While Christianity suffered such great losses in Asia and Africa, it was spread by faithful workers over the whole of Europe. A monk by the name of Ansgar, afterward called Saint Ansgar, came from Germany to Denmark in 826, and labored there and in Sweden for the introduction of Christianity for forty years, surrounded by many dangers. He has been called the Apostle of the North. It took, however, a long time before Christianity was firmly established in these countries. In olden times the people of Norway, as well as of Denmark and Sweden, were heathens; their gods were called Asas. But at the time when Christianity reached Norway, the faith in Odin and Thor was not very firm. Many believed in nothing but their own strength. It is thus told about King Harald the Fairhaired, that he placed no trust in the Asas, but “believed in that god who was the strongest, and had made all and ruled over all.” The Northmen who first heard anything about Christ were Vikings, who sailed west and south on their robbing expeditions. Some of these were baptized, many only in order to receive the presents that were given those who were baptized. But such Christianity as this had no power, and we hear nothing of any efforts on their part to spread it when they came home. The Norse chief, Helge the Lean, who had been brought up in Ireland in the Christian faith, and later resided in Iceland, continued in his faith in Christ; but when he was on the sea or in danger he turned to Thor. Haakon the Good, who in England had been brought up in the Christian faith, wished to introduce it into Norway, when he was made king. He even got some priests from England and built some churches; but the people of Trondhjem opposed his efforts, and Haakon himself was forced to sacrifice to the gods. Haakon the Earl was the last heathen ruler of Norway. He believed so strongly in the power of the old gods that during the battle with the Jomsvikings he sacrificed his own son to obtain victory. In an insurrection he was killed by his own slave, and Olav Trygveson became king. He had accepted Christianity during one of his sea expeditions, and had been baptized. He was zealous for the progress of the faith, and traveled through the country to Christianize the people. Where this could not be accomplished with leniency, force was employed. Several who resisted baptism were tortured to death. He introduced Christianity in Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, but did not reign long enough over Norway to accomplish his purpose there. When he had reigned five years, he fell in the battle at Svolder, in the year 1000.