Quarrel between Einar and Eldjarn

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The dispute between Einar and Eldjarn found 969 / 970 instead and is an episode in the Faroese .

At the same time, this dispute is part of the history of the Viking Age in the Faroe Islands and marks the beginning of a 65-year-old feud in the archipelago.

In 969 the mighty God and pagan priest Havgrímur sat with his two friends Einar from the South Islands and Eldjarn Kambhøttur . They met at Havgrímur's farm in Hov on Suðuroy . They talked about different people and a heated argument broke out. Eldjarn defended his chief Havgrímur, while Einar defended the position of his relatives Brestir and Beinir , who in the Faroe Islands at that time ruled the other part of the islands and were thus competitors of Havgrímur.

According to the Faroese saga, Eldjarn was violent and hit Einar with a block of wood. Einar struggled with an ax and wounded Eldjarn in the head. Einar then turned to his relative Brestir for advice , who was considered to be clever and knowledgeable of the law. Some time later, in the winter 969/70, also Havgrímur to Brestir and Beinir came Skúvoy to pain and suffering to demand for Eldjarn. Brestir wanted the matter to be settled (civil) by the best men in the Faroe Islands , but Havgrímur is said to have disagreed with that.

So Havgrímur quoted Einar in 970 before the Althing on Tinganes , which at that time exercised the judiciary in addition to the legislative and executive branches . There Einar was defended by Brestir and Beinir and their followers, who took the position that it was Eldjarn who violated the law when he attacked Einar and that he had finally acted in self-defense . Einar won the trial, and Eldjarn swore vengeance.

Havgrímur was now trying to win support for his henchman Eldjarn. First he turned to his father-in-law Snæúlvur on Sandoy , but he took a neutral stance, as it seemed obvious to him that Einar was right. A dispute broke out and Havgrímur had to go home without any results. Havgrímur then visited the large farmer Tróndur in Gøta on Eysturoy . That should bring the decisive turning point.

Tróndur agreed in principle to attack Brestir and Beinir, that is, to murder. In return for his support, he asked Havgrímur to have two cows every spring and 200 yards of woolen fabric (vaðmála) every autumn - for life and inheritable. At the same time Tróndur did not want to participate directly in the conspiracy, but rather to remain in the background. Tróndur's uncle Svínoyar-Bjarni was supposed to participate there. Havgrímur agreed to this deal.

So Havgrímur went to Bjarni in Svínoy . According to the Faroese saga, he was less modest than his nephew in Gøta: He demanded 3 cows every spring and 300 yards of woolen fabric every autumn - even for life. The plan for the murder of Brestir and Beinir was so clear.