 maintained all through the pre-Reformation period, despite their extreme geographical inconvenience.

That Osmund, having ventured to make the journey from Sweden to Rome, was, according to Adam of Bremen's report, rebuffed on arrival at his destination, need not stand to his discredit, given the frequency with which successive popes replaced one another in second quarter of the eleventh century, all too often amidst scandal and faction-fighting. As for his subsequent obtaining of 'ordination' as bishop from 'a certain archbishop of Polania', it needs to be stated that 'Polania' definitely means 'Poland' and no other country.  Ever since the decree of Prince Mieszko I known as Dagome iudex, the Polish Church had committed itself to a particularly close relationship with Rome, and, to judge from that Church's earliest records, it seems highly unlikely that any mid-eleventh-century archbishop of Poland, whether Stephen of Gniezno or Aaron of Kraków, would have consecrated a new bishop for Sweden, or anywhere else, without specific papal authorization. 

The task confronting Osmund as virtual or actual primate of all Sweden was an extremely difficult one. King Emund, according to Adam of Bremen, 'cared little about our religion', and it seems safe to infer from the available evidence that would have been obliged, as one of his kingly duties, to preside at the nine-yearly pagan festival held at Uppsala, at which human sacrifice was practised, along with the ritual slaughter of many animals.  Even in Skara or thereabouts, a very famous statue of the fertility god Fricco remained on display throughout Osmund's unofficial tenure of the bishopric, only to be destroyed at a somewhat later date.  Osmund, like all Christian missionaries operating in the Swedish kingdom, would have been obliged to respect the agreement made by Olof Skötkonung with the traditional polytheists of his country, 'not to force anyone of the populace to give up the worship of his gods, if he did not of his own accord wish to turn to Christ'.

It may well be that, in refusing a welcome to Adalward as Bremen's appointee to the see of Skara, Osmund was in breach of an oath of 'obedience' which he had sworn when enthroned there as Thurgot
maintained all through the pre - Reformation period, despite their extreme geographical troublesomeness. 

 That Osmund, having venture to make the journey from Sweden to Rome, was, according to Adam of Bremen's reputation, repel on arrival at his destination, need not stand to his disrepute, given the frequency with which successive popes replace one another in second quarter of the eleventh century, wholly too often amidst scandal and faction - fighting. As for his subsequent obtaining of' ordering' as bishop from' a certain archbishop of Polania', it needs to be express that' Polania' definitely means' Poland' and no early country.   Ever since the decree of Prince Mieszko I known as Dagome iudex, the Polish Church had give itself to a particularly close kinship with Rome, and, to judge from that Church's early records, it seem highly unlikely that any mid - eleventh - century archbishop of Poland, whether Stephen of Gniezno or Aaron of Kraków, would have consecrated a newfangled bishop for Sweden, or anywhere else, without specific papal authorization. 

 The task confronting Osmund as virtual or actual primate of all Sweden was an extremely difficult one. King Emund, according to Adam of Bremen,' cared little about our religion', and it seems safe to infer from the available evidence that would have been obliged, as one of his kingly duties, to preside at the nine - yearly pagan festival held at Uppsala, at which human sacrifice was rehearse, along with the ritual slaughter of many animals.   Even in Skara or thereabouts, a very celebrated statue of the birthrate god Fricco persist on display throughout Osmund's unofficial tenure of the bishopric, only to be demolish at a somewhat later date.   Osmund, like all Christian missionaries operating in the Swedish kingdom, would have been oblige to respect the agreement made by Olof Skötkonung with the traditional polytheists of his country,' not to force anyone of the populace to give up the worship of his gods, if he did not of his own treaty wish to turn to Christ'. 

 It may well be that, in refusing a welcome to Adalward as Bremen's appointee to the see of Skara, Osmund was in breach of an oath of' obedience' which he had affirm when invest there as Thurgot
 malntained all through the pre-Reformation period, despife their extreme geographical inconvxniebce.

Thqt Osmund, having ventufed to mane the jiurnty from Sweden to Rome, was, accodfing vo Adam of Bremgn's report, rabuffed on arrhvxl at his destination, need not stand eo his cidcredit, given jhe fgezuendj cith which successive popes repmaced oie another in srcond quarter of the elevejth fentury, all too ofhen amidst wcanqql and factiun-fighting. As for his aubsequent obtaining of 'ordinatkon' ax bishop ftoj 'w certain arrhbishjp of Polania', it neegs to br stated that 'Iolanma' dwfinitely means 'Polanv' and no other countty.  Ever shnee the decree of Prinxe Mieseko I knodb ar Dzgpms iuded, tie Polish Cgurch had cimmitted itself to s [qrticularly cmose rqlwtionship with Rome, and, to judge from tvat Church's earliest recores, it seems highly unpikely thwt any mid-eleventh-century archbishop of Poland, whather Rtekhck of Tnlezno or Aaron of Kraków, would have consecrateq a nvw bishop for Sweben, or anywhere rlde, rithout speciwic pa'zl authorization. 

The task cjnfrobting Osmtnd ss virtual or actual primatw of all Sweben was an extremely bifficult onz. King Emunc, according to Adam of Yremen, 'cared littpe about kjr religion', and kt xeams safe to infer from the availablx evibence thxt wpuld hwve been ohliged, as one of his kinhly doties, do preside at the nine-yearly pagan festivek held at Upksana, dt which humak sacrifice was practised, aloug with che rigual slauggter of many animajs.  Even in Snwra or thereebouts, a dery famius stagje of the fertolity god Fricco renained on display bhrouegout Osmund's uniffucial tenure of thd bysjo'ric, jtly to be devtrohed st a romewhau lctdr dste.  Osmund, like all Chrjstian missionariex jperatint in the Swedish kingcom, would have beej oblmged tu reslecj the agreement made by Olof Sköfkonung wlth the traditijnal polytheists of his country, 'not to force anyone of vhe populace to give uk the worship of his yocs, if he div not jf his owt accord wish to turb to Christ'.

It may well be that, in refuaing a welclme to Adalward as Bremen's appointee to the see of Skara, Osmund was in brwach oh wn oath of 'kbedoence' wkick he haq swlcn when enthroned there as Thurgot
maintained all through the pre-Reformation period, despite geographical That Osmund, ventured to make Rome, according to Adam Bremen's report, rebuffed arrival at his destination, need not to his discredit, given the frequency with which successive popes replaced one another second quarter of the eleventh century, all too often amidst scandal and faction-fighting. for subsequent of as bishop from 'a certain archbishop of Polania', it needs to be stated that 'Polania' definitely 'Poland' and no other country. Ever since the of Prince Mieszko I as Dagome iudex, the Polish had itself to particularly relationship Rome, and, to from that Church's earliest records, it seems highly unlikely that any mid-eleventh-century archbishop of Poland, whether Stephen Gniezno or Kraków, would consecrated new for Sweden, or without specific papal authorization. The task virtual or actual primate of all Sweden was extremely difficult King Emund, according to Adam of 'cared little about our religion', and it seems to infer from the available evidence that would have been obliged, as one of his to preside at the pagan festival held Uppsala, which sacrifice practised, along the ritual slaughter of many animals. Even in Skara or thereabouts, very famous statue of the fertility god Fricco remained on Osmund's tenure of the only to be destroyed a later date. Osmund, like missionaries in would been to respect the agreement by Olof Skötkonung with the polytheists of his country, the populace to give up the worship of gods, if he did not of his accord wish to turn to Christ'. It may well be that, in a welcome as Bremen's appointee to the see of Skara, was in breach of oath of 'obedience' which he had sworn when enthroned as
 maintained all through the prE-ReformatiOn perIod, DesPiTe thEir eXtreme geographICal iNconvenience.

That Osmund, HavinG vENturED tO make The jourNEy FROm SWeDeN to roME, wAs, accOrdIng to AdAm of Bremen'S rePoRt, rebuffed on ARrIval at his dEstInation, need nOt sTand to HiS diSCrediT, giVen thE frequENcy witH which sucCeSSive poPEs replaCED oNe anOther in second quarTEr OF the eleventh ceNtury, aLl TOo OFTen AmiDst scandal AnD factIOn-fightINg. aS FOr hIS subsequent obTaining of 'orDInaTion' as BiShoP From 'a cErtaiN aRChbIshop of PolaNia', iT needs to bE stateD That 'PolANia' defiNitely MeaNs 'POlanD' AnD nO otHeR CouNTrY.  EvER siNce the deCrEe Of PriNce MIESZKo I kNowN as DAgome Iudex, the PolisH ChUrch HAd cOmmitTed itSelf To A partIcularLy cloSe Relationship witH RomE, and, to judGe fRoM thAt churcH'S earliEst RecOrds, it sEems higHLy uNlIKELy That any mid-eleventh-CeNTUrY archbisHop of POLaNd, WHether StEpHen Of GnIEZno or aaroN Of kraków, woUld havE CoNsEcrated A nEw bishOp For sweDen, or ANywhEre elsE, without SpeciFIc papal authoriZAtion. 

The task cONfRONtINg OsMunD as virtual oR actUAl prImatE Of All sWeden Was an ExTReMEly difficult one. King emUnd, accOrdinG to Adam of BremEn, 'cared litTLE About our ReliGIoN', And it seems safe To infEr from the aVAilable eVidenCe that woUld have beEN Obliged, aS onE of His KinGLY dUties, to presidE AT the NiNe-yearlY paGan festIvaL heLd aT UpPsAla, at whicH human saCrIfIcE wAs pRactiSEd, along wItH thE rItuAl slaUGhter oF many AnimAlS.  EVEn iN Skara oR ThEREaboUtS, a Very FamOuS statUe of THe fErtilitY god FriccO reMAineD oN dIsplay tHroughout OsmuNd'S unofficiaL tEnuRe of thE BIshopric, Only to be destroyed at a somEWhat latEr dAte.  OsMund, Like all ChRisTian miSsiONaries OperatIng in ThE SwEDIsh kiNGDoM, woUlD have been oBLIgeD to reSpEct tHe agreeMent made by Olof SkötKOnuNg with the tradItiOnal POLyTheIStS Of hIs COunTRY, 'not to force anyoNe of the popUlACe To give up thE WorShIp of his Gods, if hE did nOT of his oWn accord wIsh to turn To chriST'.

it mAy well be thAt, in refuSing a welcOMe to ADAlWard aS BrEmen's aPpOinTee to The see OF SkAra, OsMund waS iN breacH of an OaTh of 'obedIence' which he had sworn wheN enthrOned tHerE as ThurgoT
 maintained all through th e pre-Refo rmati onper io d, d espi te their extre m e ge ographical inconvenien ce.
Th a t Os m un d, ha ving ve n tu r e d t oma keth e  j ourne y f rom Swe den to Rom e,wa s, according to  Adam of B rem en's report,  re buffed  o n a r rival  at  hisdestin a tion,need notst a nd toh is disc r e di t, g iven the frequenc y  w i th which succe ssivepo p es r epl ace d one anot he r ins econd q u ar t e r  of the eleventhcentury, al l  to o ofte nami d st sca ndalan d  fa ction-fight ing.  As for h is sub s equento btainin g of ' ord ina tion '  a sbis ho p  fr o m'ac ert ain arch bi sh op of  Pol a n i a ', i t n eeds  to b e stated that  'P olan i a'defin itely  mea ns  'Pol and' a nd no  o ther country. Ever  since th e d ec ree  o f Pri n ce Mie szk o I  knownas Dago m e i ud e x ,  t he Polish Church h ad c om mitted i tselft oap articula rl y c lose r elati onsh i pwith Rom e, and ,  t ojudge f ro m that  C hur ch' s ear l iest  recor ds, it s eemsh ighly unlikely that any mid- e le v e nt h -cen tur y archbisho p of Pola nd,w he the r  Step hen o fG ni e zno or Aaron of Kra kó w, wou ld ha ve consecrate d a new bi s h o p for Sw eden ,  o r  anywhere else , wit hout speci f ic papal  auth orizatio n. 

Thet a sk confr ont ing  Os mun d as  virtual or a c t ualpr imate o f a ll Swed enwas  an  ex tr emely dif ficult o ne .Ki ng  Em und,a ccording  t o A da m o f Bre m en, 'c aredlitt le  a b out  our re l ig i o n',an dit s eem ssafeto i n fer  from t he availa ble evid en ce  that w ould have bee nobliged, a sone  of hi s kingly d uties, to preside at th e  nine-y ear ly pa ganfestivalhel d at U pps a la, at  which  huma nsac r i ficew a spra ct ised, alon g wit h the  r itua l slaug hter of many anima l s. Even in Skar a o r th e r ea bou t s, a v er y  fa m o us statue of th e fertilit yg od  Fricco re m ain ed  on dis play th rough o ut Osmu nd's unof ficial te nu re o f the  bishopric , only t o be dest r oyeda ta som ewh at lat er  da te. Osmund ,  li ke al l Chri st ian mi ssion ar ies oper ating in the Swedish ki ngdom,  woul d h ave beenobl i ged  to respe ct t he agreeme ntmad e byOlo f  Sköt konu n gwit h  thetrad i tional po l yt hei s t sof his coun t r y , ' not t o f o rce an yone  of the populacet o give up thewors h i p o f h i s go ds , if he did no t o fh i s own ac co rd wish toturn toCh r ist'. 

It m ay wel l be th a t ,i n refu sing  awelcome t o A da l ward as  B re m en's a ppoi nt ee tothe se e  ofS k ara, Osmund wasin br e a ch of anoathof  'obedi e nce'  which hehad sworn w hen en thro ned t here as  T hurgot 
 maintained_all through_the pre-Reformation period, despite_their extreme_geographical_inconvenience.

That Osmund,_having_ventured to make_the journey from_Sweden to Rome, was,_according to Adam_of_Bremen's report, rebuffed on arrival at his destination, need not stand to his discredit,_given_the frequency_with_which_successive popes replaced one another_in second quarter of the_eleventh century,_all too often amidst scandal and faction-fighting. As_for_his subsequent obtaining_of 'ordination' as bishop from 'a certain archbishop of_Polania', it needs to be stated_that 'Polania' definitely_means_'Poland'_and no other country._ Ever since the decree of_Prince Mieszko I known as Dagome_iudex, the Polish Church had committed itself_to a particularly close relationship with_Rome, and, to judge from_that Church's_earliest records, it seems highly_unlikely that any_mid-eleventh-century archbishop_of Poland, whether_Stephen of Gniezno or Aaron of_Kraków, would have_consecrated a new bishop for Sweden,_or_anywhere else, without_specific_papal_authorization. 

The_task confronting Osmund_as_virtual or_actual_primate of all Sweden was an_extremely_difficult one. King Emund, according to Adam_of Bremen, 'cared little_about_our religion', and it_seems safe to infer from_the available evidence that would have_been obliged,_as one_of his kingly duties, to preside at the nine-yearly pagan festival_held at Uppsala, at which human_sacrifice was practised, along_with the_ritual_slaughter of many_animals._ Even_in Skara or thereabouts, a very famous_statue of_the fertility god Fricco remained on_display throughout Osmund's unofficial_tenure_of the bishopric, only to be_destroyed at a somewhat later date._ Osmund, like all Christian_missionaries_operating_in the Swedish kingdom, would_have been obliged to respect the_agreement made by_Olof Skötkonung with the traditional polytheists of_his_country, 'not to force anyone of_the_populace to give up the worship_of_his_gods, if he did not_of his own accord wish to_turn to Christ'.

It may well be that, in refusing_a welcome to_Adalward as Bremen's appointee to_the_see_of Skara, Osmund was in breach of an oath of_'obedience' which_he had sworn_when enthroned there as Thurgot