The battle in "Mannafelsdali”. App. 1307. In 1307, there was a Frisian settlement in Akraberg on Suðuroy. Chief of the Frisians was the renowned Hergeir. In the same period, the foundation for the "Kirkjubø wall" was laid. The wall can still be seen in Kirkjubø, on the island of Streymoy. Erlendur, who was Norwegian and a former crusader from the cathedral in Bjørgvin (Bergen), was ordained Bishop of the Faroe Islands in 1268. Erlendur is said to be the bishop who initiated the construction of the "Kirkjubø wall". It is also written that Erlendur enriched the Faroese church. This meant that the riches which he acquired in the name of the church - and which were not given as alms to the church - must have been taken from the Faroese people. He acquired much property for the church and inflicted heavy taxes on the Faroese population, in order to build as beautiful a new church as possible. This was not popular with everyone, and the people of South Streymoy, Sandoy, Skúvoy and Suðuroy rebelled. The leader of the rebellion was Hergeir from Akraberg. - In a letter to the Norwegian king, Erlendur calls Hergeir a "Belias son", an enemy of God and the Christian church, and a person of unrest. Finally, Erlendur was called to Norway by the Norwegian king, to defend himself against the accusations from the Faroese people. The Norwegian king, Håkon Magnusson V (1270-1319) tried in this way, to settle the dispute between the Norwegian church and the Faroese population. But the controversy did not end here. The deputy of Erlendur (Mús), continued the construction of the Kirkjubø wall, and to collect heavy taxes for the construction. The result was armed rebellion. Mús and the men from the northern islands gathered in North Streymoy to defeat the rebels. When the people from the southern islands heard about this, they quickly gathered an army and sailed north. The battle took place in "Mannafelsdali" (Manfalls Valley) on the island of Streymoy. The southern islanders lost the battle and there was a great loss of men. The following year, however, the men from the south, sailed north again to avenge the defeat. The next battle took place in the valley near the village of Kollafirði, and this time the south won, and many people were killed. Mús fled to Kirkjubø, closely followed by Hergeir and his men. Mús climbed onto the Kirkjubø wall, where he defended himself with an axe. Hergeir and his men waited below the wall for 3 days, until Mús was so exhausted that he fell down from the wall. He was immediately killed by Hergeir, and the southern men burned the Episcopal Residence in Kirkjubø, down to the ground. Erlendur, who is said to be "psychic", stood at the same time at the window of his chamber in Bergen and cried, because he saw in a vision that Kirkjubø had gone up in flames. Erlendur died in Bergen on June 13, 1308 and was buried there. In 1420 Erlendur’s grave was opened and in the grave a lead plate was found on which were written in runes on Latin, describing the dispute between Bishop Erlendur and Hergeir from Akraberg. In 1350, the plague came to the Faroe Islands and laid large parts of the country deserted. "The Cathedral of stone" (the Wall in Kirkjubø) was never completed.
It is based on the oral histories related to the battle in the valley of dead men (Bardagin í Mannafellsdali), where the country was divided in two, the Northerners (north of Hórisgøta) allied with the Bishop who wanted to extort taxes from the poorer Southerners.
Rovarin In Germany, the Frisians are also known for their love of freedom and there is a ballad about their struggle against a Danish lord trying to tax them.
@@derwaldjunge Back when this story took place, the Faroese were subjects of the Norwegian crown. And the church was still aligned with the Norwegian church (as in before Rome had consolidated the power of all the different branches of Catholicism. Or so I'm guessing, as both the bishop in the story Mús and the bishop that was here at the time of the story (oral histories are funny that way) were sent from Norway and not Germany (which is where Catholic Christianity to the Nordic countries was funneled through after Rome took totally over)). The story also claims that there were Frisians living in Akraberg on Suðuroy (dubious claim, but fair enough) and they were heathen vikings (even more dubious). They were enlisted as then the Southerners couldn't be damned to hell for attacking a religious authority.
The battle in "Mannafelsdali”. App. 1307.
In 1307, there was a Frisian settlement in Akraberg on Suðuroy. Chief of the Frisians was the renowned Hergeir.
In the same period, the foundation for the "Kirkjubø wall" was laid. The wall can still be seen in Kirkjubø, on the island of Streymoy.
Erlendur, who was Norwegian and a former crusader from the cathedral in Bjørgvin (Bergen), was ordained Bishop of the Faroe Islands in 1268. Erlendur is said to be the bishop who initiated the construction of the "Kirkjubø wall". It is also written that Erlendur enriched the Faroese church. This meant that the riches which he acquired in the name of the church - and which were not given as alms to the church - must have been taken from the Faroese people.
He acquired much property for the church and inflicted heavy taxes on the Faroese population, in order to build as beautiful a new church as possible. This was not popular with everyone, and the people of South Streymoy, Sandoy, Skúvoy and Suðuroy rebelled. The leader of the rebellion was Hergeir from Akraberg. - In a letter to the Norwegian king, Erlendur calls Hergeir a "Belias son", an enemy of God and the Christian church, and a person of unrest.
Finally, Erlendur was called to Norway by the Norwegian king, to defend himself against the accusations from the Faroese people. The Norwegian king, Håkon Magnusson V (1270-1319) tried in this way, to settle the dispute between the Norwegian church and the Faroese population. But the controversy did not end here. The deputy of Erlendur (Mús), continued the construction of the Kirkjubø wall, and to collect heavy taxes for the construction. The result was armed rebellion. Mús and the men from the northern islands gathered in North Streymoy to defeat the rebels. When the people from the southern islands heard about this, they quickly gathered an army and sailed north.
The battle took place in "Mannafelsdali" (Manfalls Valley) on the island of Streymoy. The southern islanders lost the battle and there was a great loss of men. The following year, however, the men from the south, sailed north again to avenge the defeat. The next battle took place in the valley near the village of Kollafirði, and this time the south won, and many people were killed. Mús fled to Kirkjubø, closely followed by Hergeir and his men. Mús climbed onto the Kirkjubø wall, where he defended himself with an axe. Hergeir and his men waited below the wall for 3 days, until Mús was so exhausted that he fell down from the wall. He was immediately killed by Hergeir, and the southern men burned the Episcopal Residence in Kirkjubø, down to the ground. Erlendur, who is said to be "psychic", stood at the same time at the window of his chamber in Bergen and cried, because he saw in a vision that Kirkjubø had gone up in flames.
Erlendur died in Bergen on June 13, 1308 and was buried there. In 1420 Erlendur’s grave was opened and in the grave a lead plate was found on which were written in runes on Latin, describing the dispute between Bishop Erlendur and Hergeir from Akraberg.
In 1350, the plague came to the Faroe Islands and laid large parts of the country deserted. "The Cathedral of stone" (the Wall in Kirkjubø) was never completed.
bro returned after 9 years, respect
One of my favourite kvæði! Interesting story and passionate performance by the southerners.
It is based on the oral histories related to the battle in the valley of dead men (Bardagin í Mannafellsdali), where the country was divided in two, the Northerners (north of Hórisgøta) allied with the Bishop who wanted to extort taxes from the poorer Southerners.
Rovarin In Germany, the Frisians are also known for their love of freedom and there is a ballad about their struggle against a Danish lord trying to tax them.
@@derwaldjunge Back when this story took place, the Faroese were subjects of the Norwegian crown. And the church was still aligned with the Norwegian church (as in before Rome had consolidated the power of all the different branches of Catholicism. Or so I'm guessing, as both the bishop in the story Mús and the bishop that was here at the time of the story (oral histories are funny that way) were sent from Norway and not Germany (which is where Catholic Christianity to the Nordic countries was funneled through after Rome took totally over)).
The story also claims that there were Frisians living in Akraberg on Suðuroy (dubious claim, but fair enough) and they were heathen vikings (even more dubious). They were enlisted as then the Southerners couldn't be damned to hell for attacking a religious authority.
@Jonse70 John undir hamri, haldi eg.