Friedrich (mission bishop)

The Saxon bishop Friedrich ( Icelandic : Friðrekur ) was the first Christian messenger of faith in Iceland from 981 to 986 .

The Nordic farmers and Vikings, who have colonized Iceland since 870, came into contact with Christianity there before 980 through Irish hermits or through their Christian, unfree servants . Nothing is known of conversions. The wealthy large farmer Þorvaldur Koðránsson , later also called Þorvaldur víðförli , who buys prisoners of war in Northern Germany on his own account, is converted and baptized in Saxony by a bishop Friedrich. Þorvaldur asked him to come to Iceland with him to baptize his own people. In large parts of Iceland, despite great opposition, they proclaim the new faith, with Þorvaldur interpreting or preaching. Mighty Goden were baptized by Friedrich, and they also appeared at the Althing , the annual gathering of free farmers. In contrast to the peaceful bishop, Þorvaldur avenges the insults of his opponents with manslaughter, whereupon the Althing banishes both of them. In 986 they go to Norway , where King Olaf Tryggvason promotes the conversion of the country from 995 on. After another act of violence by Þorvaldur, Friedrich separates from him and returns to Saxony.

The earliest prose report of Iceland's conversion, the Íslendingabók (around 1130) by Ari Þorgilsson , and the Kristni saga call the slight but courageous Frederick “a true saint”. He cannot have been the head shepherd of his own Saxon diocese. In all probability, it is those Mainzer Chorbishop , the Archbishop and Chancellor Willigis in the northern half of the then very extensive diocese of Mainz represented and on a Saxony state parliament 990/991 the border between Engern and Ostfalen and the dioceses of Minden and Hildesheim finds .

literature

Ekkehard Eickhoff : Emperor Otto III. The first millennium and the development of Europe. 2nd edition. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-608-94188-6 , pp. 143-148
Klaus Düwel : The conversion on Iceland. Prehistory and course. In: Knut Schäferdiek (Ed.): The Church of the Early Middle Ages (Church history as Missionsgeschichte II, 2). Munich 1978, p. 260 ff.

Individual evidence

↑ The "Kristnisaga, Tháttr Thorvalds ens Viđforla", written between 1200 and 1250, edited by Bernard Kahle: "Old Norse Saga Library" 11, Halle 1905, 1–13; Translated into: "The book of the introduction of Christianity" in: "Islands colonization and oldest history" translated by Walter Baetge, Ed. Felix Niedner, Thule Vol. 23, Eugen Diederichs Verlag Leipzig 1967, 161–166.
^ "The Book of the Islanders (Íslendingabók) by Ari Torgilsson" ed. And trsl. Halldór Herrmansson, Islandica XX, New York 1966, pp. 54, 67.
^ 3 Ekkehard Eickhoff: Bishop Friedrich and Thangbrand. Saxon messengers of faith in the far north. Historisches Jahrbuch 119 (1999), 41–51, on Friedrich's identity, p. 49 f.

personal data
SURNAME	Friedrich
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Friðrekur
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German mission bishop
DATE OF BIRTH	10th century
PLACE OF BIRTH	Germany
DATE OF DEATH	10th century
Place of death	Germany

[1] The "Kristnisaga, Tháttr Thorvalds ens Viđforla", written between 1200 and 1250, edited by Bernard Kahle: "Old Norse Saga Library" 11, Halle 1905, 1–13; Translated into: "The book of the introduction of Christianity" in: "Islands colonization and oldest history" translated by Walter Baetge, Ed. Felix Niedner, Thule Vol. 23, Eugen Diederichs Verlag Leipzig 1967, 161–166.

[2] "The Book of the Islanders (Íslendingabók) by Ari Torgilsson" ed. And trsl. Halldór Herrmansson, Islandica XX, New York 1966, pp. 54, 67.

[3] 3 Ekkehard Eickhoff: Bishop Friedrich and Thangbrand. Saxon messengers of faith in the far north. Historisches Jahrbuch 119 (1999), 41–51, on Friedrich's identity, p. 49 f.