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[[File: Europe_map_1092.png|300px|thumbnail|left|A Map Showing the Scandinavian Kingdoms in Relation relation to the Rest of Europe in the Late Eleventh Century]]Due to its close proximity to the Holy Roman Empire and the rest of Europe, Denmark was the first of the Viking lands to accept Christianity. The Christianization of Denmark began when missionaries, such as Ansgar, began visiting the land in the early ninth century. Ansgar was a German monk who would later become the archbishop of Bremen. <ref> RosedahlRosendahl, Else. <i> The Vikings.</i> Translated by Susan M. Margeson and Kirsten Williams. (London: Penguin, 1998), p. 159 </ref> An eleventh-century monk named Adam of Bremen wrote in his <i>History of Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen</i> that the pope gave the archbishopric of Hamburg-Bremen ecclesiastical authority in Scandinavia in the mid-ninth century. <ref> Sawyer, Birgit. “Scandinavian Conversion Histories.” <i>Harvard Ukrainian Studies</i> 12/13 (1989) p. 47</ref> The missionary efforts moved slowly until they achieved official status from a Viking king in 965.

According to the Old Norse language history An eleventh-century monk named Adam of the Viking Age known as the Bremen wrote in his <i>HeimskringlaHistory of Archbishops of Hamburg-Bremen</i>, Harald Bluetooth (ruled c. 958-986) was that the pope gave the first Christian king archbishopric of Denmark. Harald had become embroiled Hamburg-Bremen ecclesiastical authority in Scandinavia in a conflict with Otto II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire (reigned 973mid-983), which was at least partially due to the fact that Harald was a pagan. Otto threatened to invade Denmark with an army of Germans, Franks, and Poles, forcing the Danish king to consider his optionsninth century. <ref> SturlasonSawyer, Snorre Birgit. “Scandinavian Conversion Histories.” <i> Heimskringla: Or the Lives of the Norse Kings.Harvard Ukrainian Studies</i> 12/13 (Mineola, New York: Dover, 19901989), The History of Olav Trygvason, XXVIII p. 47</ref> According to the saga, Harald was converted to Christianity after witnessing one of Otto’s priests perform an apparent miracleThe missionary efforts slowly moved until they achieved official status from a Viking king in 965.

“Emperor Otta and According to the Old Norse language history of the Viking Age known as the Danish king met in Morsö<i>Heimskringla</i>, Harald Bluetooth (ruled c. Then a holy bishop, Poppa, made known 958-986) was the true faith to first Christian King of Denmark. Harald; had become embroiled in a conflict with Otto II, emperor of the bishop bore glowing iron in his hand and showed King Holy Roman Empire (reigned 973-983), which was at least partially because Harald his and unburnedwas a pagan. After thatOtto threatened to invade Denmark with an army of Germans, Franks, King Harald let himself and all Poles, forcing the Danish army be baptizedKing to consider his options.” <ref> Sturlason, Snorre <i> Heimskringla: Or the Lives of the Norse Kings.</i> (Mineola, New York: Dover, 1990), The History of Olav Trygvason, XXVIII</ref> According to the saga, Harald was converted to Christianity after witnessing one of Otto’s priests perform an apparent miracle.

Harald then “Emperor Otta and the Danish King met in Morsö. Then a holy bishop, Poppa, made it his mission known the true faith to convert King Harald; the rest of bishop bore glowing iron in his kingdom as well as all of hand and showed King Harald his pagan cousins to the northand unburned. He is credited with converting Hakon the Jarl of NorwayAfter that, but when Hakon went back to his pagan ways King Harald let himself and all the two rulers went to warDanish army be baptized. ” <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, XXXIIIXXVIII</ref>

Harald then made it his mission to convert the rest of his kingdom as well as all of his pagan cousins to the north. He is credited with converting Hakon the Jarl of Norway, but when Hakon went back to his pagan ways, the two rulers went to war. <ref> Sturlason, The History of Olav Trygvason, XXXIII</ref>  The sagas depict the conversion of Scandinavia taking place from a “top-down” perspective, where the kings and jarls converted first, often for political reasons as Harald did, and then obliging their subordinates to follow suit. A closer examination of the accounts reveals that the conversions Conversions usually followed a three-step pattern: first. First, the convert would renounce the old ways. Second, then the convert would then publicly identify as a Christian, and finally. Finally, the convert would follow the rituals and inwardly adopt the new faith. <ref> Abram, Christopher. “Modeling Religious Experience in Old Norse Conversion Narratives: The Case of Óláfr Tryggvason and Hallfreðr vandræðskáld.” <i>Speculum</i> 90 (2015) p. 119</ref> The first two steps were often superficial and done in name only – new converts to Christianity often did so under the threat of death or to gain a new ally.