerful
class in medieval Icelandic society, the power of an individual goði and the
ability to win court cases in his own interest and for his þingmenn was, in
part, dependent on the number of bœndr supporting him. Thus Hallr sees
this structure not only in theological and moral terms, but also with the
shrewd political eyes which make him such a formidable chieftain.
The scene provides a personal counterpoint to the description of the
political conversion of the entire country at the Alþingi later in Kristni
saga. Hallr seems to be persuaded even before he suggests his household
witness the mass, as he says he wants them to take advantage (njóta) of
Þangbrandr’s presence. However, he tells his household to observe the
mass for themselves and then questions them on what they have seen.
Although Hallr is instrumental in the mass conversion at the Alþingi at the
turn of the millennium, where the faith of thousands of people hung on a
15 A more detailed version of Þangbrandr’s explanation of Michael and angels is preserved
in Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta (EA AII, 152–154). In this version Hallr even requires
that Þangbrandr prove the veracity of his claims and has two old women in his household
baptised. The health of old women improves and Hallr is convinced.