The legend of the baptismal font

The veneration of Redbad and anti-Christian sentiment must have been deeply entrenched in Frisia. A striking example of this has come to light through recent textual research. In the eighth century, a song about Redbad was in circulation, which sang of the fact that he quite deliberately chose not to be baptised as a Christian, but instead opted for Walhalla. Unfortunately, the text of that song has not survived. In any case, the Church felt compelled to take action against this narrative. It did so by reworking the content of the song and incorporating it into the accounts of the life of Saint Wulfram. Wulfram was a Frankish missionary who had also worked in Frisia.

The story of Wulfram features the famous scene in which a sick Redbad is ready to be baptised, but at the last moment asks Wulfram whether he will see his ancestors after death. The priest explains that, as unbelievers, those ancestors are damned and will therefore not enter heaven. Redbad withdraws his foot from the baptismal font and declares that he would rather be damned in the company of his ancestors. A powerful anti-Christian statement, cast in a Christian mould.

The authors’ main aim was to show that Redbad’s choice to remain true to his old faith was a mistake, and in doing so they sought to undermine the legend surrounding the king. The irony is that it is precisely because of this we are still able to learn from this story. And truly remarkable it is, especially compared to everything else written about Redbad. The text also contains the world’s oldest reference to the afterlife as envisaged by the pre-Christian peoples living around the North Sea. An afterlife in the form of a golden hall, befitting a great king.

From the Via Wulframni

‘When he was being instructed to receive baptism, King Redbad asked the pious Bishop Wulfram, whilst binding him by an oath in the name of the Lord, where there would be more kings, monarchs and nobles of the Frisian people; namely, in that heavenly realm which had been promised to him if he were to believe and be baptised, or in that realm which Wulfram called hellish damnation. Then the pious Wulfram said: “Make no mistake, illustrious king; with God, the number of his chosen ones is fixed. For it is certain that your predecessors, the kings of the Frisian people, who died without the sacrament of baptism, have received the punishment of damnation. However, whoever believes and is baptised from this day forward will rejoice with Christ for all eternity.’ When the unbelieving duke heard this – he had already approached the baptismal font – he is said to have withdrawn his foot from the font, stating that he could not do without the company of his predecessors, the Frisian kings, in order to dwell among the poor in that heavenly kingdom. He went on to say that he could not readily accept the new doctrine, but would rather remain faithful to that which he had observed for so long together with the whole Frisian people. But the pious bishop of Christ said: ‘Alas, what sorrow! I see that you have been deceived by the tempter who has deceived the human race! But unless you repent and believe, and are baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity, you will not enter the gates of the eternal kingdom, but will be punished with eternal damnation.’ When the pious bishop had said and taught this, many Frisians believed and were baptised, but the king persisted in his paganism.’

During Redbad's deathbed he receives a vision.

‘We must not overlook the reason, as recounted by the venerable priest Ovo, why duke Redbad, of whom we have heard, refused to believe in Christ and to be immersed in the fountain of rebirth. For after he had fallen ill, causing him to shut out the light of this present life and descend into the eternal shadows of the underworld, the devil, the deceiver of mankind, appeared to him whilst he slept. With God’s permission, he had disguised himself as an angel of light, his head covered with a golden diadem set with sparkling gemstones and his body clad in a robe interwoven with gold. After the prince had stood gazing in astonishment for a long time, he turned his attention, amazed and trembling, to the apparition, wondering as to the nature and power of the messenger who had appeared before him. And he, the ferocious dragon who causes harm in many ways, said to Redbad: ‘Tell me, I ask you, O mightiest of men, who has led you so astray that you wish to renounce the worship of the gods and the religion of your forefathers? I implore you not to do so, but to hold fast to those things by which you have hitherto adhered in your worship of the gods, and you shall go to golden houses that shall endure for ever, which I shall soon bestow upon you, to prove my sincerity. Therefore, when you summon Wulfram, the teacher of the Christians, tomorrow, ask him where this abode of eternal radiance might be, which he promises you will possess in heaven if you accept the Christian doctrine. And let both parties send envoys; if he cannot prove it, I shall be the guide and show you that abode of immense beauty and dazzling splendour, which I shall soon give to you.’ When Redbad awoke, he recounted everything to the pious Bishop Wulfram, setting out all the details in order.’

Wulfram sighs and tries to explain to Redbad that this is the devil. He asked him to come to the baptismal font, but Redbad refused.

And so the man died, but the tales of Redbad, the legendary king, are remembered.