Timeline of the Faroe Islands
This is a
timeline of key events in the
history of the Faroe Islands.
600s
- about 625 - Irish monks begin to settle in the Faroes. They are the first people there. In earlier historical studies, it was assumed, that they came around 725. After botanical researches it had to be dated back to 675, and today Faroese scientists believe, that oats have been cultivated on the Faroes since about 625, for example in Mykines.
700s
- about 795 - Irish monks reach Iceland. It is suggested, that they came from the Faroes after banished by the Vikings. Diucil refers to it 825, but maybe some of the monks stayed in the Faroes.
800s
- about 825 - Grímur Kamban is said to be the first Norse settler in the Faroes at the place, which is named Funningur (the find).
- about 885-890 - Second wave of immigration to the Faroes under king Harald Hårfagre of Norway. Most of the settlers come from western Norway, but also many from Ireland and Scotland.
900s
1000s
1100s
1200s
1300s
- around 1300 - Beginning of the Saint Magnus Cathedral in Kirkjubøur. It was never finished, but is still the main historical building of the country.
- 1302 - The prohibition against the Hanseatic League is renewed by Norway.
- around 1303 - Bishop Erlendur is forced to leave the Faroes.
- around 1349 - The Black Death reaches the Faroes - a third of the population (estimated at least 1000 of 3000) dies.
- 1350 - The Dog Letter (Hundabrævið) becomes law.
- 1361 - The Hanseatic trade is legalized under the same conditions as of the business people from Bergen.
- 1397 - Within the Kalmar Union, the Faroes remain under Norway's rule.
1400s
- around 1400 - The Althing is renamed into Løgting. This name is still in use today.
- around 1447 - Attempts by the bishop Goswin of Iceland, to get the Faroes under his diocese, fail.
- 1490 - Dutch tradesmen get the same privileges in the Faroe business as the Hanseatic League.
1500s
1600s
1700s
1800s
1810s
- 1816 - The Parliament is discarded.
1820s
1830s
1840s
1850s
- 1852 - The Parliament is re-established.
1860s
1880s
- 1888 - The Christmas meeting (Jólafundurin), the start of a cultural movement and indirectly the start of modern Faroese politics.
1890s
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s