Tróndur í Gøtu
Encyclopedia
Tróndur í Gøtu (ca. 945 – 1035) was a viking
from the Faroe Islands
(also "Færey 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 having "a shock head of red hair, and . . . freckled of face and right grim of look", features which were inherent to Faroese
, who are said to have descended from Thorstan the Red's daughter.
Tróndur í Gøtu lived on the island of Eysturoy
, in his father's home Gøta, which was named for Torbjørn Gøtuskegg's nickname "Gatebeard". Initially Tróndur and his brother Thorlac drew lots to decide who should inherit the estate. After losing, Thorlac went to live in neighbouring islands with his wife. Chapter 35 of the saga tells that all siblings eventually lived together at Gøta, with their respective children. This same chapter explains that Thorlac had two sons, Sigurd (a strong man with blond curly hair) and Thord (also called "The Low" for his stout yet strong figure); Tróndur's sister had a son known as "Geat the Red".
Tróndur opposed the introduction of Christianity to the Faroes and pronounced a curse against it and Sigmundur, who was promulgating it. This is the subject of a Faroese
poem by Janus Djurhuus
, "Gandkvæði Tróndar".
"Tróndur í Gøtu" is the name of a song on the Faroese metal band Týr's album By the Light of the Northern Star
. The song is also in Faroese.
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
from 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...
(also "Færey Islands"). He and 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...
are the central figures in 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...
, 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 having "a shock head of red hair, and . . . freckled of face and right grim of look", features which were inherent to Faroese
Faroese people
The Faroese or Faroe Islanders are a Germanic ethnic group native to the Faeroe Islands. The Faroese are of mixed Norse and Gaelic origins.About 21,000 Faroese live in neighbouring countries, particularly in Denmark, Iceland and Norway....
, who are said to have descended from Thorstan the Red's daughter.
Tróndur í Gøtu lived on the island of Eysturoy
Eysturoy
Eysturoy means East island and is the second-largest of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, both in size and population. It is separated by a narrow sound from the main island of Streymoy. Eysturoy is extremely rugged, with some 66 separate mountain peaks, including Slættaratindur, the...
, in his father's home Gøta, which was named for Torbjørn Gøtuskegg's nickname "Gatebeard". Initially Tróndur and his brother Thorlac drew lots to decide who should inherit the estate. After losing, Thorlac went to live in neighbouring islands with his wife. Chapter 35 of the saga tells that all siblings eventually lived together at Gøta, with their respective children. This same chapter explains that Thorlac had two sons, Sigurd (a strong man with blond curly hair) and Thord (also called "The Low" for his stout yet strong figure); Tróndur's sister had a son known as "Geat the Red".
Tróndur opposed the introduction of Christianity to the Faroes and pronounced a curse against it and Sigmundur, who was promulgating it. This is the subject of a Faroese
Faroese language
Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...
poem by Janus Djurhuus
Janus Djurhuus
Jens Hendrik Oliver Djurhuus, called Janus Djurhuus, was the first modern Faroese poet...
, "Gandkvæði Tróndar".
"Tróndur í Gøtu" is the name of a song on the Faroese metal band Týr's album By the Light of the Northern Star
By the Light of the Northern Star
-Reception:* About.com * Allmusic...
. The song is also in Faroese.