Germanic Chivalry

Forwarded from Arische Blutgesellschaft

When someone claims "our ancestors peacefully converted to Christianity," it's essential to understand the historical complexities and violent aspects often involved in this process. Here's a detailed look at significant events and how Christian mythology was adapted to appeal to Germanic and other pagan peoples:

### Violent Conversions and Persecutions

1. Massacre of Verden (782): Charlemagne executed around 4,500 Saxons for resisting conversion during his campaign to Christianize the Saxons.
2. Christianization of Iceland (10th–11th centuries): Conversion involved coercion, with the Alþingi declaring Christianity the official religion to avoid conflict.
3. Persecution of the Bogomils (10th–15th centuries): This dualist Christian sect faced persecution from both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches.
4. Northern Crusades (12th–13th centuries): Military campaigns by the Teutonic Order and Scandinavian kingdoms aimed at converting pagan Baltic and Finnic tribes through force.
5. Livonian Crusade (1198–1290): The Teutonic Order's campaigns to convert pagan tribes in modern-day Latvia and Estonia were often violent.
6. Crusade against the Bosnian Christians (1235–1241): Pope Gregory IX's crusade led to forced conversions of the Bosnian Church, perceived as heretical.
7. Stedinger Crusade (1234–1238): This military campaign aimed at coercing the Stedingers in Northern Germany into Christianity.
8. Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229): Targeting the Cathars in Southern France, this crusade led to their eradication and forced conversions.
9. Persecution of Heretical Movements (13th–14th centuries): Various movements, such as the Cathars and Waldensians in Italy, faced severe persecution from the Catholic Church.
10. Burning of the Templars (1312): The suppression of the Knights Templar involved accusations of heresy and execution, reflecting religious coercion.
11. Christianization of the Baltic Finns (12th–13th centuries): Swedish and German efforts to convert the Baltic Finns involved significant coercion.
12. Witch Hunts in France (14th–17th centuries): Many women and men were executed for alleged witchcraft, often those who defied societal norms or practiced traditional healing.
13. Witch Hunts in Germany: The Holy Roman Empire witnessed numerous witch trials and executions, particularly in regions like Germany.
14. The Torsåker Witch Trials (1675): In Sweden, many were executed for alleged witchcraft, reflecting societal hysteria.
15. Inquisition in Spain (1478–1834): The Spanish Inquisition targeted religious minorities and suspected heretics, enforcing orthodoxy through persecution.

### Adaptation of Christianity to Pagan Beliefs

The version of Christianity presented to Germanic and other pagan peoples often bore little resemblance to modern Christianity. Here are some ways Christian mythology was adapted:

- Norse Poem (10th century): Jesus was depicted at Urðarbrunnr, "the well of fate," beneath the world tree from Heathen myth.
- Heliand (830 AD): Jesus addressed his disciples from the water’s edge, akin to Odin's role at the well of memory.
- Dream of the Rood: Jesus was portrayed as a "young warrior" and the cross as a conscious sacred tree.
- Anglo-Saxon Gospels: The word “thegn,” referring to a military attendant of a Germanic lord, was used for God’s angels and Christ’s disciples.
- Use of Heathen Terminology: The word for the underworld, “Hell,” was retained with its associated imagery from Heathen myth.
- Harrowing of Hell: Jesus rescued noble pagans from Hell, suggesting that Germanic people could still dwell with their ancestors in the afterlife.
- Depiction in Old English Exodus: Jews were depicted like Anglo-Saxons, with Moses defeating enemies in battle.
- God Sceaf and Noah: Sceaf, a Teutonic god, was said to be the son of the biblical Noah.

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