Sigmundur Brestisson (961–1005) was a Faroese

Viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

chieftain, and was responsible for introducing

Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...

to the

Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ) (alt. the Faroes) are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark. Located between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom, the islands have a populat ...

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. Early in the 11th century, Sigmundur, whose family had flourished in the southern islands but had been almost exterminated by invaders from the north, was sent back to the Faroe Islands, whence he had escaped, to take possession of the islands for

Olaf Tryggvason Olaf Tryggvason (960s – 9 September 1000) was King of Norway from 995 to 1000. He was the son of Tryggvi Olafsson, king of Viken ( Vingulmark, and Rånrike), and, according to later sagas, the great-grandson of Harald Fairhair, first King ...

, king of Norway. Sigmundur was the first Faroe Islander to convert to the Christian faith, bringing Christianity to the Faroes at the

decree A decree is a law, legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state, judge, monarch, royal figure, or other relevant Authority, authorities, according to certain procedures. These procedures are usually defined by the constitution, Legislativ ...

of Olaf Tryggvason. Initially Sigmundur sought to convert the islanders by reading the decree to the Alting in

Tórshavn Tórshavn (; ; Danish language, Danish: ''Thorshavn''), usually locally referred to as simply Havn, is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of th ...

, but was nearly killed by the resulting angry mob. He then changed his tactics, went with armed men to the residence of the chieftain

Tróndur í Gøtu Tróndur í Gøtu ( Icelandic: Þrándur í Götu, Old Norse Þrǫ́ndr í Gǫtu) (c. 945 – 1035) was a Viking Age chieftain in the Faroe Islands. He is remembered for his opposition to the importation of Christianity. Biography Tróndur í ...

and broke in his house by night. He offered him the choice between accepting Christianity or face beheading; he chose the former. Later, in 1005,

attacked Sigmundur by night at his yard in Skúvoy, whereupon he fled by swimming to

Sandvík Sandvík (pronounced , "Sandy Bay"; ) is the northernmost village of the island of Suðuroy in the Faroe Islands. It is situated on the northern side of a shallow fjord. The village was previously known as Hvalvík (''Bay of Whales''). It changed ...

on Suðuroy. He reached land in Sigmundargjógv in Sandvík, but a farmer in the village killed the exhausted Sigmundur, and stole his precious golden

arm ring An arm ring, also known as an armlet or an armband, is a band of metal, usually a precious metal, worn as jewelry or an ornament around the biceps of the upper arm. The arm ring is similar to a bracelet or bangle, though it must be shaped and ...

. According to tradition, his gravestone is located in the so-called ''Sigmundarsteinur'' in Skúvoy. It bears a carved cross and was part of the old church.

External links

Færeyinga saga
961 births 1005 deaths People from Skúvoy Municipality Faroese people of Norwegian descent Norwegian Christian missionaries Converts to Christianity from Germanic paganism Christian missionaries in the Faroe Islands Burials in the Faroe Islands {{faroes-bio-stub