After claiming the crown of Norway, Olaf Tryggvason sought to cement his power by converting the land to Christianity. In Rogaland, however, the pagan civic leaders objected, and were ready to defy to his face his unchristian threats of violence. However, the first of the accomplished orators they chose succumbed to a fit of coughing, and had to retire.

The leading men of Rogaland now put forward a second speaker to defy Olaf’s order to embrace Christianity, but he found himself at a loss for words, and sat down to much sniggering. A third rose, but no sound came from him. At that, the people of Rogaland gave up and accepted baptism, and much unjust bloodshed was averted.

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