The History
For
millions of years the Faroe Islands stood alone in the heart of the
North Atlantic. The first settlers may have been Irish monks, probably
in the middle of the seventh century, seeking a tranquil refuge in
these remote islands. What is better
known and well documented, is the Norwegian colonization, beginning
about a hundred years later and developing throughout the Viking Age,
making the Faroes a central part of the Viking settlements along the
coasts of the North Atlantic and the Irish Sea.
The Viking
settlers established their own parliament with local things in
different parts of the islands and the main thing on Tinganes in
Tórshavn. Christianity was proclaimed here about the turning of the
last millennium. Shortly after the islands came under control of the
Norwegian kings, one of whom being the famous King Sverre, who was
brought up at the Faroese bishop’s seat at Kirkjubøur.
Later
the Norwegian crown came under the Danish monarchy, and with the
Reformation, the independent Faroese bishopric was abolished and its
properties taken over by the Crown.
During
the Middle Ages, the Faroe Islands were greatly influenced by the North
Sea countries, especially through the Hanseatic merchants in Bergen.
With the Reformation the Danish king increased his control of the trade
and established a trade monopoly, operated by different merchants and
companies, but from 1709 taken over by the king himself through the
Royal Trade Monopoly.
The islands were now governed directly
from Copenhagen. Danish officials arrived to oversee the trade and
protect it from competing merchants and the bands of pirates who for
centuries had plagued the islands. Fort Skansin, overlooking Tórshavn
harbour, is the remnant of the historic fortification, but if you today
scan the horizon from there, you will probably only spot peaceful
fishing boats, or perhaps the graceful curves of an international
cruise liner.
In 1856, the Royal Danish Monopoly ended and soon
enterprising Faroese businessmen were exploring new connections with
the outside world. In 1872, an old English sailing smack, named the
Fox, was purchased for deep sea fishing far from the Faroese shore. The
Faroe Islanders quickly earned the reputation of being among the best
sailors and fishermen in the world. The fishing industry grew until it
became the main source of income for the islands.
At
the beginning of the twentyfirst century, the Faroes are vigorously
engaged in exploring the potential for oil production in the seas
around the islands.
Yet vestiges of the ancient history are
evident wherever you go in the Faroes and blend with the modern. You
can stroll about on Tinganes, now the home of the national government,
established according to the Home Rule constitution adopted in 1948.
And there, in his office in one of the former Royal Trade Monopoly
storehouses, the Lagman, the Prime Minister, may lift his eyes up from
his computer and look out of the window to measure the passage of a
thousand years carved into the stones at the tip of the peninsula.
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