Gardar Svavarsson
Encyclopedia
Garðarr Svavarsson was a Swedish man who is considered by many to be the first Scandinavia
n to live in Iceland
, although only for one winter.
According to Haukr Erlendsson
's edition of Landnámabók
, he owned land in Zealand (Denmark
) and was married to a woman from the Hebrides
. During a voyage to these isles (in the 860
s) in order to claim his inheritance from his father-in-law, he sailed into a storm at Pentland Firth
. This storm pushed his ship far to the north until he reached the eastern coast of Iceland. He circumnavigated the island, becoming the first known person to do so and thus establishing that the landmass was an island
, and went ashore at Skjálfandi
. He built himself a house and stayed for the winter. Since then, the place has been called Húsavík
.
Having returned, he praised the new land and called it after his own name Garðarshólmi (see names of Iceland
). Nothing is known of his fate thereafter, but his son, Uni danski (Uni the Dane), emigrated to Iceland and made a feeble attempt to win it for the Norwegian king but be earl over himself and he had consulted this with the king but when the farmers knew his intent they would help him in no way and soon he was killed. He did though manage to have a son before dying, Hróar who is named as the goði at Tunga
. Hroar quarreled with other men and was twice challenged to a hillbattle and won both times and killed his opponents but was eventually murdered but then avenged by his son. Hroar's wife was Arngunnur sister of Gunnar Hámundarson
, who is one of the main characters Njáls saga, the longest and generally considered the greatest of the Icelandic Sagas.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n to live in Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, although only for one winter.
According to Haukr Erlendsson
Haukr Erlendsson
Haukr Erlendsson was the writer of the Hauksbók.In 1294, he became the lawspeaker of Iceland and in 1301 he arrived in Norway, where, according to a letter from 1311, he is called the lawspeaker and knight of the Gula Thing. He appears to have held this position until 1322....
's edition of Landnámabók
Landnámabók
Landnámabók , often shortened to Landnáma, is a medieval Icelandic written work describing in considerable detail the settlement of Iceland by the Norse in the 9th and 10th centuries AD.-Landnáma:...
, he owned land in Zealand (Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
) and was married to a woman from the Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
. During a voyage to these isles (in the 860
860
Year 860 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Ethelbert succeeds as king of Wessex.* The later Harald I of Norway becomes king.- Art :...
s) in order to claim his inheritance from his father-in-law, he sailed into a storm at Pentland Firth
Pentland Firth
The Pentland Firth , which is actually more of a strait than a firth, separates the Orkney Islands from Caithness in the north of Scotland.-Etymology:...
. This storm pushed his ship far to the north until he reached the eastern coast of Iceland. He circumnavigated the island, becoming the first known person to do so and thus establishing that the landmass was an island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
, and went ashore at Skjálfandi
Skjálfandi
Skjálfandi, geologically more a bay than a fjord, is located in the North of Iceland. The word Skjálfandi literally translates to "trembling" which might refer to earthquakes which do occur quite frequently...
. He built himself a house and stayed for the winter. Since then, the place has been called Húsavík
Húsavík
Húsavík is a town in Norðurþing municipality on the north coast of Iceland on the shores of Skjálfandi bay with 2,237 inhabitants.-Overview:The income of the inhabitants is derived from tourism and fishing, as well as retail and small industry...
.
Having returned, he praised the new land and called it after his own name Garðarshólmi (see names of Iceland
Names of Iceland
There are numerous different names for Iceland, which have over the years appeared in poetry or literature.- In Icelandic :Many names have been used to refer to Iceland in the Icelandic language. These names include colloquial, formal, and poetic forms:...
). Nothing is known of his fate thereafter, but his son, Uni danski (Uni the Dane), emigrated to Iceland and made a feeble attempt to win it for the Norwegian king but be earl over himself and he had consulted this with the king but when the farmers knew his intent they would help him in no way and soon he was killed. He did though manage to have a son before dying, Hróar who is named as the goði at Tunga
Tunga
Tunga may refer to:* Tunga River, a river in India* Tunga, Leyte, a municipality in the Philippines* Tunga, Trondheim, a location in Trondheim, Norway* Tunga , a Unicode typeface included in Windows XP that displays Kannada script...
. Hroar quarreled with other men and was twice challenged to a hillbattle and won both times and killed his opponents but was eventually murdered but then avenged by his son. Hroar's wife was Arngunnur sister of Gunnar Hámundarson
Gunnar Hámundarson
Gunnar Hámundarson was a 10th century Icelandic chieftain. He lived in Hlíðarendi in Fljótshlíð and is probably better known as Gunnar of Hlíðarendi...
, who is one of the main characters Njáls saga, the longest and generally considered the greatest of the Icelandic Sagas.