Fatwa on terror, what the hell.

[HoreTore]

Did the Jarls like brutes as Kings then? Odd, the Earls didn't.

Which one of them wasn't a brute?

[al Roumi]

As interesting a topic as the spread of Christianity among the Norse is, does it actually shed any further light on whether Christianity, and it's texts, prescribes an actual legal system (or dispute resolution mechanism) on its adherents?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Which one of them wasn't a brute?

Godwin and Godwin's sons were not so terrible (Tostig accepted), Bishop Wulfstan of York (contemporary with Cnut) was considered to be just, fair, intelligent, and is credited with avoiding a divisive and costly war after Cnut took the crown. Perhaps you equate "brute" with "violent", which I do not.

Alh_p, it does shed some light because it helps to explain why people converted. Catholicism was not the only show in town, but it plugged you into the Roman network and gave you access to all manner of advantages in trade and administration. However, the Law was not strictly theocratic. Church courts existyed and dealt with moral matters, mainly burrial, infidelity, etc. but they were hardly the only law in the land.