Leivur Øssursson
Encyclopedia
Leivur Øssursson or Leif Øssursson (born ca. 980
- died before 1047) was Lord of the Faroe Islands
, before they were given to Norway
in 1035. Leivur's reign marked the beginning of the end of the Viking age, and the end of the Faeroe Republic.
It is unclear when and where Leivur was born, but we know that it was before 983
. In 983 his father died at the age of 23. His birthplace was possibly Norðragøta
, where his father lived at the home of Tróndur í Gøtu
, in Hov
, where his father owned Havgrímur's farm, either at Skúvoy
, or at his father's other farms in Brestir and Beinir.
He was married to Tóra Sigmundsdóttir, the daughter of Sigmundur Brestisson
and Turið Torkilsdóttir
.
Olaf II of Norway
invited some of the most important men of the Faroes, Gille, Tórolvur Sigmundsson and Leivur Øssursson, to come to Norway to become his deputies in 1024. However, as long as Tróndur í Gøtu
lived, it was clear that Olaf II would not have full control of the Faroes. After Tróndur í Gøtu's death in 1035, Leivur Øssurson gave the Faeroes to the Norwegian king Magnus Olafsson
, the same year.
980
Year 980 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Otto II renounces his claim to Lorraine.* The Viking ring castle of Trelleborg is constructed in Denmark....
- died before 1047) was Lord of the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
, before they were given to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1035. Leivur's reign marked the beginning of the end of the Viking age, and the end of the Faeroe Republic.
It is unclear when and where Leivur was born, but we know that it was before 983
983
Year 983 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Wood carvers commissioned by China's Song Dynasty complete a carving of the entire Buddhist canon for printing .* The reign of Amir Adhad ad-Dowleh of Buwayhid ends.* Sharaf ad-Dawla becomes Amir Buwayhid.* The...
. In 983 his father died at the age of 23. His birthplace was possibly Norðragøta
Norðragøta
- Overview :Norðragøta is also just referred to as Gøta. The municipality of Gøta was a municipality until 1 January 2009 when it merged with Leirvík into Eysturkommuna. Gøta consists also of the villages Gøtueiði, Gøtugjógv and Syðrugøta. The village lies on Eysturoy's east coast at the bottom of...
, where his father lived at the home of Tróndur í Gøtu
Tróndur í Gøtu
Tróndur í Gøtu was a viking from the Faroe Islands . He and Sigmundur Brestisson are the central figures in the Færeyinga Saga, which tells the early history of the Faroe Islands and the coming of Christianity to the islands, which Tróndur opposed.Chapter 3 of the Saga describes Tróndur as...
, in Hov
Hov, Faroe Islands
*Population: 133*Postal code : FO 960*Location: *Municipality: HovsHov is a village located on Suduroy’s east coast, in the Faroe Islands; it is frequently mentioned in the country's history. Salmon sea farming has been practiced in Hov since the 1980’s...
, where his father owned Havgrímur's farm, either at Skúvoy
Skúvoy
Skúvoy is an island in central Faroe Islands, located to the south of Sandoy. It is named after the large number of skua present on the island . There is only one settlement on the island: Skúvoy on the east coast...
, or at his father's other farms in Brestir and Beinir.
He was married to Tóra Sigmundsdóttir, the daughter of Sigmundur Brestisson
Sigmundur Brestisson
Sigmundur Brestisson introduced Christianity to the Faroe Islands in 999. He is one of the main characters of the Færeyinga saga.According to the Færeyinga Saga, emigrants who left Norway to escape the tyranny of Harald I of Norway, settled in the islands about the beginning of the 9th century...
and Turið Torkilsdóttir
Turið Torkilsdóttir
Þurið Þorkilsdóttir was the first woman about whom we have knowledge in Faroese history. In the Viking Age in the Faroe Islands, she was the islands’ most influential woman...
.
Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II of Norway
Olaf II Haraldsson was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He was posthumously given the title Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae and canonised in Nidaros by Bishop Grimkell, one year after his death in the Battle of Stiklestad on 29 July 1030. Enshrined in Nidaros Cathedral...
invited some of the most important men of the Faroes, Gille, Tórolvur Sigmundsson and Leivur Øssursson, to come to Norway to become his deputies in 1024. However, as long as Tróndur í Gøtu
Tróndur í Gøtu
Tróndur í Gøtu was a viking from the Faroe Islands . He and Sigmundur Brestisson are the central figures in the Færeyinga Saga, which tells the early history of the Faroe Islands and the coming of Christianity to the islands, which Tróndur opposed.Chapter 3 of the Saga describes Tróndur as...
lived, it was clear that Olaf II would not have full control of the Faroes. After Tróndur í Gøtu's death in 1035, Leivur Øssurson gave the Faeroes to the Norwegian king Magnus Olafsson
Magnus I of Norway
Magnus I , known as the Good or the Noble, was the King of Norway from 1035 to 1047 and the King of Denmark from 1042 to 1047. He was an illegitimate son of king Olaf II of Norway, but fled with his mother in 1028 when his father was dethroned. In 1035 he returned to Norway and was crowned king at...
, the same year.