Viking Age · c. 940–?
Thorgeir
Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði · Iceland
Lawspeaker of the Icelandic parliament
He served as lawspeaker of the Althing, Iceland's parliament, from 985 to 1001. He was himself a pagan priest and chieftain, and in 999 or 1000, when the assembly was divided over whether to follow the Norse gods or Christianity, both sides left the decision to him. He ruled that Iceland would adopt Christianity, averting a possible civil war, and afterwards converted himself.
Where the story happened
Places connected with this person
History · Þingvellir National Park
A day and a night thinking under a blanket
In 999 or 1000, Iceland's parliament, the Althing, was deadlocked over whether to follow Norse paganism or Christianity. The Christian side's lawspeaker left the decision to the pagan chieftain Þorgeir. He covered himself with a fur cloak and thought silently for a day and a night, then announced that Iceland would convert to Christianity, averting a possible civil war. Legend says that on returning home he threw his statues of the Norse gods into a waterfall, which is why it's called 'Goðafoss', the waterfall of the gods.
