Editing Olaf Tryggvason (section)

=== Attempted conversion of Norway to Christianity ===
It has been suggested that Olaf's ambition was to rule a united Christian [[Scandinavia]], and it is known that he made overtures of marriage to [[Sigrid the Haughty]], queen of [[Sweden]], but negotiations failed because of her steadfast pagan faith. Instead, he made an enemy of her, and did not hesitate to involve himself in a quarrel with King [[Sweyn I of Denmark]] by marrying Sweyn's sister Tyra, who had fled from her heathen husband [[Burislav]], the semi-legendary "King of [[Wends]]", in defiance of her brother's authority.<ref name="EB1911"/>

Olaf continued to promote Christianity throughout his reign. He baptized the explorer [[Leif Ericson]], who took a priest with him back to [[Greenland]] to convert the rest of his kin.<ref>Snorre Sturlason, ''Heimskringla, Or the Lives of the Norse Kings'' (Kessinger Publishing, 2004), p. 188 {{ISBN|0766186938}}</ref> Olaf also converted the people and Earl of the [[Orkney Islands]] to Christianity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Covenant Worldwide – Ancient & Medieval Church History<!-- Bot generated title --> |url=http://www.covenantseminary.edu/worldwide/en/CH310/CH310_T_20.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908092713/http://www.covenantseminary.edu/worldwide/en/CH310/CH310_T_20.html |archive-date=8 September 2008}}</ref>  At that time, the Orkney Islands were part of Norway. While Olaf sent missionaries to other lands and baptized dignitaries who visited Norway to spread Christianity, within his own kingdom he used forced conversion through means such as exile, hostage taking, mutilation, torture, and death for those who refused as well as destroying pagan temples.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olaf I Tryggvason, King of Norway {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/olaf-i-tryggvason-king-norway |access-date=17 August 2023 |website=www.encyclopedia.com |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419185101/https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/olaf-i-tryggvason-king-norway |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Prudence |title=A History of Pagan Europe |last2=Pennick |first2=Nigel |publisher=Routledge |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-415-15804-6 |edition=2nd |location=Oxfordshire |pages=Chapter 7}}</ref> Noted victims include Thorlief the Wise who had one eye torn out—his torturers were supposed to blind him but his stoic bearing during the torture led them to run away after doing only half the job—and [[Raud the Strong]] who had a venomous snake forced into body through his mouth by a red hot iron.<ref name=":2" /> Ultimately, Olaf's efforts at widespread conversion failed.<ref name=":0" />