Re: MS 991 unexpected impact in contacts eastward.

From: David Holiman (dcholiman_at_ev1.net)
Date: 07/30/04 

Date: 30 Jul 2004 03:07:46 -0700

Doug Weller <dweller@ramtops.thisremove.co.uk> wrote in message news:<kh4rbit98wrv$.1uo7m4lubm8b$.dlg@40tude.net>...
> On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 13:36:40 GMT, David B wrote:
>
> > Inger E Johansson wrote in message ...
> >>
> >>As shown before King Olav and Sigheric/Sigfrid, bishop of Orkney, met in
> > 991
> >
> > Before we begin to consider the rest of the message, can we just clear up
> > the implications of those first few words.
> >
> > a) King Olav.
> > Fair enough I suppose, though he wasn't much of a king in 991.
> >
> > b) Sigheric/Sigfrid.
> > Is this supposed to be one person with alternate names? I hope not, because
> > it sounds a lot like two separate people- Sigheric, newly-appointed
> > Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sigfrid, King Ethelred's missionary to the
> > Baltic.
>
> Normally spelled Sigeric, aka Sigeric the Serious.
>
> >
> > c) bishop of Orkney
> > I don't think the Orcadians would admit to having a bishop of their own in
> > 991, or for a couple of generations after
>
> http://www.orkney.org/birsayheritage/heritage.htm
> "For centuries, political and religious power radiated from this small
> scenic tidal island and the adjacent bay shore. Influence was at its'
> height during the reign of Thorfinn the Mighty (1014-1065) when this Earl
> of Orkney's rule extended from Shetland down the west coast of Scotland to
> parts of Ireland. Thorfinn's main residence was in Birsay according to the
> Sagas, and the remains of elaborate buildings on the Brough of Birsay are
> thought to be Thorfinn's headquarters. At this time, the first Bishop of
> Orkney was appointed and his cathedral was probably on the site of the
> present St Magnus Church, according to recent scholarship."
>
> I'll be interested to see if Inger has evidence that this is all wrong,
> that there really was a Bishop of Okrney in 991.
>
> Doug
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here is what I think about your Roman Catholic Bishop
of Orkney circa 991: a gang of Danish thugs were
creating mischief and havoc in the Orkneys; an
Anglo-Saxon or Roman Catholic embassy arrives from
London with a small
chest of gold coins and some expensive vestments and
a chasuble. This raiments and treasure are bestowed on
the leader of the henchmen under the condition that
they settle down and stop killing Christians.
DAVID H
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~``

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