Turið Torkilsdóttir
Encyclopedia
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. After her husband's death in 1005, she was generally called Þurið Megineinkja, "chieftain's widow".
Þurið was the daughter of Ragnhild Þoralfsdóttir and Þorkil Barfrost. Around 986, she married Sigmundur Brestisson
, on his third visit to Norway. According to the Færeyinga Saga
, the wedding took place at Håkon Jarl’s farm near Trondheim
and lasted for seven days. She had already borne him a daughter, Þóra. That autumn, the couple and their daughter moved to the Faroes, where Þurið lived out the rest of her life.
Þurið and Sigmundur later had four sons, Þórálfr, Steingrímr, Brandr and Heri Sigmundsson, who all lived on the farm in Skúvoy.
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
about whom we have knowledge in Faroese history
History of the Faroe Islands
-Pre-Norse history:The early details of Faroese history are rather nebulous. It is possible that Saint Brendan, an Irish monk sailed past the islands during his North Atlantic voyage in the 6th century...
. In the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
in the Faroe Islands, she was the islands’ most influential woman. After her husband's death in 1005, she was generally called Þurið Megineinkja, "chieftain's widow".
Þurið was the daughter of Ragnhild Þoralfsdóttir and Þorkil Barfrost. Around 986, she married 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...
, on his third visit to Norway. According to the Færeyinga Saga
Færeyinga Saga
The Færeyinga Saga , the Norse saga of Faroemen, is the story of how the Faroes were converted to Christianity and became a part of the Kingdom of Norway.-Summary:It was written in Iceland shortly after 1200...
, the wedding took place at Håkon Jarl’s farm near Trondheim
Trondheim
Trondheim , historically, Nidaros and Trondhjem, is a city and municipality in Sør-Trøndelag county, Norway. With a population of 173,486, it is the third most populous municipality and city in the country, although the fourth largest metropolitan area. It is the administrative centre of...
and lasted for seven days. She had already borne him a daughter, Þóra. That autumn, the couple and their daughter moved to the Faroes, where Þurið lived out the rest of her life.
Þurið and Sigmundur later had four sons, Þórálfr, Steingrímr, Brandr and Heri Sigmundsson, who all lived on the farm in Skúvoy.