Germans was paganism, worship of the gods Thor, Odin, and Balder. Most Germans were not attracted to Christianity with its story of the Son of God dying as a criminal, but Boniface converted some of the German chieftains, and by the custom of the times, a whole tribe would follow its chief into the new faith. Wherever he went, Boniface established churches and monasteries. He also tore down pagan idols, which was risky business, but he was protected by Charles Martel, king of the Franks (and, later,